A fruit cheese platter is an easy but impressive way to entertain guests any time of year. Take the guesswork out of what to include on your cheese board with our tips! This is the ultimate cheese and fruit charcuterie board.
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Creating a scrumptious sampler of fruits and fresh cheeses is ideal for parties, baby showers, game days, or girls' nights. I love how easy it is to customize a fruit and cheese board to suit any event or crowd.
One of my most popular entertaining recipes is the Meat and Cheese Platter I featured last holiday season. It's simple to put together but looks amazing, just like this fruit cheese platter. (And remember to make some Wine Party Cake Pops to go with it as dessert.)
When it comes to entertaining, I really like to be chill, but that doesn't mean I can't make it feel special, too. Creating a board like this and adding elements you know your friends and family love like chocolate hummus or toffee apple dip is a great way to celebrate any occasion.
I do not recommend making too much of your tray ahead of time because you want the best flavors and textures for your cheese and fruit platter.
Hard cheeses like aged cheddar can be sliced and stored in an airtight container. For other types of cheese, it's best to wait.
Fruit should be cut just before serving, although you can hull strawberries the day before and store them in the fridge.
To keep things simple, especially if this is your first time making a cheese platter, choose 3 cheeses, 3 starches, and 3 accouterments such as fig jam, nuts, olives, etc. If adding meats, choose 3 of those as well.
For the perfect cheese board, plan on 3 ounces of cheese and 3 ounces of fruit per person.
How do you make a good cheese platter?
There's no wrong way to put together a platter with fruit and cheese! Combine flavors, textures, and colors for an incredible display that is as beautiful as it is delicious.
- A variety of sliced fresh fruit, berries, and dried fruits are a wonderful combination.
- Add nuts such as marcona almonds, pecans, walnuts, or cashews. Candied nuts are yummy, too.
- A dip or spread like our Toffee Apple Dip adds another fun element to your platter. This Blackberry Cream Cheese Spread is delicious on crackers and slices of pears or apples.
- Dark chocolate pieces are a wonderful addition. I used a dark chocolate pretzel bark on this tray which adds a nice crunch.
- You might also like to add some Chocolate Hummus, which is delicious with strawberries, apples, crackers, and pretzels.
- Set a bowl of apple salsa with cinnamon chips beside the snack board.
- Add a little honey on the side, which pairs beautifully with soft cheeses like burrata and brie or sharp hard cheese like asiago.
What can I put on a cheese platter?
When it comes to your assortment of cheeses, it's a good idea to get a variety of different cheeses with varying textures and flavors. A good cheese plate should have at least three varieties, in my humble opinion!
- Firm: Parmesan, Manchego, Colby
- Aged: Gruyere (my favorite), Sharp Cheddar, Gouda
- Crumbly: Goat and Feta Cheese
- Soft and Creamy: Camembert, Brie, Fresh Mozzarella
- Smoked: Provolone, Cheddar
- Blue: Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton
What fruit goes with a cheese platter?
There are so many different ways to build a fruit and cheese board. I like to use seasonal fruits whenever I can. Having a variety of beautiful fruit is a great way to make sure there's something all your guests will enjoy.
- Tart red grapes are especially delectable with buttery mild Gouda or Edam cheeses.
- Apples and plums are amazing with hard nutty cheeses like Jarlsberg and cheddar.
- Tangy peaches or fresh figs and pungent blue cheese go very well together.
- Strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries complement mozzarella, brie, and fontina.
- Stone fruit like apricots, nectarines, mangoes, and cherries also go well with soft cheese like brie or goat cheese.
- Dried cherries and cranberries are also a nice complement to fresh berries and fruit.
Tips
- Allow for 3-4 ounces of cheese, per person. (For six people, plan on 18-24 ounces total).
- Cheese is best served at room temperature because the flavors are easier to distinguish.
- Be sure to include plenty of cheese knives, and spoons for any dips or jam as well as small plates or small bowls and napkins for your guests.
These are some of my favorite items for entertaining at home!
You'll love this collection wine glasses, serving pieces, and cheese tray ideas for your next party!
More Party Ideas
Here are a few more tasty recipes that you might enjoy servings at your next get together:
- Antipasto Kabobs are easy entertaining at it's finest.
- Peanut Butter Caramel Apple Dip is always a family favorite.
- Spinach and Artichoke Pull Apart Bread is a delicious show-stopping appetizer!
- Brown Sugar Fruit Dip is so delicious with fresh fruit.
- Bacon Puff Pastry Twists are super simple to make ahead.
