Everyone loves a fruit tray for parties, and this fresh fruit plate is perfect for everything from BBQs, to baby showers and office parties. It’s super easy and uber customizable! Just be sure to choose fresh, seasonal, and unblemished fruit. 

Plus you can keep it interesting with different shapes and fruit cuts: Use a melon baller and serve juicy melon balls in a bowl, cut oranges into half-moons, and serve kiwis in sliced rounds–you get the idea.

The other key part of this fruit platter are the dips! My Chocolate Hazelnut Dip is super easy and delicious. Whether you make your own or buy something tasty from the store, dips ,make your board look pretty and professional.

For other fruity ideas, check out my Smoothie Bowl Toppings Board, Yogurt Toppings Board, Burrata & Citrus Salad, Rainbow Fruit Board, and Fruit & Avocado Board.

What Fruit Is In Season Right Now?

It’s alway best to use fruit that’s in season wherever you are–trust me, it tastes much better that way (and it’s better for the environment), even if it’s technically available out of season! Here are fruits organized by season, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Spring

• Apples
• Apricots
• Bananas
• Kiwi
• Pineapples
• Strawberries

Summer

• Apples
• Apricots
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Cherries
• Honeydew Melon
• Mangos
• Peaches
• Plums
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Watermelon

Fall

• Apples
• Bananas
• Cranberries
• Grapes
• Kiwi
• Mangos
• Pears
• Pineapples
• Pomegranates
• Raspberries

Winter

• Apples
• Bananas
• Grapefruit
• Kiwi
• Oranges
• Pears
• Pineapples
• Pomegranates

How to Choose Ripe Fruit

My go-to is shopping at a farmer’s market, if you’re lucky enough to live near one! Small-scale farms typically don’t pick fruits before they’re ripe, so chances are whatever they’re selling at the market is ripe.

But, if you’re in the grocery store, here are a couple things to keep in mind:

• Avoid anything with visible bruising or wrinkled spots
• Give it a gentle squeeze and avoid anything that’s too soft (for melons, gently press on the opposite end from the stem)
• Choose the deepest colored fruits
• Apples should be firm
• Melons should feel heavy for their size
• Cutting Fruit for Fruit Trays

How to Make a Strawberry Rose

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How to Make Orange Butterflies

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How to Make Melon Balls

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How To Make a Fruit Board

Produce

• Oranges, sliced into half-moons
• Grapes, on the vine 
• Pineapple, sliced into half-moons and quarter-moons
• Strawberries
• Blackberries 
• Raspberries 
• Bing Cherries 
• Rainier Cherries 
• Kiwi, sliced into rounds 
• Watermelon, cut into triangles 
• Cantaloupe, balled

Dips

• Strawberry yogurt
• Chocolate Fruit Dip, store-bought or homemade (check out my recipe!)

Garnish

• Coconut flakes

Put It All Together

• First, add the cantaloupe balls to a medium bowl and place on the center of the board. Then add dips and coconut flakes to separate small bowls and place on the board to anchor it. 
• Start by fanning kiwi rounds around 2 of the bowls. Then add strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries in separate sections. 
• Add the bigger items, like watermelon, oranges, pineapple half-moons, and grapes around the edge of the board.
• Fill in the rest of the board with cherries and pineapple quarter-moons, being careful to keep like colors separate.
• Garnish the chocolate dip with coconut flakes and enjoy!

Other Fruit Plate Dip Ideas

Whether you want different dips or more dips (I get it), try these out! 

• Nutella
• Honey
• Your favorite icing
• Vanilla Greek yogurt
• Whipped cream
• Challenge Butter Dessert Snack Spreads (use this coupon)
• Whipped Ricotta 
• Chocolate Hazelnut Fruit Dip
• Cream Cheese Fruit Dip 
• Classic Marshmallow Fruit Dip
• Mascarpone Fruit Dip

Show Me Your Fruit Boards

I hope this post inspires you to make a fresh fruit tray. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the beautiful snacks and sweets you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share! 

And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.