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February 25, 2019 By Brandy 38 Comments

Home » Recipes » Kids in the Kitchen

Make a Watermelon Shark for a Summer BBQ!

Filed Under: Kids in the Kitchen, Patriotic Holidays

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!

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!
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. It really isn’t hard to make a watermelon shark and it’s always such a hit with the kids!
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!
The photo above is of the kids working on our first shark 8 years ago!
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!
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!
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!
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!
(Yes, the baby is sans-pants, holding a toothpick on the table. Crazy kid!)
The girls made this one with a bit of help on the big cuts. The teeth aren’t perfect, but I love how it turned out and they didn’t cut themselves!

Ready to make a watermelon shark? Here is what you will need!

platter or cutting board
seedless watermelon
large knife
sharp paring knife
melon baller
permanent marker
toothpicks
gummy fish

Watermelon Shark 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 an angle (diagonal).
  • Place the watermelon, flat side down, onto a large platter or cutting board.
  • Cut out the mouth with a sharp knife.
  • Use a 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.

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!

  • Use a small knife or Exacto knife to carefully cut out teeth. To do this, cut 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. The white strip will be the teeth.
  • Make cuts all around the white outline area to create teeth.
  • Remember the 1/3 of the watermelon that you cut off? Use that to cut out fins. Attach fins with toothpicks.
  • Draw an eye on with a permanent marker.

Tips to make a watermelon shark:

  • 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.
  • Fill with other fruits for a yummy fruit salad watermelon shark!

This idea and instructions came from Sun Scholars, but it appears that her site is no longer around to link to. When I realized this, I updated the post and added instructions.

Here are more fun watermelon carving ideas from Taste of Home.

You might also like…
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Flag Sugar Cookies
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About Brandy

Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Renata says

    May 25, 2012 at 7:31 pm

    I love it! I wish I was that patient to creat scuh amazing things!

    Reply
  2. Bindu says

    May 25, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    Wow!!That is cool. have a wonderful summer

    Reply
  3. Laurie @ Rookiewife520.blogspot.com says

    May 25, 2012 at 11:11 pm

    That’s so cute!

    Reply
  4. Keri says

    May 26, 2012 at 3:45 am

    Too cute! That’s such a great idea.

    Reply
  5. Melanie says

    May 26, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    That is awesome! We have to bring watermelon to school this week, maybe we’ll make a shark too! Also, where exactly in CA?

    Reply
  6. Scrappy Gifts says

    May 26, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    So cool!

    Reply
  7. Shasta @ intheoldroad says

    May 31, 2012 at 12:59 am

    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

    Reply
  8. Randi~Dukes and Duchesses says

    June 2, 2012 at 2:43 am

    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!

    Reply
  9. therewasacrookedhouse says

    June 5, 2012 at 4:41 am

    Wow! That looks great. I will have to remember that for our next summer party.

    Reply
  10. Angela Abbott says

    June 1, 2013 at 6:41 am

    Just found your blog through the Show & Tell Hop. This is too cute. Thanks for sharing!

    Angel
    http://householdsavvy.com

    Reply
  11. Samantha @ Five Heart Home says

    June 29, 2013 at 12:59 am

    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!

    Reply
  12. DesignedByBH says

    June 29, 2013 at 1:09 am

    Aww, super cute! 🙂
    Hope the move went well!

    Reply
  13. JDaniel4's Mom says

    June 30, 2013 at 11:41 am

    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.

    Reply
  14. Laura says

    July 5, 2013 at 2:09 am

    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/ ‎

    Reply
  15. JESS44903 says

    May 9, 2016 at 11:18 am

    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!

    Reply
  16. Munchkin Time says

    May 9, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    This looks so cool, thank you so much for sharing! Going to pin it on Pinterest!;D

    Reply
  17. Sam says

    May 9, 2016 at 9:36 pm

    This is so adorable!! Now I need to find a reason to use this…

    Reply
  18. krista says

    May 10, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    This is so creative. I am amazed how great it looks.

    Reply
  19. Claire says

    May 10, 2016 at 10:15 pm

    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?

    Reply
  20. Lady Lilith says

    May 11, 2016 at 2:39 pm

    This is such a fun way to encourage healthy snacks. I would add some grapes and berries.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      May 12, 2016 at 8:34 am

      That’s a great idea for a filler! Perfect for summer too!

      Reply
  21. themondaybox says

    May 11, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    What an awesome centerpiece! Even more special and fun that the kids can help make it themselves.

    Reply
  22. Erin says

    May 14, 2016 at 1:00 pm

    Cute!!

    Reply
  23. Cristina at Ava's Alphabet says

    May 14, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    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. 🙂

    Reply
  24. l0l0bunny says

    May 15, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    Cute! My students would get a kick out of this!

    Reply
  25. apoconant says

    May 15, 2016 at 1:20 pm

    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/

    Reply
  26. JD - altamontefamily.com says

    May 16, 2016 at 12:03 am

    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

    Reply
  27. Mama's Happy Hive says

    May 17, 2016 at 6:22 pm

    Thank you for linking up at “A Little Bird Told Me” Wednesday link party! You have been featured on Mama’s Happy Hive blog. 🙂

    Reply
  28. DearCreatives (@DearCreatives) says

    May 17, 2016 at 11:24 pm

    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.

    Reply
  29. Anne @ Domesblissity says

    May 18, 2016 at 4:46 am

    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

    Reply
  30. Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says

    May 18, 2016 at 4:57 am

    This is beyond adorable!
    Shelley

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      May 18, 2016 at 8:32 am

      Thanks Shelley! 🙂

      Reply
  31. Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories says

    May 18, 2016 at 1:38 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      May 18, 2016 at 2:02 pm

      Thanks so much, Tanya!!

      Reply
  32. Desiree @THE36THAVENUE says

    May 19, 2016 at 8:55 am

    Such a fun idea! Thank you so much for linking up to our Party Palooza! Sharing on FB later today! XO

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      May 19, 2016 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks so much, Desiree! 🙂

      Reply
  33. Navy Wifey Peters @ USS Crafty says

    May 19, 2016 at 4:07 pm

    Such a fun snack! Thanks for sharing at the Submarine Sunday Link Party!

    Reply
  34. Leigh Powell Hines (@Hinessightblog) says

    May 21, 2016 at 3:40 pm

    Cute. Cute. Cute.

    Reply

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About the Author

Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you! Learn More About The Author

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