- White Chocolate Covered Strawberries add a little bit of elegance to your platter.
- Prosciutto Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles are super easy to prep ahead of time and then pop in the oven when the guests arrive!
- Olive Tapenade Crostini is an easy but impressive appetizer.
Fruit and Cheese Platter
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Ingredients
- 2-3 varieties cheeses such as cheddar, gouda and brie
- fresh fruit such as apples, pears, and berries
- dried fruit such as apricots, figs, raisins
- mixed nuts such as pecans, pistachios, almonds, peanuts, and cashews
- assorted crackers and/or thinly sliced French bread
Instructions
- Start with the largest items first. I placed on the bowl of fruit dip and surrounded it by the sliced peaches, plums and apples.
- Next, add the cheeses and crackers.2-3 varieties cheeses such as cheddar, gouda and brie, assorted crackers and/or thinly sliced French bread
- After adding on the jar of fig preserves and a couple of bowls of berries, I added the nuts and dark chocolate.fresh fruit such as apples, pears, and berries, dried fruit such as apricots, figs, raisins
- Garnish your board with a few extras like halved strawberries, thinly sliced oranges wheels, andmixed nuts such as pecans, pistachios, almonds, peanuts, and cashews
- Next to the board, add other accouterments such along with napkins, plates, cheese knives, etc.
Equipment
- Cheese Knife
Notes
How do you make a good cheese platter?
There's no wrong way to put together a platter with fruit and cheese! Combine flavors, textures, and colors for an incredible display that is as beautiful as it is delicious.
- A variety of sliced fresh fruit, berries, and dried fruits are a wonderful combination.
- Add nuts such as almonds, pecans or cashews. Candied nuts are yummy, too.
- A dip or spread like our Toffee Apple Dip adds another fun element to your platter. This Blackberry Cream Cheese Spread is delicious on crackers and slices of pears or apples.
- Dark chocolate pieces are a wonderful addition. I used a dark chocolate pretzel bark on this tray which adds a nice crunch.
What can I put on a cheese platter?
- Firm: Parmesan, Manchego, Colby
- Aged: Gruyere (my favorite), Sharp Cheddar, Gouda
- Crumbly: Goat and Feta Cheese
- Soft and Creamy: Camembert, Brie, Fresh Mozzarella
- Smoked: Provolone, Cheddar
- Blue: Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton
Fruit and Cheese Board Serving Tips
- Allow for 3-4 ounces of cheese, per person.
- Cheese is best served at room temperature because the flavors are easier to distinguish.
- Be sure to include plenty of cheese knives, spoons for any dips or jam as well as small plates and napkins for your guests.
How do you make a good cheese platter?
There's no wrong way to put together a platter with fruit and cheese! Combine flavors, textures, and colors for an incredible display that is as beautiful as it is delicious.- A variety of sliced fresh fruit, berries, and dried fruits are a wonderful combination.
- Add nuts such as almonds, pecans or cashews. Candied nuts are yummy, too.
- A dip or spread like our Toffee Apple Dip adds another fun element to your platter. This Blackberry Cream Cheese Spread is delicious on crackers and slices of pears or apples.
- Dark chocolate pieces are a wonderful addition. I used a dark chocolate pretzel bark on this tray which adds a nice crunch.
Amber Eastman says
The recipes look great, and I love the cheese knives!
Michelle Marino says
see I am ALL about adding like different kinds of olives and meats on cheese platter YUM. Unpopular opinion : I am just not a fruit person
Ang Paris says
Michelle, I hear you!! You might like to check out this post featuring a Meat and Cheese platter 🙂
michelle klingen says
Thanks for examples of pairing cheese and fruits, this always confuses me
Ang Paris says
My pleasure! I always thought it was a little overwhelming, too, but breaking it down a little helps 🙂
Mickey Louth says
I like that it is so 'customizable'. Thanks for your tips about serving cheese room temp. I think we kind of freak a little about temp and foods.,
Ang Paris says
Agreed! So glad you enjoyed the post!
Stephanie Ludwig says
These all sound great!
Jennifer M Bay says
I love the Toffee Apple Dip. I made it for my work party and my boss asked for the recipe. Thank you!
Shanna Uptergrove says
I LOVE all the different varieties of fruits and cheeses that would work on a cheese board. And your tips for serving is much appreciated too! Now I want some cheese and strawberries haha! I'm going to do this for Mother's Day brunch.
Courtney Schmidt says
Yum! I love the combo of cheese, chocolate, and fruit! Just bring on the wine. 🙂