Strawberry Marshmallow Donut Kabobs are one of those desserts that feel special but take almost no effort at all. Made with fresh strawberries, fluffy marshmallows and mini chocolate donuts, these dessert kabobs come together in under 15 minutes and are perfect for kids and families.
Because the kabobs themselves require no baking, this is a great recipe for kids to help make — whether you’re using store-bought mini donuts or homemade ones. These strawberry donut kabobs are ideal for last-minute parties, Valentine’s Day treats, or a fun hands-on activity during strawberry season.
Why I Made this Recipe
Strawberry season in Ontario is one of my favourite times of year, and I love finding simple ways to showcase fresh, juicy strawberries without overcomplicating things. As someone who creates family-friendly, allergy-aware desserts, I’m always looking for recipes that kids can safely help with, and parents can pull together at the last minute.
These strawberry marshmallow donut kabobs are exactly that — a quick, no-bake dessert that works beautifully for kids’ parties, classroom treats, or seasonal celebrations like Canada Day, when red and white desserts are always popular.
Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Donut Kabobs
These strawberry donut kabobs are all about simplicity and flexibility, making them an easy win when you need a dessert that looks fun without a lot of prep:
- Ready in under 15 minutes
- No baking required to assemble the kabobs
- Easy for kids to assemble with adult supervision
- Simple ingredients you can easily swap based on what you have on hand
- Can be scaled up quickly for parties or gatherings
Ingredients and Substitutions
This kabob recipe is very flexible, with freshly picked strawberries being the star component. You can easily mix and match the remaining ingredients based on what you have or any dietary needs. Here are a few helpful notes and substitution ideas and you’ll find additional tips in the FAQ section.
Strawberries: Use fresh strawberries for best results — frozen berries tend to become mushy when threaded onto skewers, which can make assembly tricky and affect the texture of the kabobs.
Cake or Mini Donuts: I used my homemade mini chocolate donut recipe, baked them for 6-7 minutes, and fully cooled before assembling. Store-bought mini donuts are a great option if you want to avoid baking altogether. You could also use two-bite brownie bites or some cubes of cake. Just ensure to choose something sturdy enough to hold onto a skewer.
Marshmallows: Large marshmallows work best for these kabobs as they hold everything in place. I used maple-flavoured marshmallows for a seasonal twist, but any variety will work. For a vegan option, Dandies marshmallows are a great substitute!
How to Make Strawberry Kabobs
Start by gathering all of your ingredients, as well as some bbq skewers. If you are using homemade donuts, ensure they are fully cooled before assembling.
Always wash your strawberries before using them. I like to soak mine in water with a small splash of white vinegar for about 10 minutes. This helps remove residue, especially if freshly picked from the field, and keeps the strawberries fresher for longer.
Rinse the strawberries, then pat them dry with some kitchen paper and remove the tops.
Start threading your ingredients onto the skewers. There are no strict rules with this – I usually do strawberry → donut → marshmallow → donut → strawberry. Kids love creating their own combinations, so have fun with this part.
Top Tip: These are a great classroom or kid-friendly activity – just ensure to supervise skewer use to avoid poking accidents.
And that’s it! Nice and easy.
For a quick dessert, these do not disappoint and are as much fun to eat as they are to make.
Serving Tips
These can be made in advance, but fruit juice may release if stored for too long, causing soggy donuts and marshmallows. I recommend assembling as close to serving as possible.
These kabobs can be served as-is or paired with a homemade dipping sauce like 5-minute caramel or melted chocolate. If you want to drizzle chocolate directly on them, do so just before serving.
Kabob Variations
I love how versatile and easy to customize these kabobs are. Here are a few extra ideas to try, whether for a party, themed holiday or a fun snack:
- Alternative Fruits: Swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries or pineapple chunks – just ensure the fruit is firm enough to hold on a skewer.
- Cake or Brownie Bites: Swap the donuts for brownie bites or small cubes of cake for a different texture. I love using my coconut orange traybake for a more summery vibe.
- Holiday or Party Themes: Use red and white ingredients for Canada Day or Valentine’s Day, add blueberries for a red, white and blue 4th of July kabob, or mix colours for birthdays and themed parties.
- Mini Kabobs for Kids: Use shorter skewers so younger kids can handle them safely and create their own combinations.
