Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prep
- Rinse all fruit under cold water and dry thoroughly in a salad spinner or on clean kitchen towels; chill blueberries and pretzels briefly while you prep other items.
- Hull and halve strawberries and pit and halve cherries; place each fruit in separate bowls.
Mark layout
- Place a 16×12-inch rimmed tray on a flat surface and, optionally, set a small 3×3-inch silicone mold in the upper-left to define the blue canton.
Blue canton
- Pack blueberries into the canton area in a single even layer, pressing gently so they sit snugly and form a dense block of blue.
Red stripes
- Create horizontal red stripes across the tray by placing halved strawberries (cut side down) and halved cherries in neat rows, starting next to the canton and working outward; use an offset spatula to nudge fruit into tidy lines.
White stripes and finish
- Place yogurt-covered pretzel pieces and mini marshmallows in the white stripe areas (or keep pretzels separate for travel and add right before serving); tuck mint sprigs around the edges as garnish.
- If you packed pretzels separately, add them to the tray within 10 minutes of serving to maintain crunch.
Notes
Prep fruit up to 24 hours in advance and store components separately; assemble the flag within an hour of serving for best texture. Add crunchy elements (yogurt-covered pretzels) last or pack them separately when transporting to keep them crisp. Use a small silicone mold to shape the blueberry canton for neat edges.
