4th of July Fruit Tray | Easy Red White and Blue Appetizer

Add this easy 4th of July fruit tray to your BBQ menu! It's so simple to make with just three types of delicious fruit in 15 minutes! Strawberries, blueberries, and dragon fruit create an epic red, white, and blue appetizer to celebrate the holiday!

And for more 4th of July recipes, try strawberry blueberry pie and homemade blueberry lavender lemonade.

The sunshine and warmth usually arrives here in Oregon just in time for the 4th of July. Right around this time, summer finally kicks into full swing for barbeques and beach trips.

And while many gatherings on 4th of July feature grilled meat, macaroni salad, and coleslaw, I figured a patriotic themed fruit platter would be the perfect addition! Strawberries, blueberries, and dragon fruit are all in season in the summer. Their sweet flavor and juicy texture just can't be beat!

This recipe was inspired by my other strawberry and blueberry desserts. So if you have extra berries, be sure to check out my mixed berry pie, cream cheese blueberry torte, gluten free blueberry pie, crispy blueberry strudel, baked strawberry oatmeal, and lattice strawberry pie.

Listen, if you're headed to a fourth of July barbeque this year, don't be the person who brings the third potato salad to the party. This is a chance to be unique, original and creative.

And what's more fun than strawberries, dragon fruit and blueberries as a healthy 4th of July appetizer for a crowd of hungry people? The colors of the fruit create an epic yet easy red, white and blue fruit tray.

Plus, all you need to do is wash the fruit, peel and cut the dragon fruit, and arrange it on a plate. Or just throw it all in a bowl, it'll still look and taste amazing!

You can even make berry "sparklers" by putting the blueberries on a wooden skewer and topping it with a star cut-out of dragon fruit.

Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries - If your strawberries aren't quite ripe, see my tips on how to ripen strawberries.
• Fresh blueberries - Did you know that most of the flavor in blueberries is in the skin? The smaller the blueberries, the more flavorful they are.
• Dragon fruit - While dragon fruit isn't native to the U.S. I was still able to find it in all the major grocery stores near me.

How to Make this Fruit Tray

1. Wash: Wash the strawberries and blueberries.
2. Trim: Cut off the green tops from the strawberries and slice them in half length-wise.
3. Cut: Cut the dragon fruit in half lengthwise, then scoop out the white fruit from inside. Cut the dragon fruit into cubes with a knife or stars with a cookie cutter.
4. Assemble: Arrange all the fruit on a platter or in a bowl and serve.

Recipe Tips

• I don't recommend using frozen, thawed berries, since they become more mushy. However, if you have extras, read my guide on how to freeze berries.
• If you're arranging your fruit on a platter in a design like a circle or an American flag, choose strawberries that are all roughly the same size.
• Cut the strawberries in half to lay flat on a plate. Then they won't roll around as you transport them.

Recipe Variations

• Red: Instead of strawberries, you could substitute watermelon. Cube them or use a star cookie cutter for the watermelon.
• White: Instead of dragon fruit, you could use sliced bananas, yogurt covered pretzels, or cubed angel food cake.
• Holiday: This red white and blue fruit tray would also be festive on Labor Day or Memorial Day. Or honestly, it's a great fruit platter any day of the summer!

How to Peel and Cut Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is native to Central and South America and it is a gorgeous pink color on the outside. There are different varieties of dragon fruit and while the one I used is white with tiny black seeds on the inside, some reveal a deep red color inside.

The easiest way I found to peel dragon fruit is similar to a mango. First, cut the dragon fruit in half lengthwise.
Then use a large metal spoon to gently scoop around the inside to remove it from the inner side of the skin. It will all come out in one big piece, then you can slice it up.

I then use a small star shaped cookie cutter to cut out stars from the dragon fruit. It adds an extra festive flair of this 4th of July fruit tray.

Storing

Your 4th of July fruit tray can sit out for about 2 hours at room temperature. After that, I recommend to put it in the fridge either covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.

If you plan to leave your fruit out longer at a 4th of July party, you can place it on ice on a larger platter or in a cooler. This will keep the fruit cold and fresh much longer!