This 4th of July fruit platter is an easy way to get red, white and blue on the table. You line up strawberries and watermelon for the red stripes, coconut and marshmallows for the white, then fill one corner with blueberries for the stars.
No baking, about 10 minutes from start to finish, and it works just as well for Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Customizable to everyone's liking, this red, blue and white fruit tray is perfect for any patriotic celebration whether it be Memorial Day, Labor Day or Independence Day.
Tools you'll need
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Measuring cups or scale: Take this as a guide only. You can use less or more fruits, depending on the size of your tray or platter.
- Rectangular serving tray, board or baking sheet: Anything that will hold the fruit. If the surface is not food use, line it with baking parchment first.
- Baking parchment paper: Useful if your tray, board or baking sheet is not food use.
- Aluminum foil: This is to make it easier to arrange the fruits. I also used a piece of paper to see how much space I would leave for the blueberries.
- Fine mesh strainer or a bowl: For rinsing all the produce.
- Kitchen towel: either paper or textile, to dry the produce.
- Toothpicks: This is completely optional. I have created an American Flag toothpick printable if you would like them to look more patriotic!
Ingredients you'll need
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Mini marshmallows
- Fresh coconut chunks: I used both coconut and mini marshmallows for the white rows. If you can't find fresh coconut, use extra marshmallows instead.
Tip: Turn any leftovers into fruit kabobs, or use extra fruit for a rainbow fruit platter.
The process
I like to cut a rectangle out of paper and place it in the tray I am going to serve the fruits in. Then I can see how much space to leave for the blueberries. You can also use aluminum foil to create a border around the paper so that the area stays clear. Like I did in the photos.
Next, create 5 rows. 3 red and 2 white. Start at the bottom edge, making a row of watermelon chunks and strawberry halves. About 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) thick. Next, make a white row with fresh coconut chunks and marshmallows. Work around the white paper. You will finish with a red row at the top.
Finally, remove the paper and foil. Fill the gap with blueberries and you are ready to serve.
Can I make it ahead?
This Fourth of July fruit tray is best served as fresh as possible, so if you can, cut and assemble the fruit on the day of your party or gathering.
If you need to make it ahead, here are a few options:
- Make it 4 to 6 hours in advance: Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- Make it the night before your event: Rinse, dry and cut up all the produce. Store it in separate containers in the fridge. The following day, assemble everything on a platter and serve shortly after.
If serving this outside, keep the platter chilled until just before serving. For longer parties, set out smaller portions at a time or place the tray over ice if you can.
Serving ideas
- Fruit dip of your choice
- Whipped cream
- Lemon curd dip
How long does a fruit platter last?
It should last up to a day. However, keep in mind that this depends on the produce you choose and also on the outdoor or indoor temperature and length of time the platter is out on the table.
Leftover fruit is best to store in the freezer for smoothies, except for the watermelon. Or, keep in an airtight container refrigerated and consume within a day.
Red, white and blue fruit ideas
Red: Watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, red grapes or red currants.
White: coconut, marshmallows, diced angel food cake, white chocolate covered pretzels, white-fleshed melon or meringue kisses. Keep in mind that white chocolate covered pretzels might melt in the summer heat. For melon, any white-fleshed variety will work. Canary melon is a great option.
Bananas and apples are also options, but they will brown over time. For that reason, I would not use them when prepping the fruit tray well in advance.
Blue: Blueberries are the best choice. Blackberries will also work.
Helpful tips
- Watermelon is very juicy. It can make marshmallows soggy when they come to contact with each other so bear this in mind. If making it in advance, I suggest adding them to this American flag platter right before serving.
- Cut up any leftover fruits and berries and make a quick red, white and blue fruit salad with a refreshing coconut honey dressing!
- A 9x13 inch (22x33 centimeters) baking sheet or board is the perfect size to hold all the fruits. I like using a deep tray so I can squeeze in more produce without it falling out of the tray.
- When it comes to fruit dips my favorite is a combination of cream cheese, Greek yogurt, powdered sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
More easy appetizers you might like to try
- Chip Dip: Easy, quick and always a crowd-pleaser.
- Veggie Dip: Another easy recipe.
- Pigs in a Blanket: Enjoy some delicious puff pastry snacks while waiting for grilled burgers or hot dogs.
4th of July Fruit Platter
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries (halved)
- 2 cups blueberries
- 3 cups watermelon (cubes, see note 1)
- 2 cups coconut chunks (fresh, 7 ounces)
- ½ cup mini marshmallows (or more)
Instructions
- Rinse strawberries and blueberries under running water. Transfer them onto a clean kitchen towel and pat them dry. Set aside.
- Cut the watermelon in quarters, remove the skin and cut into bite-size pieces.
- Place a piece of paper in the top left corner of a 9x13-inch (22x33-centimeter) serving tray. This is just to visualize the space you will need to leave for blueberries. You can also use aluminum foil to make a border so that the area stays clear of other fruits.
- Start at the bottom edge. Make a red row from strawberries and watermelon chunks, about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) wide. Continue with a white row of coconut chunks and marshmallows, followed by a red row, then white and finish with a red row at the top of the tray. So 5 rows, 3 red, 2 white.
- Remove the foil and paper and fill the empty space with blueberries.
- Serve as is or with a fruit dip of your choice!
Notes
- A 2-pound piece of watermelon with rind should be enough for this recipe.
- Marshmallows might get soggy and sticky when they touch wet fruits, especially when making this platter ahead of time. For that reason, add them just before serving.
- This recipe serves about 8 people, depending on what else you are serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates calculated from available data and may vary with ingredient brands and portion sizes.
Danea Allen says
I loved the idea of layering fruit into a flag! Since my family is allergic to coconut, I opted for large marshmallows and white chocolate pretzels strawberries, blueberries and watermelon It was gorgeous!!