Looking for a fun and fresh snack that kids will actually want to eat? These fruit kabobs have become my go-to solution for afternoon snacks and playdate treats. With colorful chunks of fruit threaded onto kid-friendly skewers, they’re both fun to make and fun to eat.
My own kids love helping me put these together in the kitchen, and I’ve found it’s a great way to get them excited about eating fruit. Plus, they’re perfect for birthday parties or classroom events when you need something healthy that still feels special.
Why You’ll Love These Fruit Kabobs
- Kid-friendly fun – These colorful kabobs turn healthy snacking into an entertaining activity – kids love helping thread the fruit and adding sprinkles to their yogurt dip.
- Quick preparation – You can put these together in just 10-15 minutes, perfect for busy afternoons or last-minute playdates.
- Healthy snacking – Each kabob delivers a rainbow of fresh fruits packed with vitamins and nutrients, making this a nutritious choice you can feel good about serving.
- No cooking required – Just wash, cut, and assemble – these no-bake treats are perfect for hot summer days when you don’t want to turn on the oven.
- Customizable options – You can easily swap fruits based on what’s in season or what your kids prefer, and the yogurt dip makes everything more fun to eat.
What Kind of Fruit Should I Use?
The great thing about fruit kabobs is that you can mix and match based on what’s in season and what your kids enjoy most. Fresh fruit is always best, but if you’re making these in winter, frozen pineapple chunks or strawberries can work in a pinch – just make sure to thaw and pat them dry first. When shopping for your fruits, look for berries that are bright and firm (avoid any with signs of mold), grapes that are plump and firmly attached to their stems, and kiwis that yield slightly to gentle pressure. For clementines, choose ones that feel heavy for their size and have a bright, fresh-smelling peel. Remember that ripe fruit will not only taste better but will also be easier for little hands to slide onto the skewers.
Options for Substitutions
These fun fruit kabobs are super adaptable – here’s how you can mix things up:
- Fruits: Feel free to swap any of the fruits based on what’s in season or what your kids like! Try using blueberries instead of grapes, mandarin oranges for clementines, or mango chunks instead of pineapple. Just make sure to cut pieces into similar sizes for easy skewering.
- Vanilla yogurt: The dip is totally customizable – try Greek yogurt for extra protein, strawberry yogurt for a pink dip, or even honey-flavored yogurt. If you’re dairy-free, coconut yogurt works great too!
- Sprinkles: While sprinkles make these extra fun, you can try other toppings like mini chocolate chips, crushed graham crackers, or shredded coconut. For a healthier option, try crushed nuts (if age-appropriate and no allergies) or granola.
- General assembly: No skewers? No problem! You can serve this as a fruit salad with yogurt dip on the side, or layer it in cups for a parfait-style treat.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making
The biggest challenge when making fruit kabobs is preventing the fruit from turning brown or releasing too much juice – to keep your fruits fresh and bright, give them a quick dip in a mixture of lemon juice and water before threading them onto skewers.
Another common mistake is using fruits that are either too ripe (they’ll fall apart) or not ripe enough (they’ll be too hard for kids to eat) – aim for fruits that are just perfectly ripe but still firm.
When it comes to assembly, avoid pressing the fruits too tightly together on the skewer as this can cause them to crush and leak juice, and if you’re making these ahead of time, wrap them loosely in plastic wrap and store them in the fridge for no more than 4 hours to maintain their best texture.
For the yogurt dip, serve it in small individual portions rather than one big bowl to keep things neat and hygienic, especially when serving to kids.
What to Serve With Fruit Kabobs?
These fun and colorful fruit kabobs make a perfect snack or party food, and there are lots of tasty ways to round out the serving! The vanilla yogurt dip that comes with these kabobs is great, but you could also put out some chocolate hummus, honey-sweetened Greek yogurt, or even a cream cheese fruit dip for extra options. For a complete breakfast or brunch spread, serve these alongside some mini pancakes or waffles that kids can eat with their hands. If you’re hosting a party, these kabobs go perfectly with other finger foods like cheese cubes, mini muffins, or bite-sized sandwiches – all things that make eating fun and easy for little ones.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Once assembled, these fun fruit kabobs will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. For the best results, keep the yogurt dip and sprinkles separate until you’re ready to serve – this prevents the fruit from getting soggy and keeps the sprinkles crunchy.
Prep Ahead: Want to get a head start? You can cut all the fruit and store the pieces separately in containers in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just remember that some fruits like kiwi and pineapple might release extra juice, so pat them dry with paper towels before assembling your kabobs.
Serve: These kabobs are best enjoyed right after assembly. If you’ve stored them in the fridge, let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving – cold fruit has the best flavor when it’s not ice-cold. Set out the yogurt dip and sprinkles in separate bowls so kids can customize their own treats!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 0-0 minutes |
| Total Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 500-600
- Protein: 10-15 g
- Fat: 10-15 g
- Carbohydrates: 80-90 g
Ingredients
- 12 large raspberries or small strawberries
- 12 clementine sections
- 12 pineapple chunks
- 12 pieces of kiwi (shaped as desired)
- 12 large purple grapes
- 1 cup vanilla yogurt
- 1/4 cup colored sprinkles
Step 1: Prepare the Fruit Skewers
Start by gathering 12 small skewers.
For each skewer, thread a raspberry, followed by a piece of orange, a chunk of pineapple, a slice of kiwi, and a grape.
Continue this process until all 12 skewers are made, ensuring a colorful and balanced arrangement on each.
Step 2: Prepare the Yogurt Dip
In a separate bowl, place your desired amount of vanilla yogurt.
Sprinkle a generous amount of sprinkles on top of the yogurt for a fun and colorful touch that complements the vibrant fruit skewers.
Step 3: Serve and Enjoy
Arrange the fruit skewers on a serving plate or tray and place the bowl of yogurt dip alongside them.
Encourage your guests to dip the fruit skewers into the vanilla yogurt for a delightful and healthy treat.
Enjoy the combination of fresh fruit flavors and creamy yogurt with a touch of sweetness from the sprinkles.