Learn how to make a fresh fruit platter for a party that is easy, beautiful and stays fresh, and offers a show-stopping assortment of delicious fruit perfect for winter or summer. The perfect fruit tray can be made in advance, contains seasonal fruits such as berries and pineapple, and can feed small or large gatherings.
Wash all the fruits. Use all fresh fruits. Wash in warm soapy water and rinse and dry well.
Apple. Cut in half, core and slice thin equal slices with skin on. Line cluster half in two spots on edge of platter
1 apple, sliced, skin on
Strawberries. Core ¾ cup of the strawberries, remove the stem and slice into 4 slices each. Line the boarder of the platter on both sides. Hold back the remaining strawberries, leave stem on, and set aside.
1 cup strawberries
Watermelon. Remove the rind and chunk the watermelon. Use the chunks to begin to fill in the center of the platter.
½ cup watermelon, chunked
Pineapple. Remove the outer shell, core and chunk the pineapple.
½ cup pineapple, chunked
Grapes. With the red grapes, fill in the border gaps between the strawberries. Divide the purple grapes into two clusters and tuck them into two spots on the platter.
½ cup grapes, purple, ½ cup grapes, red
Berries. Add all the blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries throughout the center of the platter.
½ cup blueberries, ½ cup blackberries, ½ cup raspberries
Strawberries. Tuck in the sliced strawberries in couples and sets of three around the platter.
1 cup strawberries
Dragon fruit. Cut a fresh white dragon fruit with a cookie cutter to create stars. Tuck those into the platter.
½ cup dragon fruit, white
Remaining fruit. Add red currents, figs sliced in half, golden berries still in their husk in strategic places around the platter.
½ cup red currents, on stalk, ½ cup figs, fresh and sliced, ½ cup golden berries, paper husk on
Add Garnishes
Sprinkle or add pomegranate kernels, whole mint leaves and flowers in strategic places.
½ cup pomegranates, kernels, ¼ cup mint leaves, ¼ cup flowers, edible or not
Video
Notes
For dip recipes, including yogurt fruit dip, cream cheese fruit dip, and chocolate fondue dip, see blog post.Anchors. In this platter, I used sliced apples and grape clusters as anchors, but other anchors can be cubed mangos, dragon fruits, or kiwis cut into stars.Preserve some fruits. To preserve the fresh color of sliced apples, pears, bananas, and peaches, brush them with a solution of lemon juice (add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to one cup of water). Sliced melons and pineapple can last longer if pressed between paper towels for 30 minutes before adding to the platter.Look for seasonal fruits:Winter Fruit: Oranges, pears, grapefruits, passion fruits, kiwi, cranberriesSpring Fruit: Strawberries, mangos, honeydew melons, dragon fruitSummer Fruit: Blueberries, blackberries, pineapples, watermelons, cantaloupe melons, peaches, oranges, raspberries, lycee, kiwi, golden berries, red currentsFall Fruit: Apples, cherries, grapes, pomegranates, dates, figs