How to make a watermelon shark that is sure to be a hit at your next summer BBQ! Fill with fruit and gummy fish for a fun added detail! This post was originally shared in 2010 and has been updated with detailed instructions.
You might also like our summer kebab party, red white and blue mini fruit pizzas or our homemade lime ice cream!
Watch our step by step video!
Watermelon Shark
Making a watermelon shark is such a fun summer tradition that we have. We usually make one for the 4th of July, but have brought them to summer BBQs with friends at other times too. They aren’t hard to make, and are always such a hit with the kids! Wouldn’t this shark be fun to make for shark week? If you’re looking for another shark week idea, check out or shark rice krispies pops!
We’ve made our watermelon shark many times and it’s fun to see the photos throughout the years. Every time we make him, he looks a little different! Sometimes we add gummy fish in little cups around the base to really make it come to life. Other times we fill the shark with a variety of fresh fruit for a fruit salad shark. We’ve even scored lines on the side of the shark to look like gills, and sometimes we add side fins!
Watermelon Shark Supplies
platter or cutting board
seedless watermelon
large knife
sharp paring knife
melon baller
permanent marker or dry erase marker
toothpicks
gummy fish (Swedish Fish candies)
Tips
- Use a melon baller to scoop out the watermelon flesh.
- When scoring the area around the mouth, use a sharp paring knife or x-acto knife. This part is best done by an adult.
- Fill with other fruits for a yummy fruit salad!
- DO NOT scoop out all of the watermelon from the bottom of the shark, leave 2-3″ as a base.
How To Make a Watermelon Shark
Make a Watermelon Shark
How to make a watermelon shark that is sure to be a hit at your next summer BBQ! Fill with fruit and gummy fish for a fun added detail!
Cost: $8
Equipment
- platter or cutting board
Materials
- seedless watermelon
- large knife
- sharp paring knife
- melon baller
- permanent marker
- toothpicks
- gummy fish
Instructions
- If the watermelon is dusty, give it a quick wash and dry with a towel.
- You will need to cut a flat surface on the watermelon so that it can stand on its own. To do this, cut off about 1/3 of the watermelon on a diagonal angle.
- Place the watermelon, flat side down, onto your work surface (large platter or cutting board).
- Cut out the mouth opening with a sharp knife.
- Use melon baller to scoop out the watermelon. Leave 2-3" of the base intact. We learned the hard way that if you scoop out too much of the watermelon that the juices will leak out the bottom. Leaving 3" of watermelon will create a barrier.
- Use a smaller utility knife or Exacto knife to carefully cut out teeth. To do this, score a shallow outline (about 1") around the mouth, only cutting through the green rind.
- Then carve off the strip of green rind until you have a 1" white outline around the mouth (white rind of the watermelon). The white strip will be the teeth area.
- Make triangle cuts all around the white outline area to create teeth in serrated pattern.
- Remember the 1/3 of the watermelon that you cut off? Use that to cut out a dorsal fin and fins.
- Attach fins with toothpicks. Draw an eye on with a permanent marker.
Video
Notes
You can make a watermelon shark out of a round or oblong watermelon.
Red grapes or blueberries can be used for the eyes (attach with a toothpick or wooden skewers).
Use a melon baller to scoop out watermelon. Gummy fish are such a fun added detail but do get sticky if touching the watermelon. Have some on the side that are nice and dry to serve with the watermelon.
For a fruit salad shark, add cantaloupe and diced pineapple with the balls of watermelon in the shark.
Here are more fun watermelon carving ideas from Taste of Home.
I love it! I wish I was that patient to creat scuh amazing things!
Wow!!That is cool. have a wonderful summer
That’s so cute!
Too cute! That’s such a great idea.
That is awesome! We have to bring watermelon to school this week, maybe we’ll make a shark too! Also, where exactly in CA?
So cool!
That looks good…perfect for summer. I’d love it if you would consider sharing it with our Summer Recipes linky party. We’re two blogs sharing one combined linky party for double exposure.
Shasta
http://intheoldroad.blogspot.com/2012/05/summer-recipes-and-all-stars-linky.html
Love it! This would be perfect for a pool party this summer. I love the fish candies … what a fun touch. Thanks so much for sharing!
Wow! That looks great. I will have to remember that for our next summer party.
Just found your blog through the Show & Tell Hop. This is too cute. Thanks for sharing!
Angel
http://householdsavvy.com
Hopping over from TT&J Weekend Wrap-Up to say I love this idea! Pinning it for my son’s upcoming pool party birthday party. Thanks for the inspiration!
Aww, super cute! 🙂
Hope the move went well!
I made one of these once before, but I didn’t include the fish. What a brilliant addition! I am going to pin this post.
I love your watermelon shark and its candy fish lunch! I am featuring this project on my blog today. http://www.theexperimentalhome.com/check-in-check-out-4/
Well isn’t this just the cutest! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Recipes, Crafts, Tips and Tricks Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
This looks so cool, thank you so much for sharing! Going to pin it on Pinterest!;D
This is so adorable!! Now I need to find a reason to use this…
This is so creative. I am amazed how great it looks.
Oh wow this is so creative! Love it 🙂 I bet the children do to…
Would love you to share at my Tuesday Treats blog hop?
This is such a fun way to encourage healthy snacks. I would add some grapes and berries.
That’s a great idea for a filler! Perfect for summer too!
What an awesome centerpiece! Even more special and fun that the kids can help make it themselves.
Cute!!
This is awesome! I made a watermelon owl for my daughter’s “Look Whooo’s One?” first birthday party. Perhaps this will have to be my next watermelon masterpiece?!? Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Cute! My students would get a kick out of this!
I love this! I’ll be bringing one of these to my in-laws memorial day bbq!
You should stop by my weekly link party and share this with everyone : )
http://www.twentysomethinginthe2010s.com/peace-love-linkup-007/
Sooo cute! This would be perfect for shark week or any summer party! Love that watermelons are in season right now. Stopping by from the Happiness is Homemade Link Party. Just joined today and your post caught my eye!!!
JD – altamontefamily.com
Thank you for linking up at “A Little Bird Told Me” Wednesday link party! You have been featured on Mama’s Happy Hive blog. 🙂
Hi Brandy, Such a fun idea for a party or BBQ. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight Party. Pinned & shared. Hope packing and your move goes well. See you again soon.
Hi Brandy. I’ve seen these watermelon sculptures so much on Pinterest and have been so tempted to have a go at making one. Thanks so much for sharing at Thriving on Thursdays. I’m featuring this post at tomorrow’s party.
Anne @ Domesblissity
This is beyond adorable!
Shelley
Thanks Shelley! 🙂
I love it, my oldest loves sharks and all my boys love watermelon. They’d flip if I did this! Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup. Pinning to our linkup board and hope you found some great posts to visit this week!
Thanks so much, Tanya!!
Such a fun idea! Thank you so much for linking up to our Party Palooza! Sharing on FB later today! XO
Thanks so much, Desiree! 🙂
Such a fun snack! Thanks for sharing at the Submarine Sunday Link Party!
Cute. Cute. Cute.