Ingredients:

  • 1 large firm pineapple (4-5 lbs)
  • 1 large Granny Smith apple
  • 1 long wooden bamboo skewer (10 inches)
  • 2 lbs green seedless grapes
  • 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulls removed
  • 2 cups honeydew melon, cubed or balled
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 cup fresh raspberries
  • 1 large slice cantaloupe
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

Instructions:

  1. Slice the top and bottom off the pineapple so it sits flat. Carefully carve away the outer rind, shaping the fruit into a tapered cone that is wider at the base.
  2. Cut the bottom off the Granny Smith apple until it sits flush against the top of the pineapple.
  3. Drive the 10 inch bamboo skewer through the center of the apple and deep into the pineapple core. Leave about 1 inch of the skewer poking out the top to hold the star.
  4. Ensure the grapes and berries are bone dry so they don't slide off the toothpicks.
  5. Insert toothpicks into the pineapple and apple at a 45 degree upward angle, spacing them approximately 1.5 inches apart in a staggered pattern. Gravity will pull the fruit down, so the upward angle locks them in place.
  6. Starting at the base, slide larger fruits like green grapes and strawberries onto the toothpicks. Work in a spiral pattern toward the top, filling large gaps with honeydew melon.
  7. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut a star from the cantaloupe slice and secure it to the very top. Press the cantaloupe star onto the exposed skewer at the top until it sits securely without wobbling. Add blueberries and raspberries to the remaining toothpicks as 'ornaments'.
  8. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds over the tree for a tinsel effect. Tuck fresh mint leaves between fruits to mimic evergreen needles.