The fruit compositions enliven the table and stand out. These edible bouquets fit any occasion, from baby showers to barbecues, and make great gifts. Have you been invited to a dinner and will each participant have to bring something to drink or eat? Don't make the usual fruit salad! Is it Valentine's Day? Don't give away the usual box of chocolates! Instead, make a fruit bouquet - it's delicious, beautiful, and genuine.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Selecting Ingredients and Materials
Step 1. Seek inspiration
Before buying fruit, it's a good idea to develop a plan or get a general idea of the result you want to achieve, especially since the variations are endless. After you have an idea of the size and style, you can determine precisely what type of fruit to buy and how much.
- You can make a bouquet of just strawberries, but also a more complex composition with different types of fruit, such as pineapple, watermelon and melon. Cut the fruit into cute shapes, such as stars, balls and animals. Transform it to reproduce the image of a child, a bride or one of your favorite characters.
- If you are not artistic, it will be useful to do a short online search to see fruit and flower compositions. They will inspire you in creating the bouquet. Find or draw a picture depicting a flower arrangement. Then you can have fun imagining which fruits will replace the flowers.
- If you don't like planning, you can improvise the composition while creating the bouquet.
Step 2. Choose the fruit
You have to consider several factors. Does it blacken quickly? Is it solid enough to stick on a skewer? Are the fruits matched to each other and suitable for the theme you have chosen? Here are some of the most popular compositions:
- Berries: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.
- Watermelon, cantaloupe melon and green melon.
- Sour fruits: oranges, mangoes and pineapples.
- Grape.
Step 3. Avoid darkening fruit
Fruit bouquets are edible centerpieces. To keep them looking fresh and inviting, don't use fruit that blackens quickly, such as:
- Bananas.
- Pears.
- Apples.
Step 4. You could add some candy to the composition
Fruit goes very well with sweets. In fact, you can create a composition that also serves as a dessert. For example, dip the pieces of fruit in melted milk, white or dark chocolate. You can also skewer mini marshmallows or puffed cereals on a skewer.
Step 5. Choose a base for the composition
Fruit bouquets are arranged in different containers, including vases, cups, jars and baskets. You can also use another fruit as a base, such as a cantaloupe or an apple. Use a suitable container for the party or event.
Part 2 of 3: Prepare the Fruit and Skewers
Step 1. Wash and dry the fruit
Before making the skewers, you should wash and dry all the fruit. Washing will remove dirt, soil, pesticides and bacteria.
- Rinse the melons, oranges and mangoes one by one.
- Place one berry or grape at a time in a colander. Wash it and place it on kitchen paper or a tea towel to dry.
Step 2. Prepare and cut the fruit
It is important that the edible bouquet is easy to eat. Remove all inedible parts, such as stems, seeds, and leaves.
- Clean the strawberries by removing the stalk with a knife.
- Remove the seeds from the cantaloupe or green melon.
- Remove the stalk from the grapes and berries.
- If you are using fresh pineapple, cut off the ends of the fruit and then, with a knife, remove the peel.
Step 3. Cut the fruit
The bouquets feature fruit that has been cut in an original way, for example in the shape of flowers, animals or letters. You can also cut it in the traditional way, for example in wedges or in the shape of balls.
- Instead of making the weirdest shapes by hand, use cookie cutters to get a neat, professional-looking result. Choose a variety of sharp-edged shapes that fit the theme of the event.
- Cut the pineapple into two-centimeter-thick slices. Put them in the freezer for an hour, then take them out and make cute shapes using cookie cutters.
- Cut the melon into two-centimeter-thick slices. Create cute shapes with cookie cutters.
- Slice the melon. Melon slices are useful for filling in the blanks. Leave the peel intact. Cut it into slices or wedges. Instead of using a traditional knife, you can take a fluted one.
- Make melon balls. Use a fruit digger to make balls of similar size.
- Cut oranges, mangoes, apples, pears or kiwis into slices or wedges.
Step 4. Dip the fruit in the chocolate
To please sweet tooth lovers, you can dip fruit in chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave or double boiler.
- Dip the fruit in the melted chocolate using toothpicks.
- Place the chocolate dipped fruit on a sheet of parchment paper.
- After you have dipped all the fruit, put it in the refrigerator and let the chocolate solidify. Wait 15 minutes.
Step 5. Prepare the skewers
After washing, drying and cutting the fruit, the fun part begins. Don't stress yourself out - there are no rules for making a skewer. You can use skewers of any size and type, from a toothpick to a wooden rod. You are free to arrange the fruit in any order or combination you wish. When making, just make sure you leave enough space on the bottom end of the skewer so you can tuck it into the base. Here are some classic combinations:
- Alternate grapes or berries of different colors.
- Pineapple and melon pieces in the shape of flowers. Stick a melon ball, marshmallow, or strawberry onto the top of the skewer (the non-pointed one). Then, skewer melon and pineapple flowers of different sizes. Fill the remaining space with grapes and berries.
- Wedges of melon.
- A single strawberry covered in chocolate. You can also pair it with a row of mini marshmallows.
Part 3 of 3: Arranging the Fruit Arrangement
Step 1. Prepare the base
Insert a piece of flower arrangement sponge, a Styrofoam ball or a head of lettuce into the container - all the skewers will be threaded into this base. Use toothpicks to attach patterned tissue paper or dark vegetable leaves to the surface of the flower arrangement sponge, Styrofoam ball, or lettuce head.
- If you use the sponge for flower arrangements, you can place parsley on its surface to fill in the gaps that you see between the skewers.
- Do not let the flower arrangement sponge come into contact with the food. Wrap it completely with cling film.
Step 2. Insert the skewers into the base
When preparing a fruit or flower arrangement, your goal is to create an aesthetically beautiful bouquet. Insert the longer skewers in the center of the base. As you continue outward, the skewers should gradually shorten.
Step 3. Examine the composition
From time to time, step away from the bouquet a few steps to see how it goes. Eliminate skewers that look out of place. Fill all the blanks with more skewers. Continue until you are satisfied with the composition.
You may need to prepare additional skewers to fill the empty parts
Step 4. Keep the composition and / or take it to the place you want
After you're done, wrap the bouquet in cling film or a cellophane gift bag. Move it from the counter to the refrigerator. Take it out of the fridge 5 minutes before the party or a few seconds before you go out to pick it up. If you need to transport it in a vehicle, put it in a cardboard box and fill in the gaps with bags, clean towels or tissue paper.
Advice
- Try to prepare the composition the same day you intend to serve it or give it as a gift.
- You can prepare the fruit skewers and place them in the refrigerator in advance, and then compose the bouquet just before serving.
- Use solid fruit like strawberries, pineapples, melons, tangerines, and mangoes.
- Make the bouquet with patience. It takes some time to create a beautiful composition.
Warnings
- Be careful when cutting fruit. Grip the handle of the knife well and be sure to protect your fingers.
- Raspberries and other soft berries are difficult to manage when they don't have a firm texture.
- Make sure the container is suitable for food use, that it is clean and not contaminated with hazardous substances, such as paint or detergents.
- Do not prepare the fruit composition too early. Some types of fruit darken or spoil when exposed to the air for extended periods of time.
