Apple swan carving guide

Read time: 3 minutes

Edible, attention-getting decor has never been so easy!

Our step-by-step guide shows you how to carve a beautiful swan out of an apple.

What you need: A large apple, a chef’s knife, two butter knives or two metal straws.

Image of a large red apple, a chef's knife, butter knife and a metal straw

Step 1: Body

Apple with a green line splitting diagonally, with a label of stem half and bottom half of the apple

One hand holding an apple while the other hand is slicing the apple in half

A person holding one half of the apple while the other half is on the table face up

Lay a fresh fall apple on its side and cut the apple diagonally, directly through the core of the apple so you have two halves, one that has the top stem, and one that has the bottom.

Set aside two apple seeds for later.

Gif of hands cutting into half of the apple between two straws

Step 2: Wings

Take the side of the apple with bottom present and lay it cut-side down flat on the cutting board.

Place two butter knives or metal straws on the top and bottom of the apple. These will be used as guides for cutting.

On one side of the apple core, using a sharp knife, carefully cut vertically down toward the two guides.

Using the guides, cut from the side horizontally to meet your vertical cut. This will create a wedge of apple that pops right out.

Do the steps again on the other side of the apple core. You will end up with two apple wedges and a piece that includes the core for the swan body. Set them aside for now.

Step 3: Wing sections

Take one apple wedge and set a cut side down between your guides. Make a 1/4 inch thick vertical cut down to meet the guides. Flip the wedge to other cut side and cut down to meet first cut. Now you have one wing piece, and one smaller wedge.

Repeat this step with the resulting smaller wedge until you have 2-3 smaller wing sections (this will depend on the size of your apple).

Gif of an apple wedge being cut vertically into smaller wedges between two straws

Step 4: Neck opening

Cutting a slice out of the top side of the apple

A hand holding the neck of the swan in the opening of the side half of the apple

Apple showing the section cut out of the half slice top portion of the apple

To make the insert for the swan head, take the swan body piece set aside from step 2, cut a deep groove in the center of the swan body piece about 1/4 inch wide and 2 inches long. This will allow space for the head to lock in. Don’t worry, this part is tricky and the piece removed can be discarded (or eaten).

Step 5: Wing assembly

Staggering in the wing pieces of the apple, showing 3 slices

Full body of the wing pieces using the apple slices

Stagger wing pieces from step 3 together and place on body to create a layered wing.

Set aside and continue to step 6.

Gif of the apple being cut horizontally between straws

Step 6: Swan head

Take the half of the apple with the stem present from step 1 and place cut side down between two guides. Using these guides helps to create even slices.

Cut horizontally through the apple using guides. Make three to four slices through the apple for a variety of shapes and sizes for the swan head. Pick one of the pieces that looks like a heart that’s been slightly flattened on top. Snack on the other pieces.

With the heart shape facing away from you, make three cuts to create your swan head. The cut will look like a backwards “Z.” One angled cut to form the front of the head, one to define the front of the neck and one to form the base of the neck. This piece will go in the slot created in the body in step 4. The skin of the apple will be on top of the swan beak and down its neck.

Apple half the heart shape facing away from the person with a cut in the apple that looks like a backwards Z

Apple seeds beting but into the head of the 'swan' to create the eyes

Step 7: Final touches

Use apple seeds set aside from step 2 to use as eyes for your swan. Use the side of a butter knife to press them firmly into the apple piece.

Place the swan head in the groove in the middle of the swan body.

There you have it! A beautiful edible decoration for your holiday dinner guests!

Be sure to take a picture and share with your friends.

A person displaying the completed 'swan apple' on a cutting board

Tip: Spray your swan with lemon juice to keep the apple from browning too quickly.

Tip: Use a variety of apple colors for a colorful decorative display.

If you loved that, try this!

What you need: An English cucumber, a veggie peeler and a small paring knife.

Half sliced cucumber sitting on a cutting board with a knife and a peeler

Image of a cucumber having the peeling removed using the peeler

Hands rolling the peeling of the cucumber into a petal shape

Image of the rolled cucumber peels in the shape of petals being placed in a yellow bell pepper

Steps:

Using the veggie peeler, take one cucumber and peel six thin slices. Slices will be round in shape.
Using a paring knife, take one slice and make three cuts in the center of the cucumber slice to create an opening.
Take the other five slices and make a tight roll. Offset the slices a little to mimic petals.
Place roll in opening of sixth slice.
Carefully spread “petals” to create a realistic rose shape.

It’s that easy! A quick garnish for any season!