Who’s ready for the countdown to Christmas?! I was going to make a paper chain with Lincoln a couple weeks ago but forgot and didn’t think four loops would drape anywhere beautifully. That is to say, I’m not super on top of my Christmas traditions at the moment, but may have started a new one that’s so fun and festive it won’t matter that “Penny” formerly known as “Patch” aka Lincoln’s Elf on the Shelf has been perched in the same spot on the mantle since last Thursday, nor that Mama forgot to pre-purchase tickets for the sold out Santa Express train experience this weekend and we had to settle for riding cramped trains with metal cages at the mall instead.
Who needs clever elves and hot cocoa on an actual train when there’s Fruit Christmas Trees to build and eat?!
Watch How to Make It!
Seriously – if you are tapped out on sugar and Christmas cookies, enter these final few weeks of the holidays on a fresh and healthy note by building a Fruit Christmas Tree with your kids, friends, or yourself then serve during Christmas Eve cocktail hour, leave it out for Santa, or let it star as a healthy holiday dessert table centerpiece.
Moms, if you’re searching for things your kids can do while on break from school over the next couple of weeks, say hello to at least an hours worth of activity between picking out, prepping, and popping fresh fruit onto toothpicks stuck in a fresh pineapple and pear base. Of course it could go a lot quicker than that – I assembled my Fruit Christmas Tree from start to finish in about 30 minutes – but this project is one you can stretch out and feel great about letting little ones devour the finished product.
While Lincoln didn’t get in on the assembly action this year, I have no doubt we will make this Fruit Christmas Tree together for many, many years to come as a tradition I can feel really good about. As far as this year, time’s a-tickin’ so snag some fresh fruit and get to work creating this fabulous fresh Fruit Christmas Tree!
Start with a ripe pineapple. The best way to tell if a pineapple is ripe is to pull out one of the fronds on top – if you can pluck it out easily, it’s ripe!
Slice the top and bottom off, then cut a small slice off the top.
Insert a star cookie cutter into the thin slice, which will become the tree topper. If you don’t have a star cookie cutter – no problem, just use what you’ve got!
Set the star aside then slice a little off the sides of the pineapple to create a cone shape. Eat the trimmings. :)
Next take a bamboo skewer and push it through the center of the pineapple. This is why having a ripe pineapple is important. If it’s underripe it’ll be hard to get the skewer pushed through the core. Next, spike a slightly underripe pear onto the skewer leaving the end uncovered – that’s what you’ll stick the star onto at the end!
Tree trimming time! You could use whatever fruit you love or have on hand, but I used an assortment including clementines (always have these in the house around this time of year!) kiwis with the skin left on so they don’t slide off the tree, strawberries, blackberries, and red and green grapes. Raspberries, blueberries, or chopped cantaloupe would work great too!
Start placing toothpicks into the “tree” at a slight angle then add the fruit, breaking the toothpicks if necessary. I found it best to place the bigger fruits first – strawberries, orange slices, kiwis, etc. – then fill in the gaps with small fruit like grapes and blackberries.
Keep going until the tree is completely filled up – have FUN with it!!
Stick the star topper on the skewer, then serve. Talk about merry and bright!
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Fruit Christmas Tree
Description
Start a new holiday tradition with a beautiful and fresh Fruit Christmas Tree! Perfect for parties, a dessert table centerpiece, or a healthy treat for Santa.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe pineapple
- 1 pear (a little underripe works best)
- 2 clementines, peeled and segments separated
- 3 kiwi, ends trimmed then chopped into sixths with skin left on
- 8oz strawberries, stems removed
- 6oz blackberries
- 1-1/2 cups red grapes
- 1-1/2 cups green grapes
- 1 bamboo skewer
- toothpicks
Directions
- Slice top and bottom off pineapple then cut a thin slice from the top. Press a star-shaped cookie cutter into the center of the thin slice then set star aside. Slice a little off the sides of the pineapple at an angle to create a cone shape. Push the bamboo skewer through the center, then skewer the pear on top, leaving the top of the skewer uncovered (you'll skewer the star on top at the end.)
