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Pumpkin Shaped Fruit Tray Recipe
Ash Tyrrell

Pumpkin Shaped Fruit Tray Recipe

I made this pumpkin shaped fruit tray for a Halloween get-together last year, and it disappeared faster than the candy bowl. I piled bright mandarin orange pumpkin wedges onto a platter and gave it a silly, smiling face. The kids giggled, and the grown-ups kept sneaking one more handful
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Total Time 10 minutes
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 clementines peeled and separated into wedges: they build the bright orange pumpkin body.
  • 1 cup red grapes washed and picked off the vine: they become the round eyes, so choose plump, even ones.
  • ΒΌ cup blueberries washed: they shape the nose, so pat them dry first.
  • 4 strawberries halved: they curve into a happy smile, so pick firm, ripe berries.
  • 4 slices Granny Smith apple: they make the green stem so slice them last.

Method
 

  1. Rinse the grapes, blueberries, and strawberries under cool water. Let them drain well, then pat them dry with paper towels. Dry fruit sticks to the tray better and keeps your design neat.
  2. Peel all 12 clementines and pull off any stringy white pith. Split each one into wedges with your fingers. I like to set them in a bowl first so I can grab them quickly.
  3. Start at the outer edge of the platter and lay the wedges in tight rows. Work inward until no tray shows through. This orange layer is your pumpkin, so fill every gap.
  4. Cut the strawberries in half from top to bottom. Lay the halves in a curved line near the bottom of the pumpkin. Tilt the curve upward at the ends for a big, happy grin.
  5. Place the blueberries in the center of the orange wedges. You can shape them into a small circle or a triangle. I prefer the triangle because it looks like a classic jack-o'-lantern nose.
  6. Arrange the red grapes into two equal circles above the nose. Keep both circles the same size so the face looks balanced. Stand back and check that the eyes sit evenly.
  7. Slice the Granny Smith apple into wedges. Tuck them at the top of the tray so they form a stem. Serve right away, or chill the tray until the party starts.

Notes

  • I always dry the fruit before building, because wet fruit slides and smudges the face.
  • I keep extra apple slices, strawberries, blueberries, and grapes on the side to refill the tray as guests snack.
  • I wash and prep everything ahead of time, so assembly takes only a few minutes.
  • I choose clementines with loose, easy-to-peel skin. They save time and keep my hands from getting sticky.
  • I let kids place the grapes and blueberries. It makes the tray feel like their own creation.
  • I use a flat tray with a slight rim, so the wedges stay in place when someone bumps the table.