When the heat is absolutely brutal outside and you still need a sweet finish for dinner, nobody wants to turn on the oven, right? Me neither! That’s why I swear by these incredibly simple Fruit and Marshmallow Dessert Kabobs. Seriously, these are the absolute easiest, freshest Dessert Kabobs you can put together in under fifteen minutes. I took a platter of these colorful skewers over to the neighbors’ barbecue last weekend and they vanished before the burgers were even done cooking. They are pure summer magic, requiring zero skill and zero heat. You are going to love how bright and delicious they taste!
Why You Need These Easy Fruit and Marshmallow Dessert Kabobs
Honestly, sometimes dessert needs to be zero effort but maximum impact. That’s the beauty of this recipe! Forget complicated steps; this is dessert assembly at its finest. You get all the joy of a sweet treat without any of the cleanup struggles.
Here’s why these fruit skewers deserve a spot right now on your summer menu:
- Zero cooking required—perfect for keeping the house cool!
- Vibrant colors make every serving look like a party centerpiece.
- They satisfy that sweet craving instantly.
Quick Assembly Time for Dessert Kabobs
You read that right—fifteen minutes, tops! We are talking about getting ingredients from the counter to the platter faster than you can preheat an oven. Since these Dessert Kabobs require absolutely no baking or even turning on the stove, they are my go-to when a spontaneous sweet tooth hits on a scorching afternoon.
Fresh Ingredients for Vibrant Fruit Skewers
The visual appeal is just as important as the taste here, I think! When you alternate the colors—bright red strawberries next to white marshmallows, and then that pop of green grape—it just beams sunshine. Trust me, the quality of the fruit really shines through because there are no heavy sauces or glazes hiding anything. These Dessert Kabobs are all about celebrating fresh flavor.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Dessert Kabobs
Now, let’s get down to the fun part: gathering our treasures! Since we aren’t cooking anything, the quality of your starting ingredients makes or breaks these Dessert Kabobs. I keep this ingredient list super short so you aren’t running all over town. Precision matters here, especially with the cutting so everything fits nicely on the stick.
Fruit Selection for Your Dessert Kabobs
You want a good mix of texture and color. For quantities, use one cup of each type of fruit for the best balance across your skewers. I need exactly:
- One cup of strawberries—make sure they are hulled and halved!
- One cup of pineapple chunks.
- One cup of green grapes. They add that perfect little pop!
- One cup of melon balls. Use cantaloupe or honeydew, whichever looks best at the market that day.
The Marshmallow Component of These Dessert Kabobs
The marshmallows are what make these officially a dessert, not just fruit salad on a stick, right? You’ll need one cup of those big, fluffy marshmallows—the large ones work so much better than the tiny ones that melt on contact. Also, don’t forget your tools! You need about 10 wooden skewers to hold everything together nicely for your Dessert Kabobs.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Assembling Dessert Kabobs
Okay, the ingredients are prepped and laid out like a colorful little assembly line—this is the rewarding part! You’re probably eager to see these Dessert Kabobs come together, which is great because it happens so fast. If you’re looking for another slightly fancier, yet still quick, strawberry treat, you absolutely have to check out my recipe for Cheesecake Deviled Strawberries later!
Preparing Fruit for the Best Dessert Kabobs
First things first: everything needs to be clean and kitchen-ready. You must wash all your fruit really well. Remember what we talked about? Get those strawberries hulled and halved so they look nice and chunky. Make sure your melon is perfectly balled up. Nobody wants a big rogue piece of cantaloupe sticking out awkwardly!
Threading the Fruit and Marshmallow Dessert Kabobs
Now, grab those wooden skewers and get threading! This is where you get creative. The visual balance makes these Dessert Kabobs so appealing. I try to put a marshmallow at the bottom to keep things steady, then alternate firm fruit—maybe a grape, then pineapple, then marshmallow again. Keep changing up the order so you get awesome color variation along the skewer.
Serving Your Fresh Dessert Kabobs
Once they are all threaded and looking gorgeous, just arrange them nicely on whatever platter you have handy. That’s it! Seriously, we’re done! These need to be served right away, or shortly thereafter. Don’t let them sit out too long, or the marshmallows start getting sticky and the fruit sweats a bit. Get them into happy hands!
