How to Arrange Fruit on a Platter for a Party

Create a fruit platter for your next party or event that has guests coming back for more. Use top-quality fresh fruits with bright colors to make a tempting item on the buffet table that is actually healthy. Guests will appreciate your sense of artistic taste and enjoy your delicious fruit choices when you put a little extra effort into your fresh fruit platter.

Things You'll Need

• 5-7 Fruit varieties
• Sharp knife
• Large service platter
• Plastic wrap

Instructions

Arranging a Fruit Party Platter

1. Use your knife to cut your selection of fruit into varying bite-size shapes. Dryer denser fruits do better in thinner slices and juicier moister fruits keep their shape well when cut into chunks.

2. Start at the outer rim of your platter by placing slices of dense dry fruits like apple or melon stacked in groups of five slices, then spread them out like a fan.

3. Work in circles inward from the apple slices by placing fruit of varying colors and shapes next to each other.

4. Place your largest chunks or anything that would roll off your platter during transport, like grapes, in the center.

5. Add height and appeal to the tray by stacking the fruit as high as is stable in the middle and adding edible flowers or a pineapple top.

6. Cover your fresh fruit platter with plastic wrap and seal the edges carefully to keep the contents moist in the refrigerator until right before serving.

Tips & Warnings

• Skip the platter all together and instead hollow out half of a large melon to fill with your fruit selection. Select at least one hard-to-find or uncommon fruit to dare your attendees to try something new. This will add an air of adventure to your platter. Incorporate the party's theme into your platter by choosing fruits that represent a particular region or celebration. Provide plastic forks and paper napkins to guests when you serve your platter. Forks work much better than toothpicks when picking up soft moist pieces of cut fruit from a flat tray. Vanilla yogurt mixed with cinnamon makes a fantastic dip for fresh fruit. Make a small dish to offer alongside your platter or incorporate the dish into your design.

• Prepare fruit platters the day of the event to avoid deterioration of the fruits' texture when chilled overnight. Some fruits bleed their juice and color when cut. Allow these wet fruits to drain in a colander or on a paper towel for a few minutes so your platter doesn't become fruit soup.

References

• How to Make a Kick Ass Fruit Platter
• Make a Funky Fruit Platter
• Fresh Fruit Platter

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish