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!
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!
Fruit Platter Ideas
They’re also perfect for summertime gatherings and one of the best Baby Shower Recipes.
Why You’ll Love It
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!
Tools to Use
- Oval Platter
- Two Small Bowls (or Ramekins) for the Owl Eyes
- Cutting Board
- Knife
How to Create this Owl Fruit Plate
- 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.
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.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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
- Place toothpicks on or near your fruit platter to give guests an easy option to serve themselves.
- Serve with fruit dip, of course! A fruit platter isn’t complete without a delicious fruit dip. They’re the perfect accompaniment.
- Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
- Peanut Butter Fruit Dip
- Mascarpone Cream Fruit Dip.
- Peppermint Fruit Dip
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.
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
Fruit Platter
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.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
I love this idea! This will be perfect for my sister’s baby shower tomorrow! So cute!
Yay!
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.
Going to make this for a baby shower!
What a fun way to dress up a fruit platter! This owl shape is adorable!
I absolutely love fruit plates and fruit dip! They are so yummy!!! I love how you arranged everything! Great post.
-Kate
Thanks, Kate!