My Mom made this fruit basket for every Summer get-together, and it’s so much fun to carry on her tradition. I have many fond memories of slowly learning each step. Now, my kids are the students and I get to sit back and watch!
Fresh fruit is such a great treat, especially during warmer months. Adding my Coconut Whipped Cream makes this side dish extraordinary!
Table of Contents:
Benefits of Eating Seasonally
Creating a watermelon fruit basket is a great way to practice eating seasonally. Focusing your menu around what foods are in season provides you with many benefits! If you’re a gardener, you probably already do this. If not, here are a few major motivators.
Saves Money
Chances are, the produce that’s on sale is what’s in season. These items are abundant, and businesses need to get rid of them fast! Eating seasonally also means you can take advantage of farmer’s markets, where home-grown goodies reign supreme.
If you’re an avid gardener like myself, you already know the rewards of eating seasonally! I can’t tell you how much money we’ve saved on organic produce by shopping in our garden.
Encourages Creativity
Those who eat seasonally have plenty of opportunities to exercise creativity! I’m sure you can think of some seasonal favorites, such as pumpkin pie or mulled cider. Expand that way of thinking to include more seasonal produce.
Seasonal eating has inspired many family traditions in our household. Fall is a wonderful time to incorporate more stews and soups, while Summer is prime time for salad making! Bonus: Produce tastes fresher, sweeter, and crisper when it’s in season.
If you need help, our recipe index contains family-friendly recipes, many of them labeled by season or occasion.
Promotes Preparation
A little preparation goes a long way! I love having a “cheat sheet” that helps me know when certain things are in season. I then start stocking up on ingredients to turn them into full meals.
This system is especially handy during the winter when the weather can turn chaotic.
Here are a few guidelines to get you started: *Guidelines may vary depending on your climate*
- Spring: Asparagus, beets, broccoli, celery, greens, onions, peas, peppers, strawberries, turnips, onions
- Summer: Carrots, cauliflower, cherries, cucumbers, figs, grapes, peaches, peas, pineapple, Summer squash, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini
- Fall: Apples, broccoli, garlic, pears, plums, Winter squash
- Winter: Brussel sprouts, cabbage, leeks, radishes
This list varies by state and climate. Check out Seasonal Food Guide’s fantastic website for a more detailed look!
Fruit Salad Ingredients 101
This recipe uses simple, fresh ingredients to create a tasty side dish! Of course, a few tools help the carving process go smoothly. Here’s what you need to add to your shopping cart.
Watermelon: The warmth of Summer brings many luscious, juicy watermelons. Watermelon contains a lycopene compound, which can help your body fight off cancer cells. (1)
When choosing a watermelon, be sure to get a seedless one with a flat bottom. Perfectly round melons aren’t stable baskets and can lead to a big mess!
Fruit: Fill your watermelon fruit basket with whatever fruit you choose! Some of our favorites include:
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Peaches/nectarines
- Pineapple
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
You can chop your fruit ahead of time, but I don’t recommend doing it more than a day in advance. Be sure to drain any excess fruit juice before adding your fruit!
Lemon: Fresh lemon juice keeps your fruit from browning and adds a delightful tang! Lemons are full of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system by increasing white blood cell production. (2)
A hint of lemon makes this salad taste so fresh and keeps the fruit from browning. Win-win! If you don’t have lemon juice on hand, you can use lime juice and achieve a similar result.
Mint: There’s nothing better than mint with fruit! Mint is a fantastic herb to keep on hand, as it helps settle queasy stomachs. I love growing fresh mint in my garden. It doesn’t require a lot of space or upkeep!
Mint has a hefty dose of vitamin A, which helps your vision, immune system, and reproductive organs. (3) You can use various types of mint such as chocolate mint and spearmint. I also like to switch it up by using other herbs such as lemon verbena.
I recommend using fresh herbs to garnish your basket versus dried.
Mama Z Pro Tip: I love growing many different varieties of mint in my deck garden. My favorites are chocolate mint and peppermint. I always plant it in its own pot, so I don’t have to worry about it taking over the whole garden plot!
