Edible Fruit Sculptures

Edible fruit sculptures grace the tables of cruise ship dining rooms, banquets and all sorts of other parties. They can be fun, elegant, artistic or primitive, depending on the sculptor's design, articulation and display. For the novice, making a fruit sculpture is an introduction to the entire sculptural process with the added benefit of using relatively inexpensive materials. Once you have perfected your skills as a fruit sculptor, you can market your creations to high-end catering companies or as a freelance food artist.

Even beginners can create a watermelon basket with a knife and a whole watermelon. Choose a large, oval-shaped, ripe watermelon. Use a marker to trace a line around the circumference of the watermelon so that if you cut the line, the melon would be divided into two equal halves---but do not cut it out yet. Draw a set of two parallel lines that start at the center of one side on the first line. Make these lines go up and over the top of the melon and then down to meet the center of the first line on the other side. These new lines outline the basket's handle. Cut along the first line but do not cut through the handle. Remove the two sections from the top of the watermelon. Remove the edible part of the melon from the basket area and make melon balls. Then mix the melon balls with berries and other fruits to make a fruit salad which you will serve in the watermelon basket. It makes a great edible fruit sculpture for a summer party.

Any kind of animal can be assembled into a free-standing edible fruit sculpture using assorted fruits. For instance, using a whole fresh pineapple minus the foliage, a whole honeydew melon, two oranges, a kiwi, three grapes, and two bananas, you can create a monkey. The pineapple is the monkey's body. The honeydew is the head---you just need to cut off a small slice from the bottom of the honeydew so that it will fit on top of the pineapple. Carve out the eye sockets so that the bright green melon will contrast with the paler skin. Use toothpicks to connect a slice of kiwi to the center of each eye socket and a half grape to make each eyeball. Use more toothpicks to attach half of an orange to each side of the honeydew for ears. Use another orange out of which a quarter section has been carved for the muzzle, topped with a grape or strawberry for the nose. Finally, pin two bananas onto the pineapple for the arms.

Edible fruit sculpted into floral bouquets make elegant centerpieces and gifts. Start with a pineapple from which the top has been cut off for the vase. Cut assorted shapes from thick slices of pineapple, seedless watermelon, honeydew or cantaloupe. Attach them to the pineapple vase using bamboo skewers. Create contrasting skewers filled with smaller fruits like cherries, grapes, strawberries and melon balls which you should insert to make up the balance of the edible bouquet.