How to Make a Simple Beautiful Fruit Charcuterie Board

When Adam and I got married, we had a small DIY ceremony at my sister’s house. The day before the wedding, my mom and I put together a variety of very simple charcuterie boards. 

They’re such a fun way to present your favorite foods for special occasions. And they make the perfect appetizer! At our wedding, they were a tremendous hit for people to nibble on with a glass of wine or champagne before the catered meal. 

While charcuterie boards are traditionally made of meats and cheeses, the term has evolved in the United States. Now they include just about any of your favorite things. 

For a fresh fruit charcuterie board, imagine mounds of your favorite fruits nestled on a beautiful board. Interspersed with a variety of cheeses, if you wish. 

Any time you’re entertaining, a fresh fruit charcuterie board is a great option. There are always people who are happy to see healthy fruit at a party. 

Put it out at the start of a brunch or lunch. And you’ve got a beautiful platter for your guests to nosh on while you scramble eggs or finish up the quiches and salad. 

A fruit platter is a great choice to bring to a potluck. And at a dinner party, it’s a great idea for an appetizer. Guests can nibble their favorite fruits without ruining their appetites, and there’s no real cooking involved for you. Put it out alongside a vegetable charcuterie board or a cheese charcuterie board. Or include cheese on your fruit board, as I do here. You can assemble it before people arrive and then put your attention on the meal. 

Or make it a dessert charcuterie board by swapping out the cheeses for chocolate dipping sauce, brownie bites and marshmallows.

If you’re serving little kids, put out a 5-minute cream cheese based fruit dip with the fruit platter to catch their interest. 

The simplest cheese charcuterie board

I’m always thinking about how to create a super easy recipe to save you as much time as possible. That’s why, on this board, I focus on fresh fruit you can simply clean or peel and place on the board. That way, you don’t have to get bogged down with cutting up any fruit. It’s quite a task to cut up fruits like watermelon and pineapple. 

What are the best and easiest fruits for a charcuterie board? 

If you’re looking for a simple and easy board, the best fruit is quick to prepare. All you have to do is clean or peel it, dry it and place it on the fruit tray. 

That’s where fresh berries come in handy. Berries are the best part of any tray and feel like a real treat. When I worked at the local university hosting catered events, the strawberries and berries were always the first to get grabbed off a fruit platter. For this board, I’m using strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. My store was out of cherries, but I would’ve included them as well.

Add clusters of seedless purple or green grapes. I’m using purple grapes along with sectioned seedless mandarin oranges.

As you peel the mandarin oranges, your home will fill with the most beautiful citrus aroma. If you’re like me, you will have to force yourself to stop eating them as you assemble. And you will wonder how you ever had a fruit tray before without including these gems. They are the star of the show!

Steer clear of fruits that will turn brown if your board if sitting out for some time, like apples, pears and bananas. There are ways to prevent apples from turning brown, but they’re only effective for about an hour or two. And that’s too much to worry about if you’re looking for an easy board. 

How much fruit do I need per person?

That depends on the role your board is playing in your event. 

If it’s one of several appetizers that will hold people over until a full meal, go for smaller amounts, like half a cup per person. If it’s the main event, say for dessert, you’ll want larger portions like 1 cup. Have 6-8 cups for 12 people. 

Err on the side of having more than you need. You can always freeze leftovers to use in smoothies. 

What cheeses do I include?

Choose 1 to 3 cheeses. I like to include a triple cream brie, which is always a favorite, a hard cheese like sharp cheddar since it’s a familiar and well-loved cheese. And a soft cheese like a goat chevre for folks who don’t eat cow’s milk. Chevre is relatively mild, tangy and creamy. Plain and garlic and herb are my favorite ways to eat it.

Ina Garten, the queen of easy entertaining, likes to include a blue cheese or a Roquefort. They have a pretty strong flavor and aroma. Include them as an option if you know your family and friends love them. 

Choose your favorites and you can’t go wrong. Just about any cheese is good cheese because it’s cheese! 

Should I include crackers or bread?

If you’re including cheese, it’s a good idea to put out plain water crackers or a sliced baguette. The baguette feels like a treat, but the crackers are easier since there’s no slicing involved. You can include gluten-free crackers for guests who need the option.  

What do I need to make a charcuterie board?

To keep this as simple as possible, there are three things you need. 

First, a board or platter to put the fruit on.

For the platter, you can use a beautiful board that’s wooden or marble. But really, any platter that you have will work and any shape works. For a small spread, 11” x 16” is great. For a larger spread, try 20” x 13”. Just make sure whatever you use is food safe. 

I’m using a 17” round board here. 

The other two things you need are knives for the cheese and a pair of tongs for people to grab the fruit off the cheese platter. 

By including cheese knives, people can cut their own cheese. Just cut off the first slice since no one wants to be the first person to cut into a hunk of cheese at a party. It gives them permission to go for it.  

It’s nice for each cheese to have its own knife. That way, if people have allergies, there’s no cross contamination. For me, I avoid cow’s milk cheeses and am always grateful when the goat cheese has its own knife.

You don’t need any small bowls for this board. But, if you were to include blueberries, you could put them in a small bowl so they don’t get lost in the shuffle. 

How do I make a charcuterie board step by step?

Get the fruit ready to place on the platter. 

If you’re washing your fruit the day you’re serving it, be sure to completely dry it. To wash the berries a few days before you serve the board, keep them fresh longer by giving them a bath in a vinegar and water solution following these instructions. 

Snip the grapes into small clusters so people can grab a small bunch. You can do this a day or so ahead, just store them in an airtight container. 

Peel the mandarin oranges and separate them into sections. 

Once the fruit is prepped, pull out all the ingredients so you can see them and you know you have everything. You don’t want to forget something and have to move everything around on the board to fit it in.

The best way to start is to place your largest items where you want them. So for this board, that’s your cheese. Place them in a triangle shape, facing out and closer to the outer edge of the platter so people can easily reach them to cut off a slice.

If you’re using a bowl, place it in the center of the board and arrange the cheese around it. 

Place your grape clusters around the board. Place them in an S shape so it creates visual interest and draws the eye around the board.

Fill in the center empty space with mounds of strawberries.

Place the blackberries across from the strawberries.

Add in the mandarin oranges and raspberries next to the brie and chevre goat cheese.

Scatter a few of the orange slices around to draw the eye around the board so the oranges act as a garnish. If your board isn’t big enough, keep extras aside and add more to the board as it gets eaten. 

When it’s time to serve, you want the cheeses to come to room temperature to activate their full flavor profile. Set them out for 30 to 60 minutes before they’ll be served. 

When should you assemble this board? 

Assemble the board the day of the event or at most the day before. If you’re doing it the day before, individually wrap the cheeses and place them on the board and then arrange the fruits. Cover the board well to create an airtight seal. I recommend using Glad Press’N Seal. It’s sturdier than cling wrap and sticky on one side so it easily makes an airtight seal.

To clean your berries and grapes a few days prior to serving, keep them fresh longer by giving them a bath in a vinegar and water solution following these instructions. Then store them in an airtight container. 

You can snip the grapes into small clusters a few days prior. Just store them in an airtight container. 

I recommend peeling the mandarin oranges the day you’re serving for the best product.

The best fruit charcuterie board 

You’ll love this simple recipe for your next party! 

A good charcuterie board is a great way to impress your guests. And there are so many different ways you can personalize it to your tastes and make an epic cheese board. 

Choose low-maintenance berries and fruits. 

Have fun with it!

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