Fruit Kabobs: A Fun and Easy Recipe to Get Your Kids Cooking!

Jump to Recipe

Let’s face it—getting kids excited about healthy snacks can sometimes be a challenge. But what if we could make healthy eating fun, colourful, and hands-on? That’s where Fruit Kabobs come in! Not only are they delicious and healthy, but they’re also super easy to make, even for little hands. Plus, there’s no cooking involved, so you can let your kids take the lead with no worries.

The first time we made fruit kabobs, my kids were skeptical. “It’s just fruit on a stick,” they said. But once they started threading the pieces, they got so into it that they were trying to outdo each other’s designs. By the end, they were calling it ‘fruit art on a stick’. Who knew healthy snacks could be so competitive?

Ready to get started? Let’s dive into this fun and creative recipe!

Why Fruit Kabobs Are Perfect for Kids

No Cooking Required!

One of the best things about this recipe is that there’s no cooking involved—just assembling! This means you can focus on the fun part and let your kids take charge without worrying about hot stoves or ovens.
This is my go-to activity when I want to keep the kids entertained without creating a kitchen disaster. It’s also perfect for days when I’m not in the mood to monitor the stove like a hawk.

Encourages Creativity

Making fruit kabobs is like creating art! Kids can choose their favorite fruits and decide how to arrange them on the skewer. Maybe they’ll make a rainbow, alternate colors, or stick with all their favorites in a row—anything goes!
My youngest always insists on making a “rainbow kabob,” but somehow, half the fruit disappears before it even makes it onto the stick. Quality control, I guess!

Healthy and Delicious

Fruit kabobs look like a treat, but they’re packed with vitamins and natural sweetness. It’s a fun way to introduce kids to a variety of fruits, and even picky eaters might be more willing to try new things when it’s part of a kabob!
I’ve seen my kids try kiwi and cantaloupe for the first time just because they wanted their kabob to look “fancy.” Sometimes, presentation really is everything!

What You’ll Need

One of the best parts of this recipe is letting your kids pick their own fruits! Here are some great choices, but feel free to use whatever fruits your family loves:

• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Pineapple chunks
• Bananas
• Melon (cantaloupe or honeydew)
• Blueberries
• Kiwi slices
• Apple slices (tip: sprinkle with a little lemon juice to prevent browning!)

You’ll also need some wooden skewers for older kids, or plastic kid-safe skewers if you’re working with younger children.

In our house, each kid gets their own bowl of fruit to “prevent theft.” Of course, that doesn’t stop them from sneaking pieces from each other’s bowls, but it’s all part of the fun.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Fruit Kabobs

Here’s the fun part—assembling the kabobs! Whether your kids are working with you in the kitchen or taking the lead on their own, these steps are super simple.

Step 1: Prepare the Fruit

Start by washing all your fruits thoroughly. Then, peel and cut them into bite-sized chunks. Softer fruits like bananas or strawberries can be prepped by younger kids with a kid-safe knife, while you handle the trickier ones like melons or pineapples.

This is where the kids get excited because they feel like “real chefs.” My oldest loves peeling bananas and announces, “I’m a pro at this!” every single time.

Step 2: Thread the Fruit

Now comes the fun part! Give your kids the skewers and let them start threading the fruits on. They can create patterns, go for a rainbow look, or just mix and match their favorites—there’s no wrong way to do it! Remind them to leave a little room at the end of the skewer to make it easier to hold.

Last week, my daughter made a “smiley face kabob” with strawberry eyes and a grape smile. My son decided his needed “armor” and stacked as many pieces as he could onto one stick. The results were hilarious—and delicious.

Step 3: Enjoy!

Once all the fruit is threaded, the kabobs are ready to eat! Serve them as a snack, a side with lunch, or even a healthy dessert. For an extra treat, you can offer some dips like yogurt, peanut butter, or a drizzle of honey.

We like to set up a “dipping bar” with different options, and the kids take turns trying them all. Chocolate sauce is always the first to go, but I’m proud to say the vanilla yogurt gets its fair share of love too!

Tips for Success

For Younger Kids:
If your little ones are helping, consider using shorter skewers or even large toothpicks. They’re easier for small hands to handle and make mini kabobs that are just as fun! We started with toothpicks when my kids were toddlers—they called them “fruit swords,” which only made the activity more exciting.

Snip the Sharp Ends:
Worried about sharp tips on the skewers? Once the kabobs are assembled, you can snip off the sharp ends with scissors for extra safety.

Add a Dipping Station:
Set up a small station with dipping options like vanilla yogurt, chocolate sauce, or even a nut butter. Dipping fruit makes it even more fun for kids and adds a little something extra to their snack time.

Encouraging Healthy Eating with Fun

Fruit kabobs are more than just a snack—they’re a fun activity that encourages your kids to eat more fruit. When children are involved in making their own food, they’re more likely to try new things and enjoy what they’ve made.

I love seeing how proud my kids are of their kabobs. Even my pickiest eater gets excited to show off her creations, and it’s a great way to sneak in some extra servings of fruit without any complaints!

Making Memories in the Kitchen

As parents, it’s easy to focus on the end result when cooking with kids. But remember, it’s not about making the “perfect” kabob. The real fun comes from spending time together and letting your kids explore their creativity. Things might get a little messy, and the fruit might not be perfectly arranged, but that’s part of the experience!

One time, my youngest insisted on stacking only grapes on her skewer and called it “the grape tower of doom.” It toppled immediately, but we couldn’t stop laughing. That’s the memory I’ll cherish, not whether the kabobs looked Instagram-worthy.

Final Thoughts

Fruit kabobs are an easy and fun way to get your kids involved in the kitchen, all while encouraging healthy eating habits. With no cooking involved and endless possibilities for creativity, this is a recipe that kids will love making (and eating!).

So grab some skewers, wash your fruit, and let your little chefs go to work. Just don’t be surprised if half the fruit ends up in their mouths before it hits the stick—that’s how you know they’re having fun!

For more beginner friendly recipes head to Easy Recipes To Get Your Kids Cooking Today