• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Start Here
    • Ingredients Substitutions
    • Tips for Measuring Ingredients Accurately
  • About
  • Shop
  • Your Recipe Box
  • Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
×

Home » Side Dish Recipes

How to Make a Watermelon Basket

Published: May 30, 2022 Last Updated: Jun 26, 2022 by Marye 1344 words. | About 7 minutes to read this article.

A finished watermelon basket with a text overlay for Pinterest.

Learn how to make this pretty watermelon basket filled with fresh fruit salad! It's seriously easy with these step by step instructions and images.

Fruit is the perfect dessert for a summer cookout and this is a gorgeous way to serve it.

Side view of a finished watermelon basket on a table. Title text overlay.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Tips for success
  • 🍉 How to choose a good watermelon
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions
  • 🐳 More ideas
  • 🎥 Video
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🧺 How to make a watermelon basket
  • Final thoughts
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • Perfect for summer parties, baby showers, bridal showers, and cookouts!
  • So pretty and carving up a watermelon is really easy!
  • You can use just about any mixture of fruit that you like.

A watermelon fruit bowl or basket really looks fancy but it's not hard at all! I have been making them since I was a teenager.

Use these step by step images to carve your own watermelon basket that looks like a professional did it!

🧾 Ingredients

What fruit should you use?

Any kind that you like but these are the ones I use most often.

Labeled ingredients for a watermelon basket.

Use any combination of fruit you like. Honeydew melon is delicious in this as well.

Other possibilities -

  • pineapple
  • kiwi
  • mango
  • passion fruit
  • star fruit
  • mandarin oranges

🥫 Storage

You can store the prepared fruit in a big bowl covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a day or two. You may need to pour off some juice before using it.

It's best not to try to make your watermelon fruit basket more than a day ahead of time, though. The texture of the fruit can suffer.

Don't freeze this!

💭 Tips for success

  • If you're having just a small get-together try making a cantaloupe melon basket instead.
  • Choose an oblong watermelon with a relatively flat bottom so it is stable. Think of your design - if you are making a whale (like the one shown at the bottom of the page), for example, you'll want a round watermelon.
  • If it wobbles you can take a thin slice off some of the rind on the bottom of the watermelon to flatten it out and give it a stable base.
  • Use a sharp knife to carve a watermelon basket - there's less chance of it slipping and cutting you.
  • Zig-zag cuts are a nice change (and easier to cut) from scallops. They'll be even easier if you use a small paring knife rather than your large sharp knife.
  • A seedless watermelon works best.
  • Cut grapes in half, especially if there will be toddlers eating.
  • Save the pieces of watermelon that you can't make into balls for margaritas or sorbet.
  • Use fully ripe fruit without bruises or discolorations.
  • Keep extra mixed fruit covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator.
  • You can draw perfect scallops by using a small juice glass held against the melon as a guide.
  • You can make melon balls with a melon baller OR you can just cut the melon in chunks. If you'd like to make shapes cut bigger chunks into a 1-inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out stars, circles, or whatever.
  • Soak the fruit in champagne and a little sugar, or vodka and a little sugar...however we had kids eating this so I soaked it in Mountain Dew. You don't have to soak it at all..it just adds a little sparkle. 
  • Faux Devonshire cream is delicious spooned on top!
Overhead view of a plate of fruit.

🍉 How to choose a good watermelon

You want to pick a good watermelon, right? Here's how-

  1. Look at the stem end; it should be brown and shriveled.
  2. The melon should look like it fell off the vine not like it was cut off the vine.
  3. Next check the rind for soft spots - you don't want them.
  4. If you see brown stripes that's a good thing - it's supposed to mean ant trails so the melon is sweet. I'm not guaranteeing that but it's worth thinking about.
  5. Yellow spots are fine - that is usually where the melon rested on the ground.
  6. Next you want to thunk it with your fingers. It should sound hollow and echoey.

👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

Can you make a watermelon basket the day before?

Sure! Just make sure to cover it with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days. Sometimes I'll store the fruit separately from the basket.

How do you prevent a watermelon from being split while carving it?

Make sure it is well chilled before you start to carve. The fruit splits when it is warm from the pressure of the juice expanding so keeping it cold will help!

What do you need to make watermelon balls?

It's easiest to make if you have a melon baller. That's a special tool with a rounded spoon on each end. See instructions below.

How long does a watermelon last?

An uncut melon can last up to 10 days at room temperature. If you chill it plan on eating it within a day or two.

How long will a carved watermelon last?

It will look best the first 24 hours but if covered and refrigerated it will be fine for up to a week. The cut fruit should be stored separately.

🐳 More ideas

Here are a couple of other watermelon baskets I've made over the years - they're from my old files so the images aren't great but you can get ideas!

Watermelon basket shaped like a whale.
I made this watermelon basket shaped like a whale for a client almost 10 years ago!
Watermelon basket carved into a bowl.
I made this open bowl shaped watermelon for my daughter's birthday party.

🎥 Video

Click on the image to watch me make this recipe from start to finish with extra tips! (Video opens in a new tab).

Clickable cover image for the YouTube video that goes with this tutorial.
Watch the complete tutorial on YouTube, too!

