How to Make Fruity Garden Gnomes

A happy, healthy snack — Heeler style!

Bananas become bodies, berries become noses, and suddenly… Gnomes! These fruity little fellas are bursting with colour, full of natural goodness, and won’t mysteriously multiply in your backyard when you’re not looking. Recipe by Ella Play Bakes.

You will need:

Note: A grown-up should handle all preparation and baking, but budding chefs can help – under supervision, of course!

For 6 gnomes, you will need

• 2–3 bananas  
• 6 strawberries  
• 1 blackberry  
• A mix of orange or red fruits like rockmelon, nectarine, mango, apricot, or peach  
• 12 candy eyes  
• A small knife and chopping board

Method:

How to make them

1. Shape the gnome bodies
   Slice the bananas in half crossways, removing the rounded tops and bottoms to make short, sturdy gnome bodies.
2. Give them faces
   Use small pieces of rockmelon, nectarine, or any orange-coloured fruit to cut out doggy ears, eyebrows, and moustaches. Press them onto the banana. The fruit’s natural stickiness will help them stay in place. Stick on two candy eyes and a tiny blackberry segment for the nose. Fun fact – Each tiny segment of a blackberry is called a drupelet!
3. Add arms
   From the leftover banana, cut tiny rectangles to use as arms. Gently stick them onto the sides.
4. Add their hats
   Place a strawberry upside down on top of each banana body to make a pointy red gnome hat.
5. Stick and secure
   If any piece needs extra help sticking, gently push it into the banana so it holds firm.
6. Show off your fruity gnomes!
   Stand them up on a plate, line them up in your own “Bluey garden,” and serve immediately!