Phillip popped into the kitchen and declared that I was “cutting up fruit for democracy!”
Which is really just a generous way of saying I was slicing a kiwi, as part of my assignment to bring a fruit plate to the potluck at the voting center where I’d be working the next day. My soon-to-be co-workers and I would need to be on the premises for something like 15 hours, so we were all going to take food to share.
As simple as a fruit plate may seem, I kind of drew a blank about it at first. It had been awhile since I’d needed to pull together the type of “platter food” that you’d set out at a meeting or a party or… other gathering that has been in short supply the last couple years.
I spent awhile searching fruit tray images and info. (Getting inspiration or just procrastination? Sometimes it’s a very fine line.)
But I did end up with tips for a fruit plate worth sharing. So, if you’re in need of some pre-holiday platter food inspiration, read on!
Fruit to pick:
One guideline I saw recommended about 10 cups of fruit for 15 guests.
- Fruits like berries, peaches, melon, oranges, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, and cherries tend to work well on a fruit tray.
- Avoid bananas, apples, and pears, since exposure to air will make them turn brown and mushy.
- A variety of colors and textures make even a simple arrangement look really appealing.
- Consider adding a garnish of fresh herbs, like mint, basil, rosemary, or lavender, especially if you happen to have them in your garden and can just snip off a few sprigs.
In my particular situation, I knew all the potluck food was going to be crammed onto a single table in an out-of-the-way corner of the room. We’d be rotating lunch times and/or just grabbing snacks when there was a lull.
So I wanted to avoid anything too messy and focus on fruit that would be easy for people to plate up (or pick up) and eat quickly. I stayed away from anything you’d have to pick pits or seeds out of while eating.
Serving It Up: Home vs. Away
There are certain conveniences you can take advantage of if you’ll be serving food from your own kitchen. You have more options when it comes to set up and presentation.
However, if you’re taking a fruit plate to an office party or a friend’s house or a picnic, you have to think about how you’ll get it there, how you’ll keep things fresh, and what you’ll do once you arrive.
At Home
- Arranging fruit on a cake stand will elevate it and keep it from getting lost on a busy buffet table.
- I also like the rustic look of a wooden serving tray or board. You can line it with parchment paper for easier clean-up.
Away
- Combo containers: A cake carrier or repurposed deli tray would work for both transporting your fruit plate and serving it.
- Bring along serving utensil(s). Whether you choose tongs, a large spoon, box of toothpicks, or just a regular fork, having it with you means you don’t have to scramble to find something at your destination.
- Leaving stems in grapes, cherries, and strawberries help them keep a little longer – especially if you won’t have access to a refrigerator.
- Don’t forget the ice! If you keep your food cool using actual cubes of frozen water (rather than cold packs), empty it out once you arrive and don’t need it. You don’t want ice melting and leaking all over the break room or your host’s floor. Better to dump it on a thirsty plant!
I Dip, You Dip, We Dip
While fruit dip seemed too messy for the potluck I was preparing for, here are some delicious-sounding recipes I’d like to try at a later date…
- Cream Cheese Fruit Dip by Little Broken
- 3-ingredient Chocolate Lava Dip from Two Healthy Kitchens
- The Honey Coconut Fruit Dip recipe by Simply Jillicious – which uses coconut cream as a dairy alternative
Of course, there are also plenty of ready-made dip options, like Nutella, yogurt, and kosher (dairy-free) chocolate spread.
How It Worked Out
After seemingly wandering the produce aisles in a fugue state, I managed to buy way more stuff than I actually needed. That includes a cantaloupe I didn’t even cut into and some nectarines that I was sure were ripe in the store, but definitely weren’t once I got them home.
What ended up on my fruit tray were grapes, strawberries, blackberries, plums, and kiwi. I used kitchen shears to snip big bunches of grapes into smaller clusters that would be easier for people to grab (a tip from my mom!)
I arranged the fruit on a sectioned plastic tray with a snap-on lid. This very convenient container was repurposed from a meat-and-cheese platter that we’d picked up for Phillip’s Mount Lemmon birthday picnic a couple weeks before.
It was a simple spread, but people seemed to enjoy it. And I think we all appreciated the return of potlucks and platter food.
Fruit Platter Inspiration + Information Sources…
- Little Broken: Fruit Platter + what to serve with it
- Veggie Desserts: How to Make a Fruit Platter (Fruit Tray) in-depth tips
- Ain’t Too Proud to Meg: Fresh Fruit Board + lots of dip ideas
- Glitter Inc.: One Epic Fruit Dessert Board
- Two Healthy Kitchens: 3-ingredient Chocolate Lava Dip
- Simply Jillicious: Healthy Coconut Honey Fruit Dip
Your Serve
My fruit plate image search also turned up some very cool platters, serving bowls, boards, and baskets. Find my Etsy faves in my Food Serving + Storage collection. Since I’m an affiliate, Etsy purchases you make after clicking that link help support this site too!
