Watermelon Basket Recipe

In charge of bringing a fruit tray to the next barbeque? Blow them away with this fun and easy method! Serve it with our Creamy Citrus Fruit Dip for a special treat.

Ingredients

• 1 large

  watermelon

• your fruit of choice; seedless grapes, blueberries, strawberries…

• toothpicks, marker, melon baller

• 6 ounces

  frozen orange juice, thawed

• 8 ounces

  Cool Whip, thawed

• 1/2 teaspoon

  ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon

  ground allspice

• 1 small package

  instant vanilla pudding mix

Directions

Choose a watermelon that is large and plump. Find one with a flat bottom so it will sit still for you while you cut on it.

Wash and rinse the outside, dry it and set it aside.

Find a dishcloth and dampen it; fold it into a flat square and place the watermelon on it. This will help it stay in the same place while you cut it. Use toothpicks to mark the corners of each “X”. Then trace between the toothpicks with the marker. Use these lines as guides to cut.

Use a large sharp knife when you are carving. Go slowly and try not to rush. Gently remove each piece as you carve, reserving the watermelon to later fill the carved “bowl”. Use a melon baller to scrape the bottom of the watermelon, try to remove as much pink as you can.

Let it sit while you carve the rest of your fruit, dump any extra liquid out (reserve for smoothies!) and place a wad of paper towels in the bottom to dry it out a bit before you fill it up.

Gently fill with your cut fruit. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in the fridge until you are ready to serve!

Combine the orange juice, nutmeg, and allspice together. Gently fold in the Cool Whip. Stir together with the vanilla pudding mix and place in a pretty bowl beside your watermelon basket. Enjoy!