This 4th of July, we’re making Watermelon Sparklers! Watermelon stars and fresh blueberries combine to make these fun, patriotic fruit sparklers. They’re a perfect easy side dish for a summer BBQ, and make a great healthy snack any time!Â
I love the slower pace of summer. It’s so great to mark the time with little things–Friday movie nights, afternoons in the pool, playing board games during the week, and getting excited about holidays big and small.
These patriotic fruit sparklers are an adorable side dish for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Veteran’s Day, but they’re also delightful at summer BBQs, pool parties, and cookouts. They’re always a hit with kids, and are a great way to serve some fresh fruit at your cookout!
Best of all, you only need 2 ingredients + some skewers to make them. (Bonus points if you try them with our Lime Yogurt Dip!)
Gather Your Ingredients
Let’s take a look at our ingredients list + what you’ll need to make these cute fruit sparklers:
- WATERMELON. I recommend seedless watermelon for these patriotic fruit skewers so that you don’t have to dig black seeds out of the stars, but use what you like or can find! You’ll be slicing it into rounds so that you can cut out star shapes for the fruit sparklers.
- BLUEBERRIES. Next, you’ll need some fresh blueberries. The blue is so pretty with the red of the watermelon! I usually put at least 4-5 blueberries on each skewer, but you can absolutely do more than that if your skewers are longer or you want them more full.
- A STAR-SHAPED COOKIE CUTTER OR KNIFE. To cut your watermelon stars, I recommend a star-shaped cookie cutter. (Don’t have one? Check out the FAQ for some tips on cutting stars with a knife.) I usually use a cookie cutter close to 3-3.5 inches wide.
- WOODEN SKEWERS. To build your watermelon star sparklers, you’ll need skewers. I prefer 6-8″ skewers since they’re easier for kids to manage and a nice portion size if you’re serving a crowd. You can totally use longer skewers if you like!
- (OPTIONAL) FOR LIME YOGURT DIP: If you like, you can make a lime yogurt dip to go with the fruit skewers. It’s optional but pretty tasty. To make it, you’ll need plain yogurt, honey or agave, lime zest + lime juice. (Dairy-free? Check out the FAQ for some of our favorite brands!)
How to Make Watermelon Blueberry Fruit Sparklers, Step By Step
As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below!
- FIRST, CUT WATERMELON INTO THIN ROUND SLICES. Use a sharp knife to cut the watermelon width-wise into rounds. (You’ll only need 3-4 rounds to make watermelon fruit sparklers.) You ideally want the thickness of the slices to match the depth of your cookie cutter. (i.e. if the cookie cutter is 1″ deep, slice the watermelon 1″ thick, etc.)
- SECOND, CUT OUT WATERMELON STARS: Use a star cookie cutter to cut out stars from your watermelon circles, placing the stars close together so there isn’t a lot of leftover watermelon in each circle. For ease, I recommend using a cutting board or plate to press down on the cookie cutter to protect your hands. It makes it really easy to punch out the stars! (PS – the FAQ has lots of ideas for leftover watermelon!)
- THEN, SLIDE FRUIT ONTO SKEWERS. Now, you’re ready to assemble the watermelon star sparklers. Slide at least 4-5 blueberries onto the pointed end of each wooden skewer, leaving about 1″ empty at the top. Then, add the watermelon stars on top. You’re done!
- OPTIONAL: MIX UP THE LIME YOGURT DIP. If you want to go one step further, mix up some lime yogurt dip to go with the fruit skewers. You just need to whisk everything together!
FAQ + Tips and Tricks For Pretty Fruit Sparklers
A TIP FOR CUTTING STARS EASILY. I’ve found that pushing down the cookie cutter can sometimes be tricky for little ones (and get tough on your hands!). I’ve found it’s WAY easier to cut (and much gentler on hands!) if you use a plate or cutting board to press the cookie cutter down. (See the video if you want an example!)
DON’T HAVE A COOKIE CUTTER? TRY THIS! If you don’t have a star cookie cutter, you can make a template by drawing a star on parchment paper, cutting it out, and using a sharp knife to trace the template. It’s a bit more time-intensive, but it works!
