Holiday Watermelon Snack Board
by Amanda Keefer
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by the National Watermelon Promotion Board. All opinions are our own.
The busy Holiday season is just around the corner and we are on a mission to make some easy and fun festive ideas to add to your table. Sweeten up your traditional holiday snack board with the help of fresh watermelon! This Holiday Watermelon Snack Board adds a fun spin by cutting watermelon into Christmas trees and is paired with an assortment of fruit, nuts, cheese and crackers.
If you’re snuggling up with your family to watch a Christmas movie or planning a holiday get-together, a snack board full of your favorite items is a must.
Having a party? Everyone will want to gather around this grazing board for easy munching. We’ve got a lot packed into this board, but the great thing about snack boards is that you can make them your own! Customizable, delicious, and healthy. Best part, have the kids help make this one for a family activity!
Here’s what’s on the board:
Watermelon! This fruit really is the star of the board (okay, the cucumbers are actual stars, but you know what I mean). Don’t think of watermelon as just a summer fruit – it’s available year-round!
This time of year, you can find a fresh cut or mini watermelons at your grocery store. Grab a mini watermelon (here are tips to pick the best one) to make the Christmas trees or fresh cut watermelon for the other items.
We love watermelon because it contains Vitamin A for healthy eyes and skin, Vitamin B6 for our immune function and brain development, and of course Vitamin C to help boost our immunity.
#HowDoYouWintermelon? Show off your winter watermelon ideas on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok for a chance to win weekly prizes from the Watermelon Board now through Feb. 28, 2021! Visit watermelon.org for full details.
We’re enjoying watermelon 3 ways on this board:
- Watermelon Christmas Trees: Use a cookie cutter to cut out watermelon slices in a tree shape. You can decorate these or leave plain. Top with a cucumber star!
- Watermelon “Snow Balls”: Use a melon baller to make watermelon round. Place in a small bowl and sprinkle with shredded coconut.
- Watermelon, Feta and Mint Stacks: Skewer chunks of watermelon, feta and a mint leaf on toothpicks.
Key Ingredients for this Holiday Watermelon Snack Board
Once you have your show-stopping watermelon snacks in place, begin to fill out the board with all the other goodies, including:
- Cucumbers (cut with a small star cookie cutter)
- Green grapes
- Sliced radishes
- Raspberries
- Brie
- Crackers
- Pistachios & almonds
- Pomegranate arils
- Mini marshmallows
- Honey, for dipping
- Yogurt pretzels
And no board is complete without a good sprinkle. A little fresh mint or thyme here, some dried cranberries and pomegranate arils there. It really helps tie the whole board together!
How to make a Holiday Watermelon Snack Board
Watermelon Christmas Trees: Slice watermelon into rounds. Use a cookie cutter to cut out trees. Top with cucumber star. Place on a bed of mini marshmallows on board.
Watermelon Feta Bites: Skewer chunks of feta, watermelon and a mint leaf on toothpicks. Place on board.
Watermelon “Snow Balls”: Use melon baller to cut out watermelon rounds. Place in small bowl on board and sprinkle with shredded coconut.
Then add the remaining ingredients on to the board. Enjoy!
Holiday Watermelon Snack Board FAQs
Q: How do you make watermelon Christmas trees for a snack board?
A: To make watermelon Christmas trees, slice the watermelon into rounds and use a cookie cutter to cut out tree shapes from the slices. Top each tree with a cucumber star and place them on the board on a bed of mini marshmallows.
Q: What are some ingredients included on the Holiday Watermelon Snack Board?
A: Our board includes watermelon trees, watermelon “snowballs”, watermelon/feta/mint skewers, cucumbers, grapes, radishes, raspberries, brie cheese, crackers, nuts, pomegranate arils, mini marshmallows, honey for dipping, and yogurt pretzels.
Q: How do you make watermelon “snowballs” for the board?
A: Use a melon baller to scoop out rounds of watermelon. Place the watermelon rounds in a small bowl and sprinkle with shredded coconut to create snowball shapes.
Q: Are there any health benefits to eating watermelon?
A: Yes, watermelon contains vitamin A for healthy eyes and skin, vitamin B6 for immune function and brain development, and vitamin C to boost immunity.
Q: When is watermelon available to purchase?
A: While most associated with summer, watermelon is actually available year-round, making it great for all kinds of holidays, snack boards, and festivities.
Q: How many servings does this Holiday Watermelon Snack Board make?
A: This particular snack board recipe makes 6-8 servings as an appetizer or snack. However, you can easily double or triple it depending on the size of your group you will be serving.
What are the benefits to some of the ingredients on our Watermelon Snack Board?
Our Holiday Watermelon Snack Board contains a variety of nutritious ingredients beyond just the watermelon itself. Here are some of the benefits of other ingredients featured:
Feta Cheese:
- Good source of calcium, phosphorus and protein
- Contains probiotics that support gut health
Grapes:
- Rich in antioxidants like resveratrol
- Provide vitamin C, vitamin K and copper
Raspberries:
- High in fiber to aid digestion
- Contain powerful antioxidants like anthocyanins
Pomegranate Arils:
- Full of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and folate
- The antioxidants in pomegranates may reduce inflammation
Nuts (pistachios, almonds):
- Provide healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants and plant protein
- Nuts may help reduce risk of heart disease and diabetes
Cucumbers:
- Hydrating and low in calories
- Provide vitamin K, molybdenum and antioxidants
Having a variety of fruits, veggies, proteins and fats creates a balanced, nutrient-dense snack board that can provide fiber, vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds. The different colors and textures also make it more appealing. Eat up!
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Holiday Watermelon Snack Board
Ingredients
- 1 mini watermelon
- 1 block feta cheese
- Fresh mint
- 1 small wheel Brie cheese
- Green grapes
- Pistachios and/or almonds
- Crackers
- Cucumber slices
- Radishes sliced
- Shredded coconut
- Yogurt pretzels
- Dried cranberries
- Pomegranate arils
- Crackers
- Raspberries
- Honey
Instructions
- Watermelon Christmas Trees: Slice watermelon into rounds. Use a cookie cutter to cut out trees. Top with cucumber star. Place on a bed of mini marshmallows on board.
- Watermelon Feta Bites: Skewer chunks of feta, watermelon and a mint leaf on toothpicks. Place on board.
- Watermelon "Snow Balls": Use melon baller to cut out watermelon rounds. Place in small bowl on board and sprinkle with shredded coconut.
- Assemble remaining ingredients on board.
