Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board

STAR SPANGLED SUMMER FRUIT BOARD

7/3/2022

A show-stopping Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board is one of the easiest things to make for a backyard barbecue, picnic or party! Overflowing with red, white and blue summer fruits that sparkle with natural sweet flavor and color, this fun and healthy treat is perfect for the Fourth of July and patriotic celebrations!

Picking up a basic fruit platter from your local grocery store is boring and bland – but creating your own fresh Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board is EPIC – always a crowd favorite and more popular than fireworks!

Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board

MY STAR SPANGLED SUMMER FRUIT BOARD IS FILLED WITH RED, WHITE & BLUE FRESH FRUITS:

Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Cherries
Red Table Grapes
Concord Grapes
Seedless Watermelon
Dragon Fruit
Star Fruit
Pomegranate Arils

Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board

TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST SUMMER FRUIT BOARD:

Start with a color scheme and theme! Look for vibrant, rich colors! I concentrated on fruits in shades of red, white and blue for this patriotic fruit platter – pick your favorites and don’t be afraid to try something new and fun! For a summer fruit board you could also use the whole rainbow, or go with a blue and green theme with blueberries, purple grapes, green grapes, green apples, lime slices, kiwis and blackberries.
Fresh seasonal fruit is best! When putting together an epic fruit board, use fresh produce that is in season and try to buy organic produce if you can. You may have fresh summer fruits from your garden ready to pick right now, but the local farmers market are also a great place to start your search. Trader Joes and Whole Foods are always a great option as well - they always have a great selection of organic produce. If you're making this for a crowd, Costco is my go-to for fresh organic produce!
Aim for abundance! Choose a platter that barely fits the amount of fruit you're serving, so that it will look very full – and include as many different types of summer fruit as you can! This little trick creates a vibe of generosity and abundance and looks so good when you serve!
Consider using a few less-common fruits: This platter includes a few surprises — dragon fruit and star fruit add to my colorful patriotic theme! While less-common fruit can be more expensive, people love when you include at least one unexpected item to shake things up a bit.
Include at least two different dips or spreads. We love fresh fruit cream dips, chocolate, and sweetened whipped cream alongside fresh fruit.
Curly-leafed lettuce or live lettuce make great borders for your platter and help to contain any runaway fruit!
You can wash, rinse and prepare your fruits ahead of time and store them in small storage containers, covered with a damp paper towel the fridge until you're ready to assemble.
For premium freshness, prepare your platter no sooner than 2 hours before party time, wrap in plastic wrap and store in refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board

OTHER FRUITS YOU MAY WANT TO ADD FOR AN EPIC FRUIT BOARD:

Create your own rainbow of colorful fresh fruit by adding:

Bananas Slices (dip in Sprite or lemon juice to prevent browning)
Apple Slices (dip in Sprite or lemon juice to prevent browning)
Pineapple (spears or chunks)
Apricots
Pears
Kiwi
Orange Sections or Slices
Mandarin Orange Segments
Grapefruit Sections or Slices
Green Grapes
Cantaloupe Melon
Honeydew Melon
Peaches
Nectarines
Fresh Figs
Gooseberries
Papaya
Mango
Plums
Pluots (stone fruits that are a cross between plums & apricots)
Persian Melons
Passion Fruit
Lime Slices
Lemon Slices
Dried Fruits: Raisins, Apricots, Dehydrated Banana Slices, etc.
Yogurt Covered Dried Fruits or Chocolate Covered Dried Fruits

Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board

WHEN TO SERVE AN EPIC FRESH FRUIT BOARD:

Fresh fruit platters are perfect for entertaining year-round, and always a favorite for young and old alike. You can make them small for a simple treat, or as large as you need to for a large celebration. I love creating them for:

Brunches
Holiday Parties
Wine & Cheese Parties
Garden Teas
Birthday Breakfasts & Parties
Slumber Parties
Baby Showers & Bridal Showers
Wedding Breakfast Buffets
Movie Nights
Pack ‘em up for Picnics, Potlucks & Barbecues!

Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board

STAR SPANGLED SUMMER FRUIT BOARD

A show-stopping Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board is one of the easiest things to make for a backyard barbecue, picnic or party! Overflowing with red, white and blue summer fruits that sparkle with natural sweet flavor and color, this fun and healthy treat is perfect for the Fourth of July and patriotic celebrations! Creating your own fresh Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board is EPIC – always a crowd favorite and more popular than fireworks!

Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board

INGREDIENTS:

FRESH FRUITS: A selection of fresh and seasonal fruits gives you a nice balance of textures, flavor, and a burst of color. For my Star Spangled Summer Fruit Board I concentrated on fresh summer fruits that are red, white and blue:

Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Cherries
Red Table Grapes
Concord Table Grapes
Seedless Watermelon
Dragon Fruit
Star Fruit
Pomegranate Arils
Sliced Plums

CREAMY DIPS & SPREADS: a selection of 1 or 2 gives you a nice balance. Something sweet and creamy – and another that is a simple surprise:

Strawberry Cream Fruit Dip
Raspberry Cream Fruit Dip
Blueberry Cream Fruit Dip
Peach Cream Fruit Dip
Honey Walnut Cream Cheese
Fruit Yogurt
Honey
Chocolate Dip
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Caramel Sauce
Sweetened Whipped Cream

Strawberry Cream Fruit Dip:
4 ounces strawberry cream cheese
1 jar (7 oz.) Kraft marshmallow crème
1 cup fresh strawberries (washed, drained & chopped)

GARNISHES: In keeping with my summer theme, I kept this board simple and garnished with Fireworks Fruit Skewers with fresh blueberries. You can also add roasted nuts for a perfect sweet and salty combination!

