Fruit Sticks (also called Fruit Wands and Fruit Skewers) are one of my very favorite ways to help the kids find fruit more fun—especially when they’re reluctant to try new things—or even fruits they liked last week! This is an activity and snack the kids can help make, too.
Fruit Sticks
Ah, fruit sticks. My not-so-secret way to serve up all of the fruit that my kids have been ignoring in the fridge. Seriously, this instantly makes fruit more fun, uses up lingering fruit, and simply makes snack time more engaging.
You can do it with fruit the kids love and with fruit they are learning to like. And you can make it for the kids or with the kids.
These are also called “fruit kabobs”, “fruit skewers” or “fruit wands”—it’s all the same thing, so pick the name you like best. These work as well for a snack at home as they do to share at a party, birthdays, or any holiday. You can make them right before serving or a little ahead. They’re very versatile.
We often have them on their own, but they also pair well with Yogurt Dip or Cottage Cheese Dip.
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Ingredients You Need
To make these fruit wands, you’ll need the following ingredients on hand and ready to go.
- Cut-up fruit like melons, strawberries, pineapples, kiwis, pears, grapes, and/or blueberries.
- Paper lollipop sticks: Look for paper lollipop sticks near the cupcakes supplies of your crafts or big-box store. They are not pointy like skewers, so they are the best option for kids.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make these fruit kebabs. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full info.
- Prep the fruit by washing it, removing any peels or rinds, and dicing it into bite-size pieces.
- Add it to the lollipop sticks in any order you like.
- Serve, adding a dip if you want. (We like it with Yogurt Dip.)
TIP: I like to set out a plate of cut-up fruit and berries and let the kids help assemble their own sticks to make this into a snack-time activity.
What age are these good for?
These fruit wands work for about 20 months old and up. Younger kids can eat them, though it may be more challenging to maneuver the sticks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure, just avoid using fruit that turns brown quickly such as bananas, apples (other than Opal apples, which don’t brown when cut), or pears. Other fruits should be fine assembled on the sticks ahead of time if stored in an airtight container. You can drizzle with a little lemon juice if you’d like.
This method uses paper lollipop sticks instead of actual skewers, since they are not pointy and are therefore safer to use with kids. Look for them near the cupcake supplies in a big box store or crafts store.
Start by using fruit that doesn’t turn brown when cut such as pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, purple grapes, watermelon, mango, or most berries. You can also drizzle with a little lemon juice if you want to go an extra step, but you usually don’t have to.
How to Store
You can make these kid-safe fruit skewers a few hours ahead and store in the fridge in an airtight container; any longer and the paper sticks may get a little soggy and the fruit can brown. A better plan would be to prep the fruit and store that, then assemble the sticks right before serving. Refrigerate them briefly as needed.
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Best Tips for Success
- These fruit kabobs are a great way to use up lingering fruit. Or to use a mix of fruit such as pineapple, strawberries, mango, blackberries, honeydew melon, red or green grapes (cut safely for little kids), peaches, or really any other fruit your family enjoys.
- Let the kids pick the fruit they want on their sticks or assemble the sticks for them.
- We’ve done rainbows, alternating colors, and sticks with just one type of fruit!
- Serve on their own or with yogurt for dipping.
- I like paper lollipop sticks since they aren’t sharp like wooden skewers can be. Look for them near the cupcake supplies in a crafts or big box store. They come in a few lengths and any work.
- If you have leftover fresh fruit, place into an airtight container and store in the fridge to make more sticks later!
- Making fruit wands is a fun activity and snack to share on holidays including July 4th and Memorial Day.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this idea, so please comment below!
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Peel any fruit with a peel that needs to be discarded. Cut fruit into chunks. Halve grapes for kids under age 4 as needed.
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Place onto paper lollipop sticks in any order you or the kids like.
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Serve with yogurt (plain with a little jam or honey or flavored) for dipping if desired.
- This is a great way to use up lingering fruit.
- Let the kids pick the fruit they want on their sticks or assemble the sticks for them. We’ve done rainbows, alternating colors, or sticks with just one type of fruit!
- I like paper lollipop sticks since they aren’t sharp. Look for them near the cupcake supplies in a crafts or big-box store. They come in a few lengths and any work.
- If you have leftover fruit, place into an airtight container and store in the fridge to make more sticks later!
Calories: 46kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 220mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 17IU, Vitamin C: 85mg, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 1mg
This post was first published December 2020.