Tips for Making Amazing Fruit and Marshmallow Dessert Kabobs
Even though these Dessert Kabobs are dead simple, a couple of little tricks can make them absolutely flawless. It’s all about prepping the fruit for success and knowing when to play ahead. I’ve learned a few things over the summer about keeping them looking picture-perfect until they get devoured—which, trust me, happens fast! If you love the marshmallow factor here, you might also want to bookmark my 10-Minute Marshmallow Crispy Treats for later.
Ingredient Substitutions for Your Dessert Kabobs
Feel totally free to swap out the fruit based on what looks best this week! Kiwi pieces are fantastic here, and they hold up well. The main thing to watch out for is bananas. I know everyone loves bananas because they’re soft and sweet, but if you thread them onto your Dessert Kabobs too early, they get mushy and brown way too fast. If you must use banana, slice it and add it to the skewer right before you put the platter down on the table.
Make-Ahead Strategy for These Easy Dessert Kabobs
Sometimes you need to get ahead, especially if you are hosting a big crowd! Good news: these aren’t terrible if you assemble them an hour or two ahead of time. You can thread them up, pop them on a tray, cover that tray *tightly* with plastic wrap, and pop them in the fridge. Don’t leave them longer than two hours, though. Any longer, and you risk the humidity messing with the marshmallows and making the fruit start weeping.
Equipment List for Perfect Dessert Kabobs Assembly
We’ve talked about the yummy stuff, but you can’t ignore the tools! Even for assembly-only recipes like these Dessert Kabobs, having the right gear makes the process smoother. You really don’t need much, which is part of the charm. Make sure you have these basics ready before you start washing that beautiful fruit.
Here’s the short list of what you’ll need on hand for quick assembly:
- Your cutting board and a sharp paring knife for prepping the fruit pieces perfectly.
- A box grater or melon baller, depending on how you decide to shape your melon—I stand by the baller for perfect spheres!
- A large, sturdy serving platter to show off your colorful creations when you finish up your Dessert Kabobs.
Storing Leftovers of Your Delicious Dessert Kabobs
I always hope these amazing Dessert Kabobs get completely devoured because they really are best enjoyed the moment they are assembled—that fruit is just so crisp and the marshmallow is perfectly soft! But life happens, right? Maybe you had a huge crowd or maybe you just love leftovers.
If you absolutely must store any remaining skewers, remember my rule: two hours maximum in the fridge! That’s really pushing it for the best texture. Cover that platter tightly with plastic wrap to keep the air off them so the marshmallows don’t get dry and crusty.
If you have fruit left over that didn’t make it onto a stick, or if you know you won’t eat the leftover skewers within that little two-hour window, definitely separate them. Keep the cut fruit in an airtight container in the fridge for maximum freshness. The marshmallows should be kept in a separate sealed bag so they don’t absorb any moisture from the fruit juices. That way, you can enjoy the components separately later, though threading them back onto skewers later just isn’t the same as getting those fresh Dessert Kabobs right away!
Frequently Asked Questions About Fruit Dessert Kabobs
You know, assembling simple things always seems to generate the best questions! We want every single batch of these Dessert Kabobs to be perfect, whether they are sweet fruit skewers assembled in a hurry or if you’re planning them out for a big party. Here are a few things I hear a lot from folks just starting out with this super easy dessert.
Can I use other types of fruit in these Dessert Kabobs?
Absolutely! That’s the fun part of this recipe—it’s totally flexible. My main advice is to stick to fruit that’s firm enough to hold its shape when you pierce it with a wooden skewer. Things like cantaloupe, pineapple, and grapes are rock stars here. You definitely want to avoid anything too mushy or watery that might break halfway through the threading process. If you use softer things like peaches, maybe add them right at the end of assembly if you plan to serve them fast.
Are there dipping sauce ideas for these fruit skewers?