Frequently Asked Kabob Questions
This recipe makes 6 kabobs, but you can easily scale it up depending on the number of guests or kids helping. Just increase the ingredients proportionally.
These kabobs are best assembled shortly before serving to keep the fruit and marshmallows fresh. If needed, you can prep the ingredients in advance, but wait to thread the kabobs until right before serving.
Yes! Store-bought mini donuts work perfectly and are a great way to save time. If you want a more personal touch, my mini chocolate donuts take just 7 minutes to bake.
Freezing is not recommended, as the fruit and marshmallows can become mushy and lose their texture. They are best enjoyed immediately after assembly.
Absolutely! This recipe is designed to be kid-friendly. Younger kids will enjoy assembling the marshmallows and donuts, while older children can help with fruit prep. Always supervise skewer use for safety.
Definitely! Select firm fruit like blueberries, raspberries or pineapple chunks. Avoid soft or watery fruit that could make the kabobs soggy.
With simple swaps, yes. Always double-check with school policies before sending any homemade treats, and ensure any donuts or cake cubes are free from allergens if needed.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days; marshmallows and donuts may get a little soggy, but will still taste great.
Looking for More Easy Party Treats?
If you loved these strawberry marshmallow donut kabobs, check out these simple small bites recipes that are kid-friendly and perfect for parties, classroom treats or just a fun family activity:
- Allergy Safe Rice Krispie Treats (Dairy-Free) – Classic, chewy, and loved by kids and adults alike.
- Air Fryer Churro Bites (Vegan) – Crunchy, cinnamon-sugar coated and ready in minutes.
- 4 ingredient coconut ice (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan) – Sweet, creamy, and perfect for small bites on a dessert table.
Tip: Bookmark or save this page to make these kabobs and your favourite small-bite treats any time the kids want a hands-on dessert activity.
Have fun mixing and matching, and let me know your favourite kabob combos in the comments!
Strawberry Marshmallow Donut Kabobs
Equipment
- 6 BBQ Skewers
- Bowl of 1 tsp white vinegar and water (for washing strawberries)
Ingredients
- 12 Strawberries
- 12 Mini Chocolate Donuts (store bought or homemade)
- 6 Large Marshmallows (maple-flavoured optional; use Dandies for vegan option)
Instructions
Prep Your Ingredients
- Gather all ingredients and supplies.
- Wash strawberries in water with a splash of white vinegar for 10 minutes, then rinse and pat dry. Remove tops.
- If using homemade mini donuts, bake and fully cool before assembling.
Assemble the Kabobs
- Thread strawberries, marshmallows and mini donuts onto skewers – there's no wrong way! Kids and adults alike can mix and match patterns, making this a fun, hands-on activity.
- Optional: serve with a quick dipping sauce such as melted chocolate or caramel.
Video
Notes
- Yield: Makes 6 kabobs; scale up easily for parties or themed celebrations.
- Donuts: Store-bought donuts can skip the baking step. For homemade, bake my mini chocolate donuts recipe for 6–7 minutes and cool fully.
- Storage: Best enjoyed immediately. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days; marshmallows and donuts may get a little soggy but will still taste great.
- Holiday and Party Variations: Valentine’s Day and Canada Day: red and white ingredients; 4th of July: red, white, and blue (add blueberries); Birthday or themed parties: mix colours and fruits for fun combinations.
- Fruit Swaps: Use firm fruit such as blueberries, raspberries, or pineapple chunks. Avoid soft or watery fruit that can make the kabobs soggy.
- Allergy-Friendly: Use vegan and/or gluten-free marshmallows and ensure donuts or cake cubes are free from allergens if needed.
Nutrition
Ha, I’ve never seen these before! Definitely a must the next time I organize a party – everyone will love them!
They’re so fun for parties – hope you enjoy them!
These little kabobs are so clever! I didn’t have time to make donuts, so I just used store-bought brownies, and it was so good!
Love that you used brownies instead! Glad you enjoyed them!
Perfect alternative to s’mores this summer! I love it! Thank you!
You’re so welcome Ned. Enjoy!
These look great on the table for cute party and so convenient to grab and go. Thanks!
Perfect for a party table!
These treat kabobs were so fun! My kids enjoyed making them and eating them!
I’m thrilled that you all enjoyed making and eating them!