Fruit Christmas Tree

This 3-D fruit Christmas tree will be the “star” of your Christmas table! It’s easy-to-assemble and makes the perfect Christmas centerpiece! Show off your creativity! Vegan, gluten-free and healthy!

When I made my big 2D Turkey Fruit Platter this past Thanksgiving, I knew I needed to make a fruit Christmas tree but, this time, it had to be 3D! I had a vision and when I have a vision, it WILL come to life! This is the perfect addition to my Christmas collection! Add sugared cranberries to this tree to make it absolutely delightful and sparkling!

It’s so exciting to make a festive centerpiece for your Christmas table whether it’s a brunch, Christmas morning or Christmas dinner.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links which means, if you make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission but, the price you pay is the same.

 

Christmas Fruit Platter

You will only need four supplies-

• 12×4 inch styrofoam cone
• star cookie cutter
• cocktail toothpicks
• fresh fruit

 

Supplies:

You’ll need a green 12×4 inch syrofoam cone. Green is best but you can use white as you’ll be covering it with spinach leaves (or cabbage leaves) anyway. You can find them at craft stores or online.

 

 

Use a star cookie cutter to make the pineapple star.

You may use a star fruit, which is ideal however, tropical fruit can be hard to find in the winter months. If available, it can be found in the tropical fruit section of the produce department at the grocery store, if there is a tropical fruit section. 

 

Cocktail toothpicks are ideal because they’re long and have frilly cellophane ends that are attractive on the fruit tree appetizer. You may use other toothpicks but, I don’t recommend it because, they may be too sharp or not strong enough to pierce the styrofoam cone. 

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups spinach leaves or 3-4 cabbage leaves
• 2 mandarins, peeled and white strings removed
• 8 oz mango cubes
• 2 kiwi, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch slices
• 4 oz raspberries
• 4 oz blackberries
• 1/4 cup cranberries
• 1 pineapple slice or star fruit slice

Instructions

The full, printable instructions are in the recipe card below but, here’s a summary:

1. Add spinach leaves to the styrofoam cone. You may use cabbage leaves.
2. Next, add the fresh mandarins. Don’t use canned mandarins.
3. Then, add the mango cubes.
4. Then, add kiwi slices with one cranberry on each cocktail toothpick.
5. Next, add the blackberries in the open spaces.
6. Then, add the raspberries to the mandarins or mango cubes. They’ll slide right over the toothpicks.
7. Last, make the pineapple star by cutting a slice of pineapple and then using a star cookie cutter to make the shape or cut it free-hand with a knife. 

NOTE: You may have fruit leftover. This is your creation so, add what you like.

I used fresh spinach leaves because that’s what I had on hand and didn’t want run back out to the grocery store to get cabbage leaves, which are a better option because they cover much of the cone quickly. Don’t you hate having to run out to the store because you forgot something?

You may be wondering how much time it takes to make this beautiful fruit Christmas tree. It took me 45 minutes to assemble it.

Here are some time-saving tips:

• Use cabbage leaves instead of spinach leaves to cover the cone.
• Use a star fruit for the star, if available.
• Buy fruit that’s already peeled and cut such as mango cubes, pineapple cubes (if using.) Aldi, Lidl, and Costco are good money-saving options.)
• Don’t use blueberries, unless they’re large and place them on top of the other larger fruits.

Substitutions

• Use grapes instead of blackberries or raspberries as they’re generally cheaper.
• Use pineapple instead of mango or mandarins.
• Use strawberries instead of raspberries. Cut big strawberries in half but, they’ll be slippery.
• Add mint leaves fill in open space areas. It’ll add a nice mint flavor to the fruit, if desired.
• Use blueberries instead of raspberries or cranberries although, cranberries add a nice festive feel to the tree.
• Use star fruit to make the tree-topper instead of the pineapple although, star fruit may be hard to find in the winter months depending where you live.
• Don’t use canned fruit for this tree, with the exception of cubed pineapple because it will be hard enough to stay on the toothpick where a canned mandarin will likely fall off. 

Storage:

Keep the fruit tree in your refrigerator tightly covered with plastic wrap for 2-3 days. The kiwi will start to get mushy and the mandarins will start to dry up so, it’s best to make this fruit tree the same day you’re serving it. It will look its best as soon as it’s finished.

Your family and friends will LOVE this three-dimensional fruit Christmas tree! It’s festive and fun to create in addition to being a healthy snack or dessert. Serve it with a cream cheese fruit dip!

You may also like:

Christmas recipes

Tropical Fruit Salad with Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Belgian Waffle Yogurt and Fruit Parfait

I took this recipe to Weekend Potluck.