Everyone loves a fruit tray. A super simple idea - a big pile of fruit - can feed a family of four or a crowd at a party. Fruit and vegetable trays are deliciously easy vegetarian option too. Everyone loves digging into a platter of fresh fruit and vegetables...especially when it's accompanied by a yummy homemade dip. This post is packed with creative fruit trays and vegetable tray ideas and lots of tips for how to build an awesome party platter!
There are so many amazingly creative fruit trays and veggie trays around. Yes, you can go to the store and pick up a ready-made fruit tray, but I assure you you will save money if you make your own and they are actually quite easy to make. All you need is a platter and an assortment of your favorite fruit.
Pretty trays can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make them. You can include a dip for the fruit, or not. I've never been able to find a store-bought dip that I like, so I came up with my own recipe for a healthy dip for a fruit tray.
Easy Fruit Tray and Vegetable Tray Ideas
Heart-Shaped Fruit Tray - This heart-shaped fruit tray is perfect for Valentine's Day. A lovely display of fresh berries and red fruit is sure to make a sweet dessert or option for a Valentine's Day party.
Easter Bunny Vegetable Tray - How cute is this Easter Bunny made entirely with vegetables?! This is a fun way to get kids to eat their Easter vegetables and not just all the Easter chocolates.
Easter Bunny Fruit Platter - Well, if we can have a veggie Easter Bunny then we can also have a fruit Easter Bunny too! Yep, turn a pile of fruit into this hilarious Easter Bunny fruit platter.
Easter Egg Fruit Pizza - And, while we are busy celebrating Easter let's make an Easter egg fruit pizza with a cookie base. So much fun to decorate with the kids.
Simple Sun-Shaped Fruit Tray - Celebrate the arrival of summer by making a sun-shaped fruit tray. This one is so simple and so delicious.
Sunflower Fresh Fruit Platter - Mango is the featured fruit in our sunflower fruit platter. Pile all the yellow and orange fruit into the petals of this delightful fruit platter that is perfect for a wedding shower or baby shower.
Pumpkin Vegetable Tray - Here's a super cheerful and easy to make pumpkin-shaped vegetable tray. Kids will have fun coming up with the pumpkin face and eating the whole platter of veggies.
7-Layer Halloween Dip and Veg Tray - Okay, technically this one is all about the 7-layer dip, but it wouldn't be as awesome without all the spooky and silly Halloween vegetable treats. So many fun ways to eat vegetables on Halloween.
Christmas Tree Vegetable Platter - Okay, this one is a show stopper that everyone at the holiday party will love - make a Christmas tree vegetable platter. Add all the edible decorations.
Vegetable Christmas Wreath - Here's another simple holiday vegetable platter idea. Welcome guests to your holiday buffet with a vegetable Christmas wreath, with a delicious dip in the middle of the wreath.
Santa Claus Vegetable Platter - This vegetable Santa Claus platter is spectacular. While this may look complicated, it really isn't and I share detailed step-by-step instructions for you! The kids really love this one!
So, will you make a fruit platter that has a clever shape or a straightforward platter? We shared a collection of super cute Easter-themed fruit and veggie trays - bunnies and spring flowers galore. We also shared a fun collection of Christmas-themed veggie platters too - Santa, snowmen, and more.
Common Fruit Tray Questions
Best fruit for fruit trays?
The best fruit for a fruit tray is the freshest fruit you can get. In season fruit is best. But, obviously, you can't always get in season the fruit you want. So, the best fruit is berries - blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries - fruit that you don't even need to cut. Strawberries are great for cutting into shapes. Melon is perfect for cutting shapes with cookie cutters. Pineapple adds a great color to any fruit tray. As does kiwi, the pop of green is great. Apples need to be soaked in lemon juice or they will brown as soon as they are exposed to the air.
How long do fruit trays last? Can you make a fruit tray the night before?
It is best to put together a fruit tray on the day that you want to serve it. However, you can cut the fruit the night before. Store the cut fruit in air-tight containers. I wouldn't suggest cutting apples ahead of time, they will brown. It's best to build fruit trays where you want to serve them because you don't want the fruit to shift around while you transport the platter.
Common Vegetable Tray Questions
Best vegetable for vegetable trays?
Again, you want to use the freshest and most in-season vegetables you can find. This is a situation where you do not want to use frozen or canned vegetables. Stick with fresh and firm vegetables. Things like carrots and cucumber are perfect for veggie trays. They can be cut lengthwise of sliced and shaped with small cookie cutters. Broccoli and cauliflower are great at filling in spaces in a vegetable tray. Celery and peppers are also snappy and great for cutting and dipping.
Can you make a vegetable tray the night before?
Yes and no. While vegetables tend to not brown the way some fruit can, they can become wilted. So, it is best to cut and prep the vegetables the night before and store them in air-tight containers. Then assemble the vegetable tray on the day of the event.
Best dip for vegetables?
I have a post filled with the best dips for vegetables (and there are even dips for fruit too). We love tart and tangy dips for vegetables - like our favorite dill pickle dip. Have fun with the dips you use. They are easy to make and will add a delicious touch to any fruit or vegetable platter.
Who said you shouldn't play with your food? They were so wrong! I hope you've had fun with all of these delightful fruit and vegetable trays. Which one will you make first?!
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