Merry Christmas! Or maybe you’re looking for a fun way to use up your watermelon this summer! Let’s face it—finding healthy, baby-friendly snacks that are also holiday-themed can be a challenge. Watermelon, despite being a summer favorite, can become the star of your Christmas (or summer) table with a little creativity. But how do you choose the perfect melon, cut it into Christmas tree shapes, and make sure it’s safe for your baby to enjoy? This guide will walk you through three simple steps to make your the cutest watermelon Christmas trees!

How to Pick the Perfect Watermelon

Perfect watermelon for watermelon Christmas trees

Importance of Choosing the Right Watermelon: A good, juicy watermelon is key to making the best-tasting, most visually appealing watermelon Christmas trees. Be sure to choose a seedless watermelon. If you’re like me and reside in the Midwest you may have to make these watermelon Christmas trees in the summer. There are no fresh watermelons to be found in December in the Midwest! But why not have a Christmas in July celebration?!
Tips for Picking a Watermelon:
- Look for a uniform shape (avoid odd lumps or bumps).
- Check for a creamy yellow spot (indicates ripeness).
- Give it a tap—listen for a deep, hollow sound.

How to Cut Watermelon Christmas Trees (Step-by-Step Video)

Use a stable surface and a sharp knife when cutting your watermelon. Slice the whole watermelon into quarters lengthwise or just buy a quarter of a watermelon. Then slice 3/4″- 1″ slices from the quarters.
Cut the watermelon slice in half to create two triangular trees. Thick watermelon slices will help the tree trunk from breaking off.
Trim the rind to create the base of the Christmas tree. And viola! You have watermelon Christmas trees!

If you really want a quick and easy way to make watermelon Christmas trees, you can use a Christmas tree cookie cutter. You may have a hard time cutting through the watermelon rind but you could avoid the rind and have a juicy, pink watermelon tree instead.

How to Serve Watermelon Christmas Trees to Kids and Babies

Serving watermelon to Toddlers and Older Kids

To serve these healthy holiday treats for toddlers you can arrange the trees on a festive Christmas platter, and add toppings like blueberries, fresh mint and chia seeds or hemp seeds for the “ornaments”. You can also add Greek yogurt drizzles. Fill a plastic bag or piping bag with yogurt, cut the tip of the bag, and push the yogurt through the tip onto the watermelon trees to create garland or dots for ornaments.

Serving watermelon to Babies for Baby-Led Weaning

For an in-depth explanation and watermelon recipes, check out my post on how to serve watermelon for baby-led weaning.

6 months+: To serve watermelon to babies at 6 months and up you can serve the watermelon on the rind or with the rind cut off. The watermelon rind offers the perfect teething food at this age.

Watermelon trees are safe and an appropriate size for babies 6 months and up. The shape may be a little difficult for a 6-9 month old to grasp, so you may serve in 2 inch sticks if you’d rather.

9 months+: At 9-12 months most babies have the pincer grasp and can grasp bite-sized pieces of food easer. You can also serve them a watermelon tree or cut the watermelon into bite-sized pieces if they are having trouble.

Is watermelon a choking hazard for babies?

Watermelon is generally not considered a choking risk but watermelon seeds can be an aspiration risk to young babies. Serve the watermelon trees as they are or add baby-safe toppings like plain yogurt drizzles and hemp seeds or chia seeds for “ornaments”.

How to store watermelon trees

Watermelon trees can be stored in an airtight container or snap lock bag in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Watermelon Christmas Tree Recipe

Yield: 6-10 trees

Watermelon Christmas Trees

A healthy and fun Christmas snack for kids and babies!

Ingredients

1/4 seedless watermelon
Toppings: blueberries, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, hemp seeds

Instructions

Use a stable surface and a sharp knife when cutting your watermelon. Slice the whole watermelon into quarters lengthwise or buy a quarter of a watermelon. Then slice 3/4"- 1" slices from the quarters.
Cut the watermelon slice in half to create two triangular trees. Thick watermelon slices will help the tree trunk from breaking off.
Trim the rind to create the base of the Christmas tree. And viola! You have watermelon Christmas trees!
Add toppings like blueberries, fresh mint and chia seeds or hemp seeds for the "ornaments".
You can also add Greek yogurt drizzles. Fill a plastic bag or piping bag with yogurt, cut the tip of the bag, and push the yogurt through the tip onto the watermelon trees to create garland or dots for ornaments.

Notes

Quick version: If you really want a quick and easy way to make watermelon Christmas trees, you can use a Christmas tree cookie cutter. You may have a hard time cutting through the watermelon rind but you could avoid the rind and have a juicy, pink watermelon tree instead.

Storage: Watermelon trees can be stored in an airtight container or snap lock bag in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Best tips for the perfect watermelon trees:

Choose a ripe, crisp watermelon
Use a good knife to cut the trees
Cut the trees into 3/4″- 1″ slices
Cut the watermelon rind to create the bottom of the Christmas trees
Top with Greek yogurt to create ribbon and blueberries or hemp and chia seeds to create “ornaments”

By now, you’ve mastered the art of picking the perfect watermelon, slicing it into a festive tree, and serving it safely to your baby. As you celebrate this Christmas season, consider exploring more of my blog posts for additional ideas that make mealtime a joy for you and your baby. Whether you’re looking for new recipes, meal ideas, or guidance to start baby-led weaning, I’m here for you!

3 Easy Steps for How to Cut Watermelon Christmas Trees