Oh goodness, yes! While I love these plain, a drizzle or a small side dip really takes these Dessert Kabobs up a notch. Melted dark chocolate is incredible—just melt it carefully in the microwave and let people drizzle it themselves, or serve a small bowl of plain Greek yogurt mixed with a tiny bit of vanilla and honey for something a little creamier. It makes those sweet fruit skewers feel even more decadent. If you’re serving these on a hot day, you might need something cool to sip on too, so check out how I make my Hydrating Fruit Punch!
Do I need to worry about the wooden skewers poking through?
This is a great safety question, especially if little ones are grabbing these! Since we use large marshmallows and relatively chunky fruit, you should be fine. Just make sure you thread the fruit so that the sharp tip is near the bottom end of the skewer, away from little hands reaching for that sweet marshmallow, and the thicker, duller end is at the top. It’s a tiny step, but it makes a huge difference in peace of mind.
How long before serving should I take the fruit skewers out of the fridge?
If you prepared them ahead of time and kept them chilled, I recommend pulling them out about 15 minutes before you plan to serve them. Chilling is great for keeping the fruit firm, but cold fruit doesn’t taste quite as vibrant. Letting them rest on the counter for just a few minutes takes that chill off so the flavors really pop in your mouth. It makes everything taste fresher, even for this quick assembly easy dessert!
Estimated Nutritional Snapshot for Fruit Kabobs
I always get asked about the health side of things, even when it’s technically a dessert! Since these fruit skewers are mostly fresh fruit and marshmallows, they are super light compared to, say, a dense cake. But remember, this is just an estimate because the size of your specific fruit pieces can change these numbers a bit!
This snapshot is based on one single fruit kabob using the standard ingredient amounts listed in the recipe.
- Calories: About 120 calories per serving. A nice light ending to any meal!
- Total Fat: Very low, around 0.5 grams. Almost no saturated fat, which is great news for us!
- Protein: Minimal, barely 1 gram. This is a fruit and sugar treat, not a protein bar, after all.
- Carbohydrates: You’re looking at about 30 grams, most of which comes right from the natural sugars in the fruit and the added marshmallows. Fiber clocks in around 2 grams, which is a bonus!
- Sugar: Roughly 18 grams total sugar. Again, keep in mind this is a mix of fruit fructose and refined sugar from the marshmallows.
So, while it’s definitely a sweet treat, it’s way lighter than most baked desserts. These are fantastic when you want something satisfying without feeling weighed down! Just take these numbers as a good estimate, because when you’re cutting big chunks of pineapple, things can always shift a tiny bit!
Share Your Perfect Dessert Kabobs Creations
Well, that’s all there is to it! I hope you’ve grabbed your skewers and are already planning your next batch of colorful Fruit and Marshmallow Dessert Kabobs. They are just too easy and too much fun to resist, especially when the fruit looks that good.
Now, I absolutely need to hear from you! Don’t just bake and run away—come back and tell me what treasures you created. I love seeing how everyone puts their own spin on things.
Did you stick to my exact fruit list, or did you swing for the fences and add something unexpected? Maybe you found that kiwi and strawberry combo is the ultimate winner? Drop a comment below and let me know what your absolute favorite fruit skewer combination is for these quick desserts. Give the recipe a rating if it saved your evening!
And seriously, if you took a photo of your perfectly arranged platter of Dessert Kabobs before they disappeared, please tag me on social media! Seeing your bright, beautiful creations makes my day. If you’re already looking for ideas for your next easy bake, I’ve got a whole bunch of amazing things in my ultimate cookie bar recipes roundup that might hit the spot!
Print
Simple Fruit and Marshmallow Kabobs
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Quick assembly of fresh fruit and marshmallows on skewers for an easy dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 1 cup green grapes
- 1 cup melon balls (cantaloupe or honeydew)
- 1 cup large marshmallows
- 10 wooden skewers
Instructions
- Wash and prepare all fruit as directed.
- Thread the fruit pieces and marshmallows onto the wooden skewers, alternating ingredients for color and texture.
- Arrange the finished kabobs on a serving platter.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- If preparing ahead, store assembled kabobs covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours.
- You can substitute any firm fruit you prefer, such as kiwi or banana slices (add banana just before serving).
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Assembly
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 kabob
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: dessert kabobs, fruit skewers, marshmallow skewers, easy dessert, no bake