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Always one of the most brilliant and beautiful platters the Fruit Tray is exploding with the freshest sweet produce that your guests will love. They’re easy to make and I’ve included endless fruit tray ideas to cater for your next party or holiday.
I rarely pass a veggie platter or fruit tray at parties without filling up my plate. Dipping the fresh and colorful produce into a complimentary dip is absolutely irresistible to me. They make for a great presentation and they’re easy to put together.
Often when asked to bring an appetizer to a large gathering I lean towards making a fresh fruit tray, especially during the busy holidays. I love to nestle a sweet fruit dip in the center and then arrange the fruit in a beautiful rainbow of colors.
This platter works well for brunch too. It really goes well with any meal. Arrange this tray next to some Bacon Wrapped Dates or a classic plate of Sausage Balls.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great for parties, potlucks, and gatherings – It doesn’t matter what time of year it is fruit trays for parties or events will always be a hit. You can plan your platter around the freshest produce in season or choose colors to compliment the holiday.
- Easy to make – A fresh fruit tray is one of the easiest appetizers to make and one that can be pulled together in minutes. You can serve it with a fruit dip, and I’ve included my favorite one below, or just load the platter up with all kinds of different choices.
- Can be used as a dessert – Sugary sweets will always be one of my favorite ways to end a great meal, but I also love fruit and this appetizer is a great option to serve as a dessert. Add a chocolate or vanilla dip and you have a treat everyone will love.
Ingredients Needed
There are really only two main ingredients to an easy fruit tray and that’s the fruit and the dip if you choose to use it.
Ingredient Notes
- Fruit – you will need fresh fruit when preparing this recipe that you’ve preferably cut yourself. Frozen fruits will not work. You’ll need a variety of 4 to 6 different fruits depending on the size of your tray or how many you plan on serving. You can also use common fruit combinations like Fruit Cocktail.
- Dip – this is optional for your platter, but a complementary addition that makes it a real treat. Making your own dip is really easy, but you can also use simple options such as melted chocolate or even peanut butter.
Best Fruit to Use on a Platter
The best fruit for a fruit tray is your favorite kind as well as what’s currently in season. I prefer to keep my DIY tray simple and often use strawberries, grapes, sliced pineapple, and some blueberries sprinkled on top.
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Grapes
- Apples
- Pineapple
- Mandarin Oranges
- Blueberries
- Melon
- Pomegranate Seeds
- Kiwi
- Bananas
- Mango
- Papaya
Fruit Dip Ingredients
This is my favorite fruit dip to prepare because it works well with most fruits.
- Powdered Sugar and Cocoa Powder – Before mixing these two powdered in with the cream cheese sift them into the bowl to remove any clumps. This gives you a smoother dip.
- Cream Cheese – Use the full-fat version and allow it to come to room temperature before preparing the dip.
How to Make a Fruit Tray
- Wash and prep the fruit. Many fruits such as strawberries will only need to be washed, but some fruits such as apples and pineapples will need to be sliced too. Arrange all the fruits near you once prepped.
- Arrange the platter. Start by placing the dip bowl on your platter, which can be in the center or off to the side. If making a shape such as a flag you can place it to the side. Place any decorative fruit around the dip bowl to fill it in. Then arrange the larger pieces of fruit next. From there fill in the remaining space with smaller fruits such as blueberries.
- Prepare the dip. Beat the cream cheese until smooth and then sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder on top. Continue to beat until fully mixed. Add the milk and vanilla and beat until all the ingredients are incorporated.
- Add to the tray. Finish off the tray by spooning the dip into the bowl on the platter.
Simple Fruit Tray Ideas
If you need ideas for a fruit tray first consider when you plan on serving it. If it’s a holiday you can use that as a theme, but you can also fall back on what’s in season.
Some great shapes to try are a flag for the Fourth of July, a Christmas tree or ornament for Christmas, a rainbow or Easter egg for Easter or you can just keep it simple. I love to look at the Edible Arrangement options and create my own variation at home.
- Christmas Fruit Tray – Red and green fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, green apples, kiwi, or green grapes make a festive platter. I love to sprinkle some pomegranate seeds and fresh mint on top for garnish.
- Rainbow Tray – This version is great for St. Patrick’s Day, a birthday party, or even a school party. Get creative with the fruits you choose and shape them into a rainbow.
- Fourth of July Fruit Tray – I love Fruit Pizza for this all-American holiday, but would also love a fruit tray in red white, and blue or in the shape of an American flag. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and sliced bananas are best for this version.
