This simple Rainbow Fruit Platter is fresh, beautiful and sure to wow your guests. It is an excellent healthy option for parties or special occasions that can be customized and prepared ahead of time with ease. Try out this festive fruit tray for your next St. Patrick's day party!
This gorgeous rainbow is perfect for any gathering, from a birthday party, St. Patrick's day celebration, or even just to enjoy as a healthy snack. It's so much fun to make and can come together in no time. This rainbow fruit platter is better than single fruit trays because it offers variety which is always appreciated in a party setting. It's low on prep time and can be assembled a couple of hours before the gathering and covered in plastic wrap for a fresh and ready-to-go treat!
Fruit platters are a great way to flex your creativity and make something amazing. You can choose to style it in the shape of a rainbow or simply in neat rows of similarly colored fruits. You can even incorporate it as part of a breakfast charcuterie board! My St. Patricks Day green pancakes would go wonderfully alongside this delicious rainbow fruit platter. Feel free to get creative and add your own favorite fruit and special touches to make this platter truly magical.
If you're looking for more festive St. Patrick's day recipes try my spicy and cheesy jalapeno cheddar dip with Shamrock Chips! Or my St. Patrick's Day Muddy Buddies!
Why You'll Love It
Simple-There are so many great reasons for having this Rainbow tray at your party. Every hostess knows how busy party time can be, so simplify with this dish. While the initial prep of washing and slicing can be time-consuming, it can be done the day before so that you can spend more time relaxing. You can also purchase pre-cut fruit to really save on time.
Healthy- So many times party foods tend to be less healthy. This is a healthy choice that gives balance to those indulgent options. Everyone loves a fruit platter and it’s full of vitamins and nutrients so it’s a win all around. There's something for all tastes and you can feel good about coming back for seconds.
Reduces waste- Unlike a rainbow fruit salad, this platter makes it easy for everyone to choose what they like and leave what they don't, which will reduce food waste. You can separate the leftovers as you choose and even bake leftover blueberries into muffins for another day!
Colors Of The Rainbow
Roy. G. Biv- that's my favorite way to remember all the colors of the rainbow in order. There are a few other mnemonic devices to remember but I've always found that is the easiest way. Each letter stands for a color in the right order.
One of the best things about this platter is that it's so customizable based on preferences, the event, and what's in season. Here are fruit ideas for each color.
Red-Strawberries, red apples, pomegranates, blood oranges, cherries, lingonberry, red pear, cranberry, raspberries. Red Will be your easiest to find.
Orange- Oranges, tangerines, mandarin oranges, kumquats, apricots, nectarines, cantaloupe persimmons
Yellow-Pineapple, Yellow watermelon, bananas, mangoes, golden kiwi, yellow apples
Green- Kiwi, green apples, green grapes, green pears, limes
Blue-Blueberries, blackberries, plums
Indigo-I grouped these with the blues above, just chose a lighter shade. Plums are great here.
Violet-A purple shade, so choose fruits that fit into this hue category. Some may overlap with the two above so arrange your choices in a way that makes the most sense given your selections.
Fruit Dip
To make your colorful fruit platter even more exciting, you can add a creamy fruit dip. It's really simple to make and can be prepped ahead of time.
This creamy dip is sweetened cream cheese that is whipped to perfection! It's light and airy which makes it perfect for dipping any fruit. It holds up in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container so you can enjoy it even after the party is over.
How to make a Rainbow Fruit Platter
Wash the fruit
The first step when making the platter is to wash the fruit really well. You'll want to wash the outside of the fruit before you cut into them to prevent any dirt from getting into the fruit when cut. This step can be tedious with lots of different fruit, so you may want to plan for extra time or do this step the day before.
Cut the fruit
All your fruits can be cut ahead of time and even the platter can be arranged several hours in advance. I'd recommend that you cut fruit into bite-sized pieces because it will arrange better on the tray and also be easier for guests to pick up.
If using apple slices, be sure to give them a quick soak in a solution of water and lemon juice to prevent browning. All you need is 1 cup of water and mix with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, scaling as needed to fit your batch. Let the cut apple slices soak for about 5 minutes then pat dry and transfer to a container for storage or to the platter.
I'd recommend cutting soft items such as bananas right before making the platter.
