How to Design a Fresh Fruit Party Tray
A fresh fruit platter is a common centerpiece for parties. Fresh fruit is easy to find and prepare and provides a splash of color to the food table. While creating a fruit tray is relatively simple, many fruit platters are not as enticing as they could be. To make a fruit platter that is beautiful and tasty, choose only very fresh and seasonal fruits. Use only firm fruits that are not going to turn color or spoil while left on the tray during the party. Arrange your fruits by type, and use the different colors and shapes to create an interesting pattern. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 1 watermelon
- 1 cantaloupe
- 2 bunches seedless grapes
- 1 pint blueberries
- 1 container strawberries
- 8 kiwis
- 1 fresh pineapple
- 2 lemons
- Large mixing bowl
- Sharp knife
- Large, circular platter with a tall lip
Instructions
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Preparing the Fruit
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1
Wash all your fruit thoroughly, and dry it off with a paper towel.
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2
With the knife, cut the watermelon and cantaloupe in half. Wrap half of the watermelon in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for another use. Remove the seeds from the cantaloupe, and cut away the rind from both melons.
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3
Cut the remaining half of the watermelon and the entire cantaloupe into bite-sized pieces. Place the cut melon pieces in the mixing bowl and toss with the juice from one lemon. This will help keep the melons fresh.
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4
Cut the large grape bunches into pieces with four to five grapes on each piece. Save any loose grapes to use as a garnish for the tray.
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5
Peel the kiwis and cut into rounds with the knife. Squeeze the other lemon over the kiwi.
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6
Cut off the top of the pineapple. With the knife, hollow out the bottom of the pineapple by cutting along the inside of the pineapple rind, leaving a ¼-inch wall. Remove the inner fruit and keep the pineapple bowl to use for the platter. Cut the fruit into bite-size pieces.
Arranging the Platter
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7
Place the pineapple rind in the center of the tray. Fill the hollowed-out pineapple with the blueberries.
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8
Working out from the center, use about half of the watermelon to create a circle of watermelon pieces that mound up around the pineapple centerpiece.
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9
Arrange the cantaloupe and pineapple pieces in alternating concentric circles around the watermelon until all the cantaloupe and pineapple are used. Form a circle around the last row of cantaloupe or pineapple with the remaining watermelon.
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10
Stand up the kiwi pieces at an angle between the last two melon circles. Overlap the kiwis slightly, to form a wall. If there are not enough kiwi slices to complete a circle, create three equal sections of kiwis and fill in the spaces with some of the grape bunches.
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11
Place the whole strawberries around the edge of the platter and tuck some around the pineapple cup in the center. Use the grapes to fill in any gaps.
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12
Arrange the remaining bunches of grapes so they cascade over the melon pieces. Place any loose grapes around the outer edge with the strawberries.
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13
Cover the platter with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Substitute any of the fruits that are currently in season. Apples and pears are best in the fall, and you can use more citrus fruits during the winter. Use the watermelon rind to create a bowl. Fill the watermelon with pieces of melon and decorate it with a large bunch of grapes.
