How to Make a Shaped Fruit Platter

Author:
Claudia Mitchell
Updated date:
Feb 9, 2020

Claudia has been writing recipes online for many years. She enjoys coming up with unique and tasty dishes, especially sweet treats.

Create a beautiful fruit platter in any shape with these easy instructions.
Glimmer Twin Fan

Fruit platters are the perfect dish for a potluck, a picnic, or any other party. In the summer, fruit cools down your guests with a refreshing treat, and in the winter, fresh fruit brings a bit of summer into the festivities.

You can't go wrong with a fruit tray and with the wide variety of fruit that is available at grocery stores year-round, there is something that will please everyone.

Next time you take fruit to an event, instead of putting it in a bowl, try one of these shaped fruit platter ideas. It will add whimsy to any buffet table and be the hit of the party!

Fruit Tray Ideas


Occasion	Platter Shape(s)
Anniversary	Heart
Graduation	Graduation Cap, Graduation Year (each number could be a different fruit)
Birthday	Butterfly, Balloons (make each oval balloon a different fruit and have a ribbon leading down to a bowl of fruit dip), Number for the age
Wedding	Heart
Christmas	Christmas tree, Star, Bell
Wedding Showers	Heart, Bow
Baby Showers	Pacifier, Baby Bottle

Supplies You'll Need

Large piece(s) of cardboard or foam board, the sturdier the better
Scissors
Knife (serrated works well with cardboard)
Plastic wrap
Aluminum foil
Tape
Pen/pencil

Tips:

Save your heavy-duty cardboard boxes for this project.
The trays can get heavy, so if your cardboard is too flimsy, make sure to assemble on top of a large board or tray. It will be easier to carry.
Don't use any surface that you want to use again. The juice from the fruit may leak through.
Use lots of different colors and fruit on your platter.

Assembling the Fruit Tray

Sketch the platter shape you want to use on the cardboard. Make adjustments as desired.
Using scissors and a knife, cut out the shape. Do not worry about uneven edges because they will be covered by plastic wrap and foil.
Cover top completely with plastic wrap, taping to the underside of the tray for security.
Cover plastic wrap with aluminum foil, taping to the underside of the tray for security. Smooth edges and corners as desired.
Start assembling the fruit tray. Make a nice design using different fruits. You may need to cut some of the fruit into smaller pieces or various shapes to fit.
Finish up the platter and cover until ready to serve.

Once platter design is sketched, cut out using scissors and a knife.
Glimmer Twin Fan

Serving Suggestions

This platter is nice on its own, but it's even better with a bowl of fruit dip.

Melt some chocolate for a delicious dip.
A bowl of fresh whipped cream makes a nice light dip.

Fruits to Use

Not every fruit lends itself to a fruit platter that will be sitting out for a while. Here are some that hold up well to sitting out on a buffet table, and some that aren't so great.

If you really want to use fruits that brown quickly, coat them in an acidic juice, like lemon, lime, or pineapple. They will still not hold up as well as other fruits, but will last longer on the tray.
Good fruits to use	Fruits that don't hold up well
Strawberries	Apples: brown quickly
Pineapple	Pears:brown quickly
Grapes: They make great fillers and come in different colors	Bananas: brown quickly and turn mushy
Oranges	Plums: brown quickly
Kiwi: fantastic green color	Cherries: look great, but have pits which are not great for party guests
Melon: comes in beautiful colors	Raspberries: look and taste great but soften quickly
Star fruit: adds great texture	Peaches: brown quickly
Mangos
Papayas
Blueberries
Blackberries

Shaped fruit platters, perfect for any party.
Glimmer Twin Fan

These trays are healthy and delicious and can be used as a side dish or put on the dessert table. People of all ages love it, and, best of all, no cooking is required.

Enjoy!