- Place pineapple onto a serving tray then insert toothpicks around pineapple and pear at a slight angle, breaking a little off if necessary, then add fruit. I found it easier to place most of the bigger fruit first then fill in with the smaller fruit like grapes. Add the pineapple star to the top of the skewer then serve.
Notes
- You can make the Fruit Christmas Tree several hours ahead of time but keep covered with Glad Press 'n' Seal or Saran Wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Use whatever fruit you like - blueberries and/or raspberries would also be fine to use!
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Video
Big or little, young (just maybe not too young!) or old, this edible Fruit Christmas Tree is going to knock everyone’s socks off. Healthy and so, so beautiful. Hope you start a new tradition this year – enjoy!
Cora 12.25.2015
I made this with my daughters to serve at Christmas brunch. It was so easy, we had fun making it, and it was a HUGE hit! I think I’ll be making it again for other holiday events.
Kristin 01.06.2016
Awesome!! Glad you all had fun making it – that’s the most important part! :)
Jessica 12.24.2015
I hope you still let him have some cookies! Just cause you can’t don’t forget that kids still love their special treats!
Cindy 12.22.2015
This looks so great – I can’t wait to build one! I’m tempted to make your delicious fruit dip too… :)
Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing!
Joanna Gehrke 12.22.2015
Oh my GOSH you have outdone yourself with this one! I am SO in love! My kids are going to flip! I have been meaning to comment on several posts as of late (hello awesome taco bowls!) but this just had to get a shout out! Thank a million Krisitn. You just rock, period. Don’t know what I would do without your blog~ Merry Chirstmas to you and your adorable family! X0! (oh yes, my snapchat is jojogehrke, that was one I meant to comment on!)
Chai Spiced Paleo Donuts with Vanilla Bean Glaze - Simple Roots 12.22.2015
[…] that donut tree and combine it with this fruit tree and you have yourself a pretty tasty and good-looking Christmas […]
Janelle @ Wholly Healthy 12.22.2015
I am amazed at how pretty this looks!
Amy 12.21.2015
Wow, this is so beautiful, and creative! I really like this, and your work is excellent.
Tracy 12.21.2015
So creative!! Love this idea!
Ryan @ Feed by Round Pond 12.21.2015
What an adorable idea! Sill partial to those Christmas cookies, but this is a welcome addition to the mix.
Natalie 12.21.2015
Wow!!! This is amazing!!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious 12.21.2015
This is so cool! I fear if I tried to make it though it would fall down all over the place. Haha!
Hannah @CleanEatingVeggieGirl 12.21.2015
This is basically amazing! I LOVE how cute it is!
Jes 12.21.2015
Wow, this is the coolest thing I’ve seen in quite some time! Thanks for sharing the play by play of how to go about assembling. Merry Christmas! :)
Kristin 12.21.2015
I saw you as I was leaving Scenic Route yesterday but didn’t want to interrupt your conversation!! Hope you guys have a merry Christmas too!
Sara 12.21.2015
That is adorable! I was planning on making a fruit platter but this is way more fun.
We did the Santa Express ride this year and it was fun. I can’t decide which is more fun, going at night with the kiddos in their jammies or during the day so you can see where you are going on the train. Either way, the kids love it!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Debtgirl 12.21.2015
Happy holiday to you!!! This is so pretty! I love it! I have to remember it for company potluck next year. Xoxo hope u r feeling better!
Taylor 12.21.2015
Yum!! Your fruit Christmas tree is too cute! Such a great idea for a beautiful centerpiece at a Christmas party!
Hilary 12.21.2015
Love this! Such a great idea, thank you!
Brittany | Words Like Honeycomb 12.21.2015
OH my gosh you are too cute, Kristin!! So impressed with your food crafting skills <3 and what a fun gift this would be to receive!! No more expensive Edible Arrangements purchases! :)
Terri A 12.21.2015
This is beautiful! I love this idea.
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday 12.21.2015
I’m so dying over how adorable this is! This looks like a much tastier (homemade!) version of an Edible Arrangement – what an awesome idea!