📚 Related recipes

  • Star spangled fruit salad is pretty for summer - and it would look great served in a watermelon basket!
  • Grilled pineapple is brushed with brown sugar, bourbon, and butter then grilled.
  • Grilled pear salad is my update on the southern classic.
  • What to Serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
  • Pasta con Broccoli
  • 41 Sides To Serve With Hash Brown Casserole
  • Crispy Fried Potatoes

I love this on a summer brunch table.

🧺 How to make a watermelon basket

Time needed: 45 minutes.

Learn how to carve a watermelon basket filled with summer fruits for your next cookout or picnic!
Before you start be sure to wash blueberries, strawberries, or other small fruits that you'll be using. Slice the strawberries and grapes, too. That way when you're ready to mix everything up you won't have to stop and prepare the fruit.

  1. Mark the watermelon

    Figure out where you are going to put the basket handle. Mark the handle placement and the scallops (or other shape) using a sharpie. Keep the width at about 2-inches. A watermelon with markings showing where to cut it.

  2. Carefully cut

    Cut along one side of the handle, then the other. Go straight down as deep as you want the handle to be tall. Cut carefully along the markings with a sharp knife. Make sure you cut through the rind and to the meat of the watermelon. Two deep cuts on a watermelon outlining the handle.

  3. Remove rind

    Carefully remove the watermelon rind as you cut around your design.Overhead view of the watermelon basket in process.

  4. Remove the watermelon

    Carefully remove the watermelon from under the basket handle to begin forming the basket. Clear out from beneath the handle until it sticks up and looks like a basket handle. Use a melon baller to create melon balls as you hollow out the watermelon.A melon baller spoon being used to create melon balls.

  5. Remove all the melon.

    Remove all of the melon to create a hollow basket.Overhead view of a hollowed out rind forming a watermelon basket.

  6. Make Melon Balls

    Use the small side of the melon baller to make balls with the cantaloupe.A cantaloupe being cut into melon balls.

  7. Mix the Fruit

    Mix the fruit, watermelon balls, and cantaloupe balls together and fill the hollowed out watermelon basket with the fruit. Keep any extra fruit covered in the refrigerator to replenish the basket as needed.Overhead view of a watermelon basket filled with fruit.

  8. Garnish and Serve

    Place the basket on a platter. Garnish the fruit basket with a few clusters of grapes, mint leaves, or whatever you like and serve.​
    Overhead view of the finished watermelon basket filled with an assortment of fruit.

  9. Enjoy!

    ​A watermelon basket is such a pretty way to serve all that beautiful summer fruit available now. Use your favorite in season fruits!

Final thoughts

Watermelon baskets do take a little practice but they add so much to the table! Be sure to cut carefully with a sharp knife and to take safety precautions.

Draw your pattern on the melon before starting your cuts and then let your imagination soar!

First published June 2010. Last updated May 30, 2022 for additional tips and FAQs.

More Legendary Southern Side Dish Recipes

  • What to Serve with Baked Ziti
  • 50 Sides for Chicken Spaghetti
  • Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers
  • Creamed Cabbage
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

About Marye

With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy

    July 24, 2015 at 7:11 pm

    I've seen this done at baby showers but have never attempted it myself. I might need to though! Love your step by step process of this!

    Reply
  2. Manila Spoon (Abby)

    July 24, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Soak fruits in champagne - that sounds so good! - and then present it in a fresh watermelon basket - totally awesome!

    Reply
  3. Sara

    July 24, 2015 at 12:07 pm

    I love this! My mom always makes carved watermelons for my girls' birthday parties, she did a watermelon shark for their mermaid party. I'll have to show your basket to her so that she can try it next.

    Reply
  4. Lee Ann

    April 12, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    Yum! We used to inject ours with tequila back in the day...

    Reply
  5. Ginger

    June 07, 2010 at 7:38 pm

    I thought Id share something that has worked for me in choosing melons.. I have never been able to tell by thumping if something was good. But at some point my dh said that if there are a good amount of ant tracks on the yellow part that was on the ground it will be sweet. Every so often (once every 2 years) I end up with an over ripe melon this way. But most of the time it results in a yummy one. The ant tracks are those brown little lines they get. So I always look for brown lines on the lighter side that sat on the ground.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Love it? Give it 5 stars!




Primary Sidebar

Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

NY Times bestselling author. Written over 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Army veteran. Nothing fazes me & together we're going to get the kind of meals on your table that you (and your family) have been dreaming of. 

More about me →

❤️Valentine's Day

  • Red Velvet Puppy Chow for Valentine's Day
  • 50 Red Velvet Recipes for Every Occasion
  • Red Velvet Bundt Cake
  • 10 Best Chocolate Gifts

👑 Reader Favorites

  • Crispy Fried Potatoes
  • English Muffin Bread Recipe
  • No Fail Amish White Bread
  • Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Love Bread?

Be sure to visit my new blog, Breadcrumbs in the Butter. Just bread recipes!

Logo for breadcrumbs in the butter blog.

Valentine's Day Dessert Ideas

(Just click on the button at the bottom of each page to see the recipe)

Valentine's Day Dessert Ideas

Footer

^ back to top

About

  • About Marye Audet-White
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy
MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

Featured in:

Companies that Marye Audet-White and Restless Chipotle have been affiliated with.

Contact Marye

  • Contact
Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Copyright ©2006 - 2023 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC