Learn how to create a beautiful fruit plate that everyone will love! It’s the ultimate appetizer, dessert and side dish. Get unique fruit platter ideas for every occasion.

We’ll walk you through all the best tips and tricks to make your own fruit tray. Learn how to make this darling owl fruit platter and get all the inspiration you need to create a fruit platter your guests will love!

A fruit tray shaped into an owl, featuring cream cheese fruit dip as the owl's eyes.
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The options are as endless as the opportunities to serve fruit – there are so many fruit platter ideas for every occasion!

Whether it’s Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, a barbecue or baby shower, you can create a beautiful, flavorful and memorable fruit plate without a lot of effort.

This charming owl fruit tray is the ultimate no-bake dessert or easy appetizer. Fruit trays (no matter how you design them) are truly foolproof. Move over, Martha!

A fruit tray shaped into an owl, featuring cream cheese fruit dip as the owl's eyes.

Fruit Platter Ideas

They’re also perfect for summertime gatherings and one of the best Baby Shower Recipes.

Why You’ll Love It

  • Crowd Pleaser – You can never have too much fruit! Since it’s always a popular and works well as an appetizer, side dish and dessert that kids and adults alike love, more is more. 
  • Colorful Presentation – It’s a great opportunity to get creative, too. Whether you shape it into an owl or not, let the artful colors shine!
  • Wholesome – At a party full of indulgences, a fruit tray is a fresh, wholesome way to add a some healthy options into your display.
A fruit tray shaped into an owl, featuring cream cheese fruit dip as the owl's eyes.

Ingredients and Substitutions

See printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.

  • Pineapple – Learn How to Cut a Pineapple here!
  • Strawberries – Sliced into triangular chunks with the green tops removed.
  • Grapes – Dark red grapes are perfect for this charming owl!
  • Fruit Dip – We used this Mascarpone Fruit Dip, but you can choose your favorite!
A hand dipping a grape into a bowl of fruit dip on a fruit platter
fruit tray ideas

Tools to Use

  • Oval Platter
  • Two Small Bowls (or Ramekins) for the Owl Eyes
  • Cutting Board
  • Knife
A fruit tray shaped into an owl, featuring cream cheese fruit dip as the owl's eyes.

How to Create this Owl Fruit Plate

  1. Choose Platter – To create this owl fruit plate, use any large (dinner size or larger) plate or platter. An oval size is ideal to help create the shape of the owl.
  2. Add Eyes – Add your fruit dip to two small bowls at the top of the tray to create the owl eyes.
  3. Arrange Fruit – Using your hands, artfully arrange fruit as pictured. Start with the pineapple in the center because it’s easiest to place and stack, and then surround with strawberries.
  4. Add Ears – Grapes are placed towards the end, for the feet and head of your owl! Slice a strawberry into the ears for the top, and serve.

Tips

  • Offer an array of fruits in contrasting colors.
  • Mix it up! Offer berries, citrus and more!
  • Only use fresh fruit purchased the day of or day before for the most color and fresh flavor.
  • The best fruit platters consist of a minimum of 3 fresh fruits, but the more, the merrier!
  • Wash all fruit so that it’s properly prepped. Slice or dice all fruit so it’s ready to eat before you arrange to keep your fruit plate clean.
  • Place toothpicks on or near your fruit platter to give guests an easy option to serve themselves.
  • Using a plate or platter allows all of the fruit to be easily seen so that nothing gets lost. Tip: To make your fruit plate look bountiful, opt for a smaller plate or platter than you think you need. For larger fruit trays, choose a wood cutting board.
A fruit tray shaped into an owl, featuring cream cheese fruit dip as the owl's eyes.

What is the Best Fruit For a Fruit Tray?

Create a stunning and delicious fruit plate using an array of fruits. Favorites include:

  • banana (tossed in lemon or lime juice to prevent browning)
  • apple (tossed in lemon or lime juice to prevent browning)
  • pineapple
  • cantaloupe
  • honeydew
  • strawberries
  • blueberries
  • grapes
  • watermelon
  • raspberries
  • blackberries
  • kiwi
  • mandarin orange slices
  • cubed mango
A fruit tray shaped into an owl, featuring cream cheese fruit dip as the owl's eyes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early can you cut fruit for a party?

