Christmas Fruit Platter (An Ultra-Easy Christmas Fruit Idea)

~ This Christmas Fruit Platter is so adorable and super festive! Plus, it’s also incredibly easy to make, with ideas for swapping in different fruits. Even better yet? You can make it completely ahead of time, to cut down on last-minute holiday stress! ~

This Recipe Is:   •  Ready in 30 Minutes or Less  •  Make Ahead  •  Vegan (and Vegetarian)  •  Gluten Free  •  Paleo  •

Don’t forget to include some refreshing fruit when you’re planning your Christmas menus or thinking about what to take to a holiday potluck!

With all the decadent, heavier foods everyone usually makes for holiday parties, some juicy, sweet, refreshing fruit is always such a welcome break for people’s palates.

But, the trick is to make simple fruit feel extra-special and truly holiday-worthy.

This ultra-easy but gorgeous wreath-shaped Christmas Fruit Platter is absolutely perfect!

It Checks ALLLL the Boxes!

Sounds terrific, right?!? (Spoiler alert: it is!)

Here’s all you have to do …

How to Make Your Holiday Fruit Platter

Step #1

Start with a large, round serving platter. It’s best to use one that has a little bit of a curved lip around the edges, to prevent your fruit from rolling off. (The glass platter I’m using in my photos is about 12½ inches across.)

Place a bowl right in the center, before you start building your wreath.

Then, begin piling green fruits in a ring, encircling the central bowl. In my photos, I’m using green grapes, balls of green honeydew melon, and pieces of kiwi.

Exactly how much fruit you use and how high you pile it is up to you, depending on how many people you’re planning to serve and how big your platter is.

Step #2

Once you’ve got your green wreath piled up the way you like it, it’s time to add the pretty little berry accents. (These are meant to look like the holly berries you’d find in decorative evergreen Christmas wreaths.)

For these, I simply use raspberries and small sprigs of mint leaves.

Nestle the raspberries into your fruit wreath, upside down, so their pointy ends are facing up.

You can place them randomly around your wreath, wherever you please. I like to add just a few, to keep it simple, but you can add as many as you want. This is your creative masterpiece, after all!

Tuck tiny mint leaves and sprigs next to each berry, like holly leaves.

Step #3

Next, pile additional fruit into the bowl at the center of your platter.

That’s truly all there is to making this crazy-easy Holiday Fruit Platter! But, of course … you’ve got options …

Ideas for Changing Up Your Fruit Masterpiece

So let’s talk about adapting this fun Christmas fruit idea, to keep it flexible to fit your specific situation.

You might wanna change it up, based on the number of guests at your party, how much time you have to make this, or on what fruit looks great at the grocery store (or what types of fruit you like best).

Option 1: Platter Size

As I mentioned above, the platter you see in my photos is about 12½ inches across.

But you can use virtually any size of round platter you happen to have, or vary the size to serve larger or smaller gatherings.

Option 2: Different Fruit Ideas

As I mentioned above, in my photos you’ll see that I used green grapes, green honeydew melon, and kiwi to make the green Christmas wreath. And in the center bowl I used red raspberries, strawberries, and watermelon.

But you’ve got options!

Feel free to add or omit any red and green fruits you like best. Or, make decisions based on whatever fruit looks most luscious when you’re shopping. For example …

• Red cherries would be outstanding, but they’re nearly impossible to find in my part of the world at Christmastime.
• Red grapes can work, but sometimes they end up looking more purple than Christmas-red.
• Pomegranate arils would be a festive seasonal touch.

Another fun option would be to make the center bowl red-and-white, instead of only red. You could add:

• Red-skinned apples (which are white inside)
• Bananas
• White melon

Just be sure not to add either apples or bananas until the very last minute, since both are likely to turn brown after they’re cut.

Option 3: Got Extra Time? Bonus Points …

Here’s where you can get all creative and have some extra fun!

First of all, you can choose to use a melon ball tool (like I did for my photos) to make professional-looking balls, instead of simply cutting your melon into chunks. (Although, if you’re in a hurry, chunks will be absolutely fine, too … there’s no shame in working FAST!)

Next, if you’ve got a few extra minutes, grab some Christmas cookie cutters to embellish your platter.

You can cut stars out of a pineapple (like I show you in the recipe for my Layered Christmas Fruit Salad) or out of a mango …

Alternately, you can make stars by slicing starfruit, if you can find one.

There’s no wrong answer here … have fun with it!

How to Serve Your Fruit Platter

All you really need to do is offer a serving spoon, so party guests can easily scoop up your lovely fruit.

Depending on what other types of foods will be served, you might want to have some small bowls available, so the vibrant, fresh fruit can be kept separate from savory gravies and sauces and party dips.

Making Your Platter Ahead of Time

I say it all the time … but I truly do absolutely LOVE recipes that can be made ahead of time, especially at the busy holiday season. That just gives you so much flexibility to throw recipes together whenever you have a chance, so you don’t miss out on a single moment of the festivities.

You can easily make this platter a day ahead. Cover it in plastic wrap, and stash it in the fridge until you need it.

Easy, easy, easy!

My only caveat (like I mentioned above), is that if you want to use some bananas or apples to add white color to your fruit platter, then those are best added right before serving, so they don’t turn brown.

Psssssst … Need More Christmas Fruit Ideas?

If your family is like mine, then you’ve got multiple (MULTIPLE!) parties, all throughout the holidays. And I sure wouldn’t want you to get bored of making the same fruit dish every time lol! I’ve gotcha covered.

Work one of these ideas into your Christmas menu planning, too …

The Life of the Party!

Whether you serve this fruit platter at a Christmas brunch, or as a refreshing, light side dish with Christmas dinner, its lovely colors and sweet, juicy flavors will make it a standout!

People will be glad that someone thought to bring some fresh fruit to help counterbalance all the heavier menu options. And they’ll oooooh and aaaaah over how stunning it is.

Who thought humble fruit could be such a party animal?!?

And you? You’ll be the life of the party, too … relaxed and stress-free, since this gorgeous fruit platter was so very easy for you to throw together.

You’ll be enjoying every single festive moment!

Perfect!