Fruit skewers are a delightful blend of fruit, fun and flavor, perfect for any occasion! Imagine colorful cubes of cheese with strawberries and grapes in vibrant layers. One part salad, one part snack and one part party, fruit kabobs are one of the easiest and tastiest kabob recipes. And don’t forget the yogurt dip with honey and cinnamon to complement your fruity creations!
What fruit works best on a skewer?
Let your imagination run wild! All different kinds of fruit are fantastic on a skewer. Just be sure to cut pieces big enough so they won’t fall. I love trying different fruit and cheese combinations, like caramel apple and Brie skewers, pears and Gorgonzola, raspberries and Jarlsberg, or peaches and mozzarella.
Work with fruits that complement each other for your fruit kabob. Island fruits like mango, kiwi, and pineapple are all a great match, as well as other combos like peaches and cherries, apples and cranberries, and watermelon and blueberries.
I’ve made rainbow fruit skewers by arranging seven or more fruit by color. My most eye-catching (and delicious) platter of kabobs used raspberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries and blackberries. There are no hard-and-fast rules, so follow your taste buds and dream up your own fruit skewer ideas.
Ingredients for Fruit Skewers
- Vanilla yogurt: A seemingly simple ingredient, yogurt is the essential building block of the dip, lending its sweet and tart flavors and smooth texture. Go for any popular yogurt brands, Greek or regular yogurt, or flavor plain yogurt with some vanilla extract (and maybe a smidge more honey).
- Sour cream: Tangy sour cream adds extra flavor and thickness (so it sticks to your fruits) to the dip.
- Honey: Sweeten the dip with a spoonful of honey, whether one of our best honey picks or your local favorite.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon balances the sweetness of the fruit and the sweet-tart yogurt dip.
- Fresh strawberries: Strawberries add color and flavor and are strong enough to stay on the skewer. Not sure which berries to buy? Here’s how to pick strawberries for snacking, baking or skewering. Make sure to clean the strawberries properly before slicing them in half.
- Green grapes: The mellow sugars of green grapes blend brilliantly with the strawberries. And the best part: No cutting needed!
- Cheddar and/or Monterey Jack cheese: Is there any pairing more classic than cheese with fruit? I like layering a sharp cheddar with a more delicate cheese like Monterey Jack, giving us a wider range of flavors. A shortcut: Grab precubed cheese from your local grocery store.
Directions
Step 1: Whip up the dip
For the dip, combine the yogurt, sour cream, honey and cinnamon.
Step 2: Make the skewers
On 12 wooden skewers, alternately thread the strawberries, grapes and cheese cubes. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Fruit Skewers Recipe Variations
- Grill ’em: Grilling the fruit caramelizes its sugars and creates a fantastic and distinctive flavor. Brush some maple syrup or honey over your kabob fruits (no cheese on these; it will only melt off the stick). Throw it on the grill for a couple of minutes on each side or until the brown grill marks appear. If you need inspiration, we have many grilled fruit recipes to choose from.
- Make a rainbow: As mentioned above, there are many fruit and cheese or fruit combos to play with for kabobs. Consider adding more colors with watermelon, blackberries, red grapes, mango, pineapple and kiwi. Other types of cheese that could work include cubes of feta, mozzarella, Colby, Havarti and more.
- Make more dips and drizzles: A burst of citrus can enhance the yogurt dip. Experiment with a bit of lemon zest or grapefruit juice. A drizzle of caramel sauce, chocolate or sweet balsamic syrup can also be the perfect dairy-free option.
- Consider cake: What about a cube of pound cake on your kabob instead of cheese? The extra sweetness of a cube of cake skews the skewer a little bit more toward dessert and works both on the grill or just out of the fridge.
How to Store Fruit Skewers
Fruit skewers look and taste best right after you prepare them, but they will last up to 24 hours in the fridge, tightly wrapped on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
Fruit Skewers Recipe Tips
How else can you cut fruit for kabobs?
To make your fruit kabob look as good as it tastes, cut your fruit into uniform shapes. Cubes are the easiest, but consider using small cookie cutters and try something new. Layer assorted shapes like circles, diamonds, stars and hearts on the skewer for some visual excitement.
How do you keep fruit kabobs from turning brown?
Spritzing your fruit skewers with diluted lemon juice is the best way to keep your fruit looking its best, but you might encounter a slightly lemony flavor. If that’s bothersome, a little salt water with thinned honey can also slow browning. Or, like keeping fruit salad fresh, spritz with another acidic juice, like orange juice, or brush on some simple syrup.
Can you use frozen fruit for fruit kabobs?
Fresh fruit is best, but you can use frozen fruit. Stick with heartier fruits that retain their texture, like pineapple, mango and strawberries. Ensure the fruit is already in big chunks; if it’s too small, it won’t stay on the skewer. Thaw the fruit in the refrigerator, then blot the excess moisture before chopping and skewering!
What can you serve with fruit kabobs?
Enjoy fruit skewers with a wide variety of sweet and savory dishes on any occasion. Classic cookout foods like burgers, potato salad and hot dogs pair fantastically with these kabobs. In fact, any time I consider making a fruit salad, I end up making fruit kabobs instead. These even make a delightful snack!