We’d generally suggest waiting until the morning of your event to cut the fruit. Apples and bananas are best cut right before your serve them, though you can treat them with lemon juice to prevent browning if you must cut them ahead.

How do you keep a fruit platter fresh?

If your fruit platter must be made ahead, be sure to wrap it with at least one layer of plastic wrap for an airtight seal. For berries, consider using a berry storage container with a built in system to eliminate moisture at the base.

How much fruit should I estimate for each guest?

Generally, a good estimate for serving guests (at an event with many options for food) is to purchase and serve approximately 1/2 a cup of fruit per guest.

Serving Suggestions

More Fruit Platter Presentation Ideas

  • Take your fruit tray over the top by creating a critter like this owl.
  • Use cookie cutters to cut fruit into fun shapes to turn your fruit plate into a work of art.
  • Consider placing fig leaves or another pretty green touch (lettuce, kale, mint leaves, etc) underneath your fruit to create a vibrant green background!
  • Fan out slices to showcase it. This works well for citrus and melons.
  • One of my favorite fruit tray ideas is dicing up fruit and serving it inside of a hollowed watermelon.
  • Add a few (food safe) blooms in between for a stunning display.
  • Create a pattern.
  • Fill in gaps with smaller fruits like blueberries or grapes.
A fruit tray shaped into an owl, featuring cream cheese fruit dip as the owl's eyes.
fruit platter ideas

Leftover Idea

If you have leftovers you can enjoy it as a snack, in salads or smoothies throughout the week.

How to Store

  • Refrigerate – Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 24 hours.
  • Freeze – Only freeze if you plan to enjoy frozen. Otherwise the moisture content in fruit makes them mushy when they defrost. Freeze in an airtight container up to 30 days.

More Fruit Inspiration

A fruit tray shaped into an owl, featuring cream cheese fruit dip as the owl's eyes.
5 from 3 votes
Click stars ↑ to rate and leave a review!

Fruit Platter

Make this owl fruit platter and be the hit of your next party!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 12
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Ingredients  

  • 3 cups Pineapple chopped
  • 2 cups Strawberries
  • 2 cups Grapes
  • 2 cups Fruit Dip (Choose your favorite)

Instructions 

  • Choose Platter – To create this owl fruit plate, use any large (dinner size or larger) plate or platter. An oval size is ideal to help create the shape of the owl.
  • Add Eyes – Add your fruit dip to two small bowls at the top of the tray to create the owl eyes.
  • Arrange Fruit – Using your hands, artfully arrange fruit as pictured. Start with the pineapple in the center because it’s easiest to place and stack, and then surround with strawberries.
  • Add Ears – Grapes are placed towards the end, for the feet and head of your owl! Slice a strawberry into the ears for the top, and serve.

Julie’s Tips

  • Offer an array of fruits in contrasting colors.
  • Mix it up! Offer berries, citrus and more!
  • Only use fresh fruit purchased the day of or day before for the most color and fresh flavor.
  • The best fruit platters consist of a minimum of 3 fresh fruits, but the more, the merrier!
  • Wash all fruit so that it’s properly prepped. Slice or dice all fruit so it’s ready to eat before you arrange to keep your fruit plate clean.
  • Place toothpicks on or near your fruit platter to give guests an easy option to serve themselves.
  • Using a plate or platter allows all of the fruit to be easily seen so that nothing gets lost. Tip: To make your fruit plate look bountiful, opt for a smaller plate or platter than you think you need. For larger fruit trays, choose a wood cutting board.
Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 552IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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5 from 3 votes

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19 Comments

  1. This is just the cutest! I’m gong to make this for my kids’ end of the school year class party. I know they’ll get a kick out of it.

  2. I absolutely love fruit plates and fruit dip! They are so yummy!!! I love how you arranged everything! Great post.

    -Kate