Easy Halloween Fruit Kabobs

Coming up with fun, kid-friendly Halloween party snacks that aren’t loaded with sugar can feel like mission impossible. Between classroom parties, neighborhood get-togethers, and trick-or-treating festivities, October seems to bring an endless parade of candy and sweets that leave our little ones bouncing off the walls.

That’s why these Halloween fruit kabobs are such a welcome change of pace – they’re naturally sweet, super easy to put together, and just spooky enough to get kids excited about eating fresh fruit. Plus, they’re perfect for making ahead, so you can focus on other party preparations or costume emergencies.

What Kind of Cantaloupe Should I Use?

When shopping for cantaloupe, look for one that feels heavy for its size and gives off a sweet, fragrant smell at the stem end. A ripe cantaloupe should have a beige or cream-colored netting pattern over its skin, and the background color should be more golden than green. For making melon balls, you’ll want a cantaloupe that’s ripe but still firm – if it’s too soft, your balls won’t hold their shape nicely. You can test for ripeness by gently pressing the blossom end (opposite the stem) – it should yield slightly to pressure but not be mushy. If your cantaloupe isn’t quite ripe when you buy it, let it sit on your counter for a couple of days until it develops that sweet aroma.

Options for Substitutions

These spooky fruit kabobs are pretty flexible and you can switch things up based on what you have:

• Cantaloupe balls: If cantaloupe isn’t your thing or isn’t in season, try honeydew melon or even orange segments for that Halloween-y orange color. Just make sure to remove any seeds and membrane from the oranges first.
• Blackberries: Can’t find big blackberries? Purple grapes work great as a substitute and are usually easier to find. You could also use black plums cut into chunks, though they might be a bit juicier.
• Green grapes: Feel free to swap these with green apple chunks or kiwi pieces. If using apple, toss them in a bit of lemon juice to prevent browning.
• Candy eyeballs: If you can’t find candy eyeballs, you can make your own using white chocolate chips with a tiny dot of black icing, or skip them altogether – the sliced grape ‘stems’ still give that spooky look!

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making fruit kabobs is keeping the fruit from sliding around or falling off – to prevent this, make sure your fruit pieces are similar in size and thread them firmly onto the skewers, leaving a small space between each piece for stability.

Many people skip washing and thoroughly drying their fruit before assembly, but this step is crucial since moisture can make the candy eyeballs slide off or dissolve – pat each fruit piece completely dry with paper towels before starting.

When working with cantaloupe balls, avoid the common mistake of making them too large or uneven – use a melon baller to create uniform-sized pieces that will balance well with the other fruits, and chill your fruit beforehand to make it easier to work with and help the candy eyes stick better.

What to Serve With Halloween Fruit Kabobs?

These spooky fruit kabobs are perfect for a Halloween party spread and pair wonderfully with other fun party snacks! I like to serve them alongside a simple yogurt dip (vanilla or honey flavored works great) for extra kid appeal. Since these are on the lighter side, they balance nicely with classic Halloween treats like popcorn balls, mini chocolate bars, or pumpkin cookies. You can also arrange them on a party platter with cheese cubes and crackers to create a more substantial snack spread that both kids and adults will enjoy.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These spooky fruit kabobs are best enjoyed within 24 hours of assembly. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge, laying them flat and not stacking them on top of each other to prevent the fruit from getting squished or the candy eyes from falling off.

Prep Ahead: Want to get a head start? You can prep the fruit up to 8 hours before your Halloween party – just keep the cut fruit pieces separate in containers in the fridge. Wait to add the candy eyes and assemble the kabobs until about an hour before serving to keep everything looking fresh and prevent the candy from getting wet.

Display: Once assembled, these kabobs can sit out at room temperature for up to 2 hours during your party. If you’re setting up a buffet table, try placing them on a tray over a bed of ice to keep them cool and fresh longer.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	0 minutes
Total Time	10-15 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 250-300
• Protein: 3-5 g
• Fat: 1-2 g
• Carbohydrates: 65-70 g

Ingredients

• 1/2 cantaloupe, scooped into balls
• 20 big blackberries
• 20 big green grapes, tops thinly sliced
• 20 small candy eyeballs

Step 1: Assemble the Fruit Skewers

Begin by layering the fruit onto skewers using your preferred pattern or arrangement.

Ensure each skewer contains at least two pieces of each type of fruit to create a balanced and colorful display.

Step 2: Add the Candy Eyeballs for Decoration

Take the grapes and carefully insert candy eyeballs into the sliced portion of each grape.

Press gently to ensure the eyeballs adhere to the fruit.

This step adds a playful and whimsical touch to your fruit skewers.

Step 3: Serve and Enjoy

Serve the prepared fruit skewers immediately to keep the fruit fresh and vibrant.

These fun and eye-catching fruit skewers are sure to be a hit at any gathering!