A fruit bouquet is an arrangement of whole and cut fruit which has been assembled so that it resembles a display of flowers. Fruit bouquets can be used as edible decorations at the table, and they are also given as gifts for holidays, birthdays, and other events. It is possible to make a fruit bouquet at home, and they can also be ordered from catering companies which specialize in edible arrangements of all shapes and sizes. Some grocery stores sell fruit bouquets or kits for making fruit bouquets, with an assemblage of cut fruit which people can take home and arrange as desired.
In a typical fruit bouquet, pieces of fruit are cut and stuck together with the use of skewers so that they look like flowers. For example, rings of pineapple might be cut into the shape of flowers, with melon balls or strawberries in the center of each “flower.” Garnishes like parsley might be used to add some depth and background to the display, along with smaller pieces of fruit cut or carved into floral shapes.
Some people arrange fruit bouquets in a vase or bowl, with a piece of styrofoam in the bottom to hold the skewers in place. Others may use another piece of fruit such as a cantaloupe as a container to hold the bouquet, sticking the skewers into the sides of the fruit. The bouquet may be further decorated with ribbons, edible gold and silver leaf, and other edible garnishes to add visual interest.
Any number of fruits can be used in a fruit bouquet. Many catering firms use a range of fruits to get a wide variety of colors, but it is also possible to create themed fruit bouquets, such as tropical arrangements with fruits like mangoes, coconuts, papayas, passionfruits, starfruits, and so forth. As a general rule, firm fruits which can be easily skinned or deseeded if necessary are ideal for arranging in a fruit bouquet, while softer fruits or fruits with clingy pits, seeds, and rinds tend not to fare as well.
Unlike a fruit basket, another type of fresh fruit gift, a fruit bouquet is extremely perishable. The fruit can be kept looking as fresh and firm as possible by being dunked in acidulated water or dressed in lemon juice to slow browning in the air, but the bouquet generally looks best within hours of being assembled. This edible decoration is best eaten quickly, as the fruit will otherwise start to brown, droop, dry out, and look rather unpleasant.
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.