Supplies: Don’t let this DIY intimidate you; it’s actually quite simple! To help this recipe go smoothly, I recommend using the following items:
- Serrated knife to make carving easy
- Black sharpie marker to create a clear outline
- Melon baller or ice cream scoop for easy fruit prep
- Lemon essential oil to remove the black marker from the melon
Coconut Milk Whipped Cream: My favorite part of serving this fruit salad at my parties is the dip! The fruit goes perfectly with my homemade coconut milk whipped cream. I created this decadent dip as an alternative to dairy-filled whipped toppings. It tastes great, and most people can’t even tell the difference! I always use a high-powered food processor or blender to give it an airy effect.
You should note that this recipe requires a chilled can of coconut milk. I always place my coconut milk in the fridge the night before.
Be sure to grab an extra can of coconut milk in case the first one doesn’t set properly.
Make a Watermelon Fruit Basket
This recipe is so fun to make! It doubles as table decor and sets the stage for a fantastic party.
- 1 non GMO watermelon with a fairly flat bottom and its fruit from the inside (cubed OR balled)
- Berries and your personal choice of other fruits - blackberries, blueberries, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, etc.
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Zest from 1 lemon and 1 lime
- Fresh herb sprigs: chocolate mint, lemon balm, lemon verbena, peppermint, spearmint, peppermint, etc.
- Lemon essential oil
- Black sharpie marker
- Serrated knife
- Melon baller
- Fruit zester
- Use a black Sharpie marker to outline the sides and handle of your watermelon basket.
- Use a serrated knife to cut the watermelon skin into the fruit inside. Leave your handle about 1½ inches wide so it won't break, but if you accidentally cut it, you can use toothpicks to secure the handle.
- Use your melon baller and ice cream scoop to remove the edible fruit from inside and hollow out your watermelon. Save the edible melon balls/pieces in a container to serve, and also put some back in your watermelon fruit basket later.
- Clean off the remaining marker from the watermelon rind using/lemon essential oil on a napkin or cloth.
- Alternate adding berries, watermelon pieces, and other fruit chunks into the watermelon basket.
- Garnish with a few herb sprigs on top of the fruit as desired, and drizzle lemon juice over the fresh fruit. Using a zester, zest the lemon and lime.
- Sprinkle a little lemon and lime zest over the fruit. Serve with a large serving spoon in the watermelon basket, a container of coconut whipped cream, and a small bowl of lemon and/or lime zest for topping.
- Alternatively, serve on a plate or in a bowl with a dollop of coconut whipped cream and sprinkle lightly with zest.
Step One: Outline Your Design
Use a black Sharpie marker to outline the sides and handle of your watermelon basket. Get as creative with your basket design as you feel comfortable.
I recommend starting with jagged edges, as they’re easier to carve than scallops.
Step Two: Carve Your Watermelon
Use your knife to cut through the watermelon skin into the fruit inside.
Mama Pro Tip: Leave your handle about 1 1/2 inches wide so it won’t break, but if you accidentally cut or break it, you can use toothpicks to secure the handle.
Most of the time, when the fruit releases, it will make a popping sound, letting you know it’s ready to be taken out.
Use your melon baller and ice cream scoop to remove the edible fruit from inside and hollow out your watermelon. Save the edible melon balls/pieces in a container to serve, and also put some back in your watermelon fruit basket later.
Clean off the remaining marker from the watermelon rind using lemon essential oil on a napkin or cloth.
Step Three: Fill Your Watermelon Fruit Basket
Alternate adding berries, watermelon pieces, and other fruit chunks into the watermelon basket. Garnish with a few herb sprigs on top of the fruit as desired, and drizzle lemon juice over the fresh fruit. Using a zester, zest the lemon and lime.
Sprinkle a little lemon and lime zest over the fruit. Serve with a large serving spoon in the watermelon basket, a container of coconut whipped cream, and a small bowl of lemon or lime zest for topping. Alternately, serve on a plate or in a bowl with a dollop of coconut whipped cream and sprinkle lightly with zest.
Mama Z Pro Tip: Once you’re done using the watermelon fruit basket, place it in another container. If the fruit still looks good, top it with a bit of Christmas Cookie Blend or maple syrup. Place it in the fridge for a couple of hours, so the fruit releases its juices. This creates a delicious slurry that tastes amazing on top of homemade vanilla ice cream!