GET CREATIVE WITH SHAPES! If you like, you can always swap out the stars for hearts, circles, or other fun shapes! All you need is a cookie cutter.
OTHER YUMMY FRUITS TO TRY. I love the simplicity of watermelon and blueberries for these watermelon sparkler skewers, but you can also add other colors and flavors by mixing in other fruits on the skewers. Strawberries, banana slices, pineapple, and blackberries are some of my favorites!
WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVER WATERMELON. Since you’re cutting stars out of the watermelon, you’ll be left with some odds and ends. I usually just dice them up into pieces and eat them, but you can also use them for Strawberry Watermelon Popsicles, Watermelon Lime Refreshers, or Watermelon Slushies.
DAIRY-FREE? TRY THESE! You can use your favorite unsweetened yogurt for the yogurt dip. For dairy-free options, we like CoYo, Culina, or So Delicious dairy-free yogurts. They all work great for this dip!
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Watermelon Star Fruit Sparklers With Lime Yogurt Dip
Ingredients
FOR THE WATERMELON STAR SPARKLERS:
- 3-4 Round Slices of Seedless Watermelon
- 50 Fresh blueberries (5 per skewer)
- A Star-Shaped Cookie Cutter (about 3-inches wide)
- 10 (6-inch) Wooden Skewers (Or as many as you'd like to make)
OPTIONAL, FOR LIME YOGURT FRUIT DIP:
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt dairy-free as needed
- 1 tsp. honey or agave
- 1/4-1/2 tsp. fresh lime zest
- 1 tsp. lime juice
Instructions
FOR THE WATERMELON STAR SKEWERS:
- FIRST, CUT WATERMELON INTO THIN SLICES. Use a sharp knife to cut the watermelon width-wise into rounds or slices. (You'll only need 3-4 rounds to make watermelon fruit sparklers.) You ideally want the thickness of the slices to match the depth of your cookie cutter. (i.e. if the cookie cutter is 1" deep, slice the watermelon 1" thick, etc.)
- SECOND, CUT OUT WATERMELON STARS: Use a star cookie cutter to cut star shapes out of the watermelon rounds. I've found it's easiest to cut the star shapes if I use a plate or cutting board to press down on the cookie cutter rather than using my hands. Place the cookie cutter on top of the slice of watermelon, then place the cutting board on top. Press down to punch out the stars. Repeat until you have at least 10 stars (1 star per sparkler)
- THEN, SLIDE FRUIT ONTO SKEWERS. Now, you're ready to assemble the watermelon star sparklers. Slide at least 4-5 blueberries onto the pointed end of each wooden skewer, leaving about 1" empty at the top. Then, add the watermelon stars on top. Repeat until all the skewers are assembled.
- SERVE OR STORE. Enjoy right away or cover and chill until you're ready to serve!
FOR THE OPTIONAL LIME YOGURT DIP:
- COMBINE. In a small bowl, combine yogurt, honey/agave, lime zest, and lime juice. Stir to combine well.
- TASTE & ADJUST. Taste the dip and add additional honey, lime zest or lime juice, as desired. Enjoy right away or cover and chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- DON’T HAVE A COOKIE CUTTER? TRY THIS! If you don’t have a star cookie cutter, you can make a template by drawing a star on parchment paper, cutting it out, and using a sharp knife to trace the template. It’s a bit more time-intensive, but it works!
- MAKE-AHEAD TIPS. You can make these several hours in advance. If you prefer, you can prep the ingredients a day ahead of time and assemble them the day you plan to serve them.Â
- WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVER WATERMELON. Since you’re cutting stars out of the watermelon, you’ll be left with some odds and ends. I usually just dice them up into pieces and eat them, but you can also use them for Strawberry Watermelon Popsicles, Watermelon Lime Refreshers, or Watermelon Slushies.
Video
Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.
Find it Online:
https://www.onelovelylife.com/watermelon-star-sparklers/Recipe originally shared June 2020. Updated with improved recipe notes, step-by-step photos, and new video and republished June 2026.