HOW I MAKE THIS:

PREPARE FRUIT DIP: In a medium bowl, beat the strawberry cream cheese until it is light and fluffy.
Add marshmallow crème and beat for two minutes, or until light and fluffy.
Add strawberry pieces and whip until you reach your desired consistency (some of you make like the strawberries a little bit chunkier than smooth).
Chill well before serving with fresh fruit.
PREPARE FRUIT: Wash, drain and pat dry all fruit. I usually prepare ahead of time and store each type of fruit in individual containers or ziplock bags in the refrigerator, which makes it easy to prepare fruit platters or refill as necessary. One exception - if using bananas or apples, slice just before serving and dip in fresh lemon juice or Sprite to prevent browning.
PREPARE SUMMER FRUIT BOARD: Choose a nice solid cutting board or wooden serving tray to create your platter - be sure to use something sturdy.
Assemble your favorite fruits so that you know what you’re working with.
Place serving bowls for dips and spreads on platter.
Cut watermelon into slices and cut into star shapes with a metal cookie cutter.
ARRANGE FRUIT: Don’t be intimidated if you don’t have an exact vision of the final result before you start – there is no right or wrong way! Start with the larger fruits, arranging in patterns across the board. Watermelon stars are ALWAYS a huge hit, so I use a lot of them!
Begin filling in spaces with bunches of grapes and larger berries.
Work in layers, filling in gaps where you see them, and aim for an abundant, almost overflowing look. Start with small amounts of each item – you can always refresh your platter as time goes by!
ADD FINISHING TOUCHES: Using 4-inch or 6-inch patriotic wooden picks, skewer fresh blueberries, raspberries or strawberries. You can also add mini-marshmallows or patriotic-shaped marshmallows to the skewers for something little ones will LOVE! Tuck these around the edges. Add Star Fruit slices and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds around the edges.
Fill bowls with dips & spreads, or serve a selection of dips and spreads on the side.
Tuck sprigs of fresh rosemary where you may have open spaces; add a sprig of fresh dill on top of Fruit Cream Dip. You can also add edible flowers or fresh fruit flowers as accents.

YIELD: Perfect for a party of 4 or 20! As a rule of thumb, count on 4 ounces of fruit per person after removing any peels, pits, and other inedible parts. So, for 12 people, you'd need about three pounds of edible fruit. For 25 people, you'd need a little more than six pounds. For 100 people, you'd need 25 pounds.

OTHER FRUITS YOU MAY WANT TO ADD FOR AN EPIC FRUIT BOARD:

Bananas Slices (dip in Sprite or lemon juice to prevent browning)
Apple Slices (dip in Sprite or lemon juice to prevent browning)
Pineapple (spears or chunks)
Apricots
Pears
Kiwi
Orange Sections or Slices
Mandarin Orange Segments
Grapefruit Sections or Slices
Green Grapes
Cantaloupe Melon
Honeydew Melon
Peaches
Nectarines
Fresh Figs
Gooseberries
Papaya
Mango
Plums
Pluots (stone fruits that are a cross between plums & apricots)
Persian Melons
Passion Fruit
Lime Slices
Lemon Slices
Dried Fruits: Raisins, Apricots, Dehydrated Banana Slices, etc.
Yogurt Covered Dried Fruits or Chocolate Covered Dried Fruits

TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST SUMMER FRUIT BOARD:

Start with a color scheme and theme! Look for vibrant, rich colors! I concentrated on fruits in shades of red, white and blue for this patriotic fruit platter – pick your favorites and don’t be afraid to try something new and fun! For a summer fruit board you could also use the whole rainbow, or go with a blue and green theme with blueberries, purple grapes, green grapes, green apples, lime slices, kiwis and blackberries.
Fresh seasonal fruit is best! When putting together an epic fruit board, use fresh produce that is in season and try to buy organic produce if you can. You may have fresh summer fruits from your garden ready to pick right now, but the local farmers market are also a great place to start your search. Trader Joes and Whole Foods are always a great option as well - they always have a great selection of organic produce. If you're making this for a crowd, Costco is my go-to for fresh organic produce!
Aim for abundance! Choose a platter that barely fits the amount of fruit you're serving, so that it will look very full – and include as many different types of summer fruit as you can! This little trick creates a vibe of generosity and abundance and looks so good when you serve!
Consider using a few less-common fruits: This platter includes a few surprises — dragon fruit and star fruit add to my colorful patriotic theme! While less-common fruit can be more expensive, people love when you include at least one unexpected item to shake things up a bit.
Include at least two different dips or spreads. We love fresh fruit cream dips, chocolate, and sweetened whipped cream alongside fresh fruit.
Curly-leafed lettuce or live lettuce make great borders for your platter and help to contain any runaway fruit!
You can wash, rinse and prepare your fruits ahead of time and store them in small storage containers, covered with a damp paper towel the fridge until you're ready to assemble.
For premium freshness, prepare your platter no sooner than 2 hours before party time, wrap in plastic wrap and store in refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Original recipe created by Snowflakes & Coffeecakes June 2018; revised and reposted July 2022.

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