Cool Bites for Hot Days: Festive Fruit Treats

I had so much fun making these sweet, simple, and healthy treats! They’re perfect for any summer celebration—especially the Fourth of July, with their festive red, white, and blue flair. Happy 4th!

FRUIT SKEWERS

Makes 5 Fruit Skewers

INGREDIENTS

1 small watermelon (½ for the skewers, ½ for the stand)

30 blueberries

EQUIPMENT

Cutting board

Knife

Heart-shaped cookie cutter

5 long wooden skewers

LET’S GET STARTED!

1. Cut the watermelon in half. Set one half aside to use as the skewer stand later.

2. Take the other half and cut it in half again.

   

3. Slice the quartered piece vertically into around 1.5-inch thick slices. 

   

4. Use the heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut hearts from the slices.

   

5. On each skewer, assemble in the following order:

   • 1 watermelon heart

   • 3 blueberries

   • 1 watermelon heart

   • 3 blueberries

   • 1 watermelon heart

   

6. Repeat step 5 four more times to make a total of 5 fruit skewers.

   

7. Insert the finished skewers upright into the reserved watermelon half to create a decorative display.

   

STRIPED STRAWBERRIES

Makes 6 striped strawberries

INGREDIENTS

6 large strawberries

1 cup white chocolate melts

½ cup blue sugar sprinkles

EQUIPMENT

Cutting board

Knife

Candy melting pot (or microwave-safe bowl)

Spatula

LET’S GET STARTED!

1. Melt the white chocolate melts in the candy melting pot (or microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between).

   

2. While the chocolate is melting, cut the stems off the strawberries.

   

3. Pour the blue sugar sprinkles into a small bowl.

   

4. Once the chocolate is melted, dip each strawberry into the chocolate a little more than halfway, leaving a red stripe at the top.

   

5. Let the chocolate set for 1–2 minutes. While it’s still slightly wet, dip the bottom half of the chocolate-coated section into the sprinkles, leaving a white stripe in the middle.

   

6. Repeat the dipping and decorating process five more times, to make all 6 strawberries.

   

FLAVORED LEMONADE

Makes 8 big ice cubes

INGREDIENTS

8 strawberries

24 blueberries

1 lemon/lime

2 ½ cups water (1 ½ cups for ice cubes + 1 cup for the lemonade)

EQUIPMENT

Ice cube tray

Cutting board

Knife

 LET’S GET STARTED!

1. Cut each strawberry in half.

   

2. Fill the ice cube tray with about 1½ cups of water (adjust as needed based on your tray size).

   

3. Place 2 strawberry halves and 3 blueberries into each compartment of the tray.

   

4. Freeze for at least 5 hours, or preferably overnight, until fully set.

   

5. Slice the lemon/lime.

   

6. In a cup, pour 1 cup of water.

   

7. Add 2 fruit ice cubes and top with a lemon/lime slice for a refreshing twist.

I hope you enjoy these treats as much as I did! Be sure to check them out on Instagram here for more sweet inspiration.

Happy Baking and Giving,

Avani Thakur