- Tropical Tray – This is a fun idea for summer parties. Use pineapple, mango, papaya, sliced bananas, melons, persimmon, oranges, or some watermelon for a colorful platter.
Storage Information
- Make-Ahead Instructions: To make this platter ahead of when you plan on serving it arrange it according to the recipe directions and then cover it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. Don’t place the dip into the bowl until ready to serve instead keep it stored in a separate air-tight container.
- Storage Information: If you have any leftovers separate the fruits into different containers as well as place the dip in its own container. Keep everything stored in the fridge for up to 4 days (except for bananas) and then re-arrange your platter when ready to serve it again.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Keep some extra fruit stored in your fridge. You’ll be surprised how quickly the fruit will disappear, which is why I recommend having some additional cut or prepared fruit stored in the fridge for filling your platter back up.
- When using grapes keep a couple or a small bunch on the vine. Keeping 3 or more grapes on the vine makes them easier to pick up and also keeps them from rolling all over your appetizer plate.
- If you’d like to use bananas or apples on your platter slice them and toss them with pineapple juice or lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Garnish your tray. Slice some kiwi, and star fruit, or sprinkle some pomegranate seeds on top for a beautiful garnish. Fresh mint also adds a vibrant touch.
- Set some toothpicks beside your platter so guests can easily skewer the fruits they like and then dip them into the dip.
FAQS
Fruit trays for parties are often always marked up and far more expensive than making your own. It’s also more cost-effective to purchase whole fruits and cut them up yourself instead of buying pre-cut options.
There are two main items that go on a fruit tray and that’s fruit and dip, which is optional. The best fruits to use are your favorites and those that are in season. Fruits such as grapes, strawberries, apples, and pineapples are easy choices for a platter.
Start by having all the fruits you plan to arrange on the platter in front of you. Then if using a dip place the bowl where you’d like it to go (the center is usually the most visually pleasing).
Place the largest fruit such as grapes on the vine or pineapple slices onto the platter next then work your way down to the smaller fruits. Avoid placing similar colored fruits next to each other. Sometimes you need to move around the fruits to get them in the best position.
Related Recipes
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Easy Fruit Tray
Equipment
- Handheld Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 lb Red Seedless Grapes
- 2 medium Apples sliced into wedges and cored
- 1 pint Strawberries
- 1 Pineapple sliced into rings
- 1 pint Blueberries
Fruit Dip
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese
- 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
- 2 tablespoons Milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Instructions
- Wash and prep the fruit. Many fruits such as strawberries will only need to be washed, but some fruits such as apples and pineapples will need to be sliced too. Arrange all the fruits near you once prepped.
- Arrange the platter. Start by placing the dip bowl on your platter, which can be in the center or off to the side. If making a shape such as a flag you can place it to the side. Place any decorative fruit around the dip bowl to fill it in. Then arrange the larger pieces of fruit next. From there fill in the remaining space with smaller fruits such as blueberries.
- Prepare the dip. Beat the cream cheese until smooth and then sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder on top. Continue to beat until fully mixed. Add the milk and vanilla and beat until all the ingredients are incorporated.
- Add to the tray. Finish off the tray by spooning the dip into the bowl on the platter.
Notes
- Keep some extra fruit stored in your fridge. You’ll be surprised how quickly the fruit will disappear, which is why I recommend having some additional cut or prepared fruit stored in the fridge for filling your platter back up.
- When using grapes keep a couple or a small bunch on the vine. Keeping 3 or more grapes on the vine makes them easier to pick up and also keeps them from rolling all over your appetizer plate.
- If you’d like to use bananas or apples on your platter slice them and toss them with pineapple juice or lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Garnish your tray. Slice some kiwi, and star fruit, or sprinkle some pomegranate seeds on top for a beautiful garnish. Fresh mint also adds a vibrant touch.
- Set some toothpicks beside your platter so guests can easily skewer the fruits they like and then dip them into the dip.
Storage Information
- Make-Ahead Instructions: To make this platter ahead of when you plan on serving it arrange it according to the recipe directions and then cover it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. Don’t place the dip into the bowl until ready to serve instead keep it stored in a separate air-tight container.
- Storage Information: If you have any leftovers separate the fruits into different containers as well as place the dip in its own container. Keep everything stored in the fridge for up to 4 days (except for bananas) and then re-arrange your platter when ready to serve it again.
