This Fruit Christmas Tree is hands-down the most beautiful (and one of the easiest) ways to display fresh fruit on your holiday table. All you need is a craft cone, toothpicks, and lots of fresh fruits and mint to make a stunning “tree” to serve alongside your holiday appetizers. Perfect for brunch, grazing, or as a healthy dessert option!
Before You Get Started
Here a few tips to help your fruit tree come together a little more smoothly!
- Insert the toothpicks on a slight angle pointing up. If the toothpicks are completely horizontal, they won’t hold the fruit as well.
- Pre cut fruit from the grocery store would work well, particularly pineapple.
- Foam craft cones are usually found in the floral section of craft stores, but may also be located with seasonal crafts.
- If you can’t find a 12” craft cone: You can use a larger one, but may need extra fruit. If you can only find smaller ones, try making a Christmas tree forest out of three smaller cones!
- If you can’t find a craft cone at all: Peel a second pineapple, and cut the top and bottom off so you’re left with a barrel shape, place on platter. Secure an apple on top of the pineapple with a BBQ skewer or two. Break a thick carrot in half, and secure the skinny end to the apple. Place your toothpicks in this tower as a base for your tree.
Table of Contents
Edible Fruit Christmas Tree Appetizer
As a Registered Dietitian and mom, I am always looking for more ways to add fresh fruits and veggies to the menu.
Sometimes, that requires thinking of the box. When you’ve got a plethora of decadent holiday apps to choose from, who’s grabbing fruit?
Well, when the fruit is presented like this, everyone is!
It’s fresh, light, and fun – plus full of essential nutrients and fiber to support your health during this excessive and indulgent time of year.
For more Christmas fruit ideas, you’ll also want to check out this Christmas Fruit Wreath or these adorable Strawberry Penguins!
Why We Love This Christmas Fruit Tree Centerpiece
- Easy to make: This fruit salad Christmas tree looks complicated, but it’s not really! It’s all about attaching the fruits to the tree trunk with toothpicks. I’ve also added lots of detailed photos below to show you exactly how to add them for an artful display every time.
- Healthy & fun: This is such a wonderful way to serve lots of fruit this holiday season! Plus, your guests get to pick their fruit from the tree, which gives it an interactive component as well. It’s definitely more fun than a regular Christmas fruit tray!
- Stunning display: If you want a beautiful display to elevate your appetizer table, you’ve found it! The jewel-toned fruits are so enticing, arranged in spirals going up the tree, and the little sprigs of mint give it a festive natural look. This fruit tower is a spectacular choice for your holiday gatherings!
Which fruits are best for an edible Christmas tree?
Use any firm fruit you like for the fruit tree. Other fruits that would work well are watermelon, mango, blackberries, raspberries, cantaloupe. Bananas, pears, and apples will all turn brown very quickly, so these are not the best choice, but could work in a pinch.
No matter what type of fruit you use, start building the tree with larger, firmer fruits first. Place softer, smaller fruits on at the end.
Fresh Fruit
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
- Mandarin oranges
- Red grapes
- Green grapes
- Kiwi fruit
- Star fruit
- Honeydew melon
- Blueberries
- Large bunch of fresh mint
Other Supplies
- 1 foam craft cone, about 12″ high
- Toothpicks
- Small 1.5″ star shaped cookie cutters
- Sticky tack (optional)
How to Make a Fruit Christmas Tree – Step-by Step Instructions
- Start by washing all of the fruit thoroughly and patting it dry with paper towels — removing excess moisture helps everything stay fresh and prevents slipping while assembling.
- Cut the pineapple into 1-inch chunks, trimming away the core. Remove the tops from the strawberries. Slice the kiwi horizontally, then cut into thick half-moon slices. Slice the starfruit into thick rounds so the star shape holds its form. Peel the oranges and gently separate them into segments, removing any excess pith.
- Next, slice the honeydew into about 1¼-inch thick rounds. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out melon stars. Tip: If your melon is very ripe, press slowly and handle the stars gently to prevent breaking. Place them on a paper towel and lightly blot to remove excess juice.
- If you can’t find starfruit, don’t worry — simply use a larger star-shaped cookie cutter to punch stars from a pineapple slice, or carefully shape your own stars using a small paring knife.
- Place the craft cone onto a serving platter or large plate. To keep it from shifting while you work, secure it in place — a bit of sticky tack or double-sided tape works well.
- Insert toothpicks into the cone at a slight upward angle and gently attach the strawberries. Repeat with the orange segments, spacing them evenly. Then add the firmer fruits like pineapple, grapes, and kiwi, followed by the melon stars. Tip: Working from the bottom up helps keep the tree balanced and full.
- Use blueberries to fill in smaller gaps — you usually won’t need toothpicks for these. Simply tuck them into the spaces between larger fruit pieces.
- Finish by tucking fresh mint leaves into any remaining gaps and creating a ring of mint around the base to hide the bottom of the cone. It’s perfectly fine if a bit of the cone still shows — it adds to the natural look.
- Serve immediately for the best presentation, or gently wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 hours. If serving over a longer period, refresh the fruit tree as needed using any leftover fruit.
Scroll to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Storage Guidelines
This tree is best served right away. Making it as close to the time it is going to be served is best. Do not wash strawberries too far in advance, they will absorb the water and turn dull and spongy.
If you want to make the tree before your event, wrap the entire thing with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for a maximum of 3 hours.
Serving Suggestions
This fruit tree display would be such a great way to serve fruit for a Christmas party, your New Year’s event, or on Christmas Day.
It would also be a fun breakfast surprise for a holiday brunch! Pair it with some of this Greek yogurt fruit dip and these other holiday appetizers, like these festive Watermelon Christmas Trees, a Charcuterie Wreath, or Snowman Truffles. So cute!
Recipe Variations
- If you can’t find star fruit, the star on top could be made with pineapple, a thick slice of orange, mango, or watermelon. You could also place a clean, glitter free shatterproof ornament on top of the cone.
- If you can’t find fresh mint, pieces of leafy kale would work well.
- Add chocolate: Chocolate-dipped fruits are a perfect addition to this display. Dip some strawberries, blueberries, or mandarin orange slices, let them set, then attach them like normal. This will change the color palette of the tree, but it’ll add a nice flavor.
- Pomegranate seeds could be used to fill in small gaps and add a pop of red color.
- Change the design: This tree is artfully arranged to keep the different types of fruits separate on the tree. You don’t have to do that, though! You can also add thick horizontal bands of all one fruit or try arranging each type of fruit in a vertical spiral going around the cone.
More Holiday Recipes
This Christmas Fruit Salad is coated with a citrus vinaigrette to make it pop, or you could serve this gorgeous Christmas Wreath Salad with pomegranate and pear.
For your entree, stick with a classic, like Slow Cooker Ham with Pineapple, or change it up with this easy one-pot Christmas Beef Roast. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Fruit Christmas Tree Centerpiece
Ingredients
- 1 fresh, ripe pineapple
- 16 oz package of strawberries
- 3 easy peel mandarin oranges, such as Cuties
- 2 cups red grapes
- 2 cups green grapes
- 2 kiwi fruits
- 1 Star fruit
- 1 honeydew melon
- 6 oz. package blueberries
- Large bunch of fresh mint
Other Supplies
- 1 foam craft cone, about 12" high
- Toothpicks
- Small 1.5" star shaped cookie cutters
- Sticky tack (optional)
Instructions
- Wash all fruit and pat dry with paper towel. Slice pineapple into 1” chunks. Slice tops off strawberries. Slice kiwi horizontally, then into thick half moons. Slice starfruit thick. Peel oranges and break into segments.
- Slice the honeydew into 1.25” thick rounds. Use the star shaped cookie cutter to cut melon stars. Handle gently if your melon is very ripe. Place stars on paper towel and blot gently.
- If you couldn't find star fruit, use a larger star shape cookie cutter to punch a star shape out of a slice of the pineapple, or use a paring knife to shape your own star.
- Place craft cone onto a serving platter or large plate. I secured mine down with sticky tack.
- Push toothpicks into the cone on an angle for the strawberries, and gently hook the strawberries onto the toothpicks.
- Repeat process with the oranges. Next place on the other firm fruits such as the pineapple, grapes, and kiwi. Add the melon stars.
- Fill in smaller areas with blueberries, you shouldn’t need to use toothpicks for each one, just push them into the cracks created by the fruit. Fill remaining larger gaps with fresh mint leaves, and create a ring of mint leaves around the base to hide the bottom of the cone. It's ok if some of the cone is still visible. Serve immediately, or wrap gently with plastic wrap and place in fridge for up to 3 hours. Refresh the fruit tree with the leftover fruit as needed during your party.
Notes
- Start with larger, firmer fruits; add smaller, softer fruits last. Insert toothpicks at a slight upward angle for best hold.
- Use any firm fruit you like (pineapple, watermelon, mango, cantaloupe, berries). Bananas, pears, and apples brown quickly and are best avoided.
- If star fruit isn’t available, use pineapple, orange, mango, or watermelon for the topper. Apples can work but should be brushed with lemon juice. A clean, shatterproof ornament is another option.
- Fill small gaps with pomegranate seeds for extra color. Pre-cut fruit (especially pineapple) works well.
- Fresh mint is best, but kale can substitute. Other herbs may affect flavor.
- Assemble as close to serving time as possible. Don’t wash strawberries too far in advance.
- Craft foam cones are typically found in the floral or seasonal section of craft stores. If needed, size up or down (or make a “tree forest” with smaller cones). No cone? Use a peeled pineapple base topped with an apple and carrot as a DIY support.
- Cone may be wrapped in plastic wrap if desired.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in December 2023 and the text, formatting and some photos were updated in December 2025.
Wow Elysia this is incredible! What a beautiful way to do a fruit display! Thank you for the inspiration!♥️
Thanks so much! I was so happy with how it turned out! :)