Easy Fruit Kabobs {Fruit Skewers}

Quick, easy, make ahead fruit kabobs recipe for kids, homemade with simple ingredients. Each fruit skewer is packed with fresh juicy berries like strawberries and chocolate brownies.

These are also called "fruit on a stick"  are are one of my favorite Summer desserts or snacks, especially for kids. They are easy to serve at parties and more importantly, easy to eat without any mess just like these Apple Nachos.

How to make fruit kabobs (fruit kebabs)?

1. Wash fruits- Pat them dry.
2. Bake brownies- Allow them to cool fully.
3. Assemble- Thread brownies and strawberries into a wooden skewer, in an alternating pattern.
4. Chill- Until you are ready to serve.

How do you keep fruit kabobs fresh and avoid turning brown?

Cover the tray of skewers with plastic saran wrap and chill in the fridge overnight. If your skewer has just fruits and no brownies, you can lightly spray a diluted mixture of lemon juice, before chilling them. This helps the fruits to retain their color and texture. You can also avoid using fruits that easily turn brown such as bananas, apples and pears.

Do you need to soak bamboo skewers?

No, it's not necessary in the recipe below. However, if you are planning on grilling the fruits, you should soak the skewers for about 20 minutes.

Variations for fruit skewers

Grilled fruit kebabs- Use fruits that taste good, when grilled such as peaches, nectarines, pineapples, apricots, pears. Start off by chopping fruits into 2 inch pieces. Thread them into a skewer. Place them on a hot grill and cook on each side until they are slightly charred and have some grill marks. Remove from grill and drizzle and honey and sprinkle cinnamon powder and you are done.

Make them for holidays- Use seasonal fruits and colors. Snowman, Santa kabobs and Grinch kabobs are popular during Christmas and Winter time. Rainbow kabobs are popular at St.Patrick's Day. Marshmallow Peeps are added to the Easter skewers.

Drizzle melted chocolate- Melt your favorite chocolate bar or semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave. Place the kabobs on a cookie tray, lined with wax paper and just drizzle chocolate all over and let it set and enjoy. You can also toss some sprinkles and they will stick to the melted chocolate.

Make a kabob centerpiece- Take a bunch of prepared skewers and place them in a vase at the center of the dessert table. It's quite a showstopper.

Serve with sweet dips- Such as a sweetened yogurt dip or this Chocolate Fruit Dip, Best Cream Cheese Fruit Dip, Peaches and Cream Dip or Chocolate Whipped Cream, Homemade Whipped Cream or my favorite, Chocolate Fondue.

Mini skewers- Make smaller bite sized skewers with toothpicks instead of long wooden skewers. You will have to slice the strawberries and brownies into small chunks.

Add cheese- If you like the sweet and savory flavor combo, thread in mozzarella cheese cubes between the fruits.

Tips and Techniques

Use ripe fruits- For best juicy flavor and texture.

Canned fruits vs. Fresh Fruits- I high recommend using fresh fruits because they have a firmer texture and they just taste better and more refreshing.

Homemade brownies vs. Store-bought brownies- Either can be used. Just make sure you are using mini brownie bites or 2 inch brownie square pieces. Anything bigger would be too heavy to be supported by the skewers and fall or break off.

Cut the pointy edge of the skewer- To make it safe for kids to eat, use scissors or small kitchen shears to cut off that sharp point.

What else can be added to these kabobs? This a very versatile recipe. You can thread in large marshmallows, gummy candies, Rice Krispie Treats or small slices of Sour Cream Pound Cake or use only fruits such as small pieces of watermelon, honeydew, apples, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, oranges e.t.c.

Wash the fruits thoroughly- This is crucial. You don't want any residue on them. Also, make sure to pat them dry.

Another idea- Fruits only

Omit the brownies and focus only on fresh fruits. Use a variety of flavors and colors for best appearance, texture and flavor. My favorites are kiwis, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, nectarines, strawberries, pitted cherries, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew, pineapples, oranges. Some fruits such as kiwis will need to be sliced while other smaller ones like raspberries can be used as is.

Storage

Room temperature- These can stay out away from direct heat for 2-3 hours.

Refrigerate- In a sealed container for up to 2 days.

Freeze- I don't recommend this because the fresh berries become very soft and release a lot of juices. You can bake and freeze the brownies and then, assemble as per instructions below when you are ready to enjoy this treat.

Make ahead instructions- Make these a day in advance. Place them on a serving tray and cover in saran wrap to keep them fresh. This way, there is less work on the day of the party.

More Brownie Recipes

• Cheesecake Brownies (Cream Cheese Brownies)
• Fudgy Black Bean Brownies
• 3 Ingredient Nutella Brownies
• Fudgy Avocado Brownies
• Fudgy Oreo Brownies
• Chocolate Orange Brownies
• Gooey Brownies (Chocolate Cherry Brownies)

Recipe

By the way, if you ever have leftover brownies, make small brownie balls, similar to how you would  make cake balls and cake pops. Then, thread 2 balls into a toothpick and dip it in melted chocolate and toss sprinkles.