Store or arrange the fruit
When making this rainbow fruit platter in advance, proper storage is key to keeping the fruit fresh and tasting. Once cut, you can store them in resealable bags or mason jars in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. If you're making the platter only a few hours in advance, you can go ahead and place it directly onto the serving tray, just cover it in plastic wrap until you're ready to enjoy.
To arrange the fruit, begin placing it on the large platter. You can make it a curved "U" shape like a rainbow or simply make it in horizontal lines if you prefer. Start by adding the top red layer first, then the remaining colors underneath.
Once your rainbow is complete, add the fruit dip last. You can place it in small bowls, or simply add a spoonful at the end of the rainbow- it's that easy!
Tips and Substitutions
- Use fresh fruit-Fresh fruit will work best for this recipe. Defrosted fruit can turn mushy which isn't ideal for this party tray. When choosing fruit, be sure to pick pieces that are vibrant in color and free from blemishes.
- Get creative-! Add gold coins for a pot of gold or marshmallow clouds in addition to the dip.
- Mix up the leftovers- With the exception of bananas, you can easily mix up leftovers for a fruit salad to keep in the refrigerator. Place all the remaining fruit into a bowl or even individual containers for an easy grab-and-go snack. Try drizzling it with my Honey-Lime fruit salad dressing!
- Buy seedless- Keep seedless in mind when purchasing fruit. Seedless grapes are ideal because they're easier to enjoy and won't take anyone by surprise. Be sure to pit cherries before adding them as well.
- Remember the cutlery- Fruit trays are tempting to grab with your hands. Be sure to offer tongs or cute mini forks to encourage guests to keep the platter clean and not use their hands.
FAQ Rainbow Fruit Platter
You can easily make this up to 4-6 hours in advance. Make sure and wrap it with saran wrap so your fruit won't dry out. You can also make this the night before, but the fruits really are at their best after being cut within 4-6 hours.
If using apples or pears in your fruit tray, to prevent browning you'll want to make a quick soak. Add 1 cup of water to 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or lime juice. Let the cut pieces soak for 5 minutes. The citrus will stop the browning process. You can then rinse and pat the slices dry and they will remain fresh looking for several hours.
Depending on your guests and food availability, it's ideal to avoid apples, bananas, and pears for your fruit rainbow because they brown excessively. There are so many to choose from that will stay beautiful looking as an alternative. If these are favorites of your guests and you must include them, it's ideal to cut them immediately before serving them for the best results.
If you're wondering how much fruit to buy for a fruit tray, the answer is ½-2/3 cup per person. This can change depending on a number of things. If offering many other foods, a lesser amount should work fine. If the fruit is the main attraction, or if there are a lot of kids, you may want to stay on the upper end. It's always better to have more than you need than not enough.
Yes! There are plenty of premade dips, or you can even use a cool whip. I love this dip for its beautiful white color that makes it look like clouds. Adding a second option is always a great idea so guests can mix and match.
St Patrick's Day Rainbow Fruit Platter
Ingredients
- Fruit of choice for rainbow
- 4 tablespoons cream cheese, softened I like a lowfat, but use what you want here.
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup whipped cream This isn't necessary, but gives the dip a cloud like fluff.
Instructions
- Arrange fruit in rainbow shapes on a plate or platter.
- Add cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar to the mixing bowl. Using your muscles or a hand mixer, mix on high until it is smooth and blended. Next, if using whipped cream, fold it in now.
- Scoop the dip on either end of the rainbow. That's it! So simple and serve.
Notes
- Use fresh fruit-Fresh fruit will work best for this recipe. Defrosted fruit can turn mushy which isn't ideal for this party tray. When choosing fruit, be sure to pick pieces that are vibrant in color and free from blemishes.
- Get creative-! Add gold coins for a pot of gold or marshmallow clouds in addition to the dip.
- Mix up the leftovers- With the exception of bananas, you can easily mix up leftovers for a fruit salad to keep in the refrigerator. Place all the remaining fruit into a bowl or even individual containers for an easy grab-and-go snack. Try drizzling it with my Honey-Lime fruit salad dressing!
- Buy seedless- Keep seedless in mind when purchasing fruit. Seedless grapes are ideal because they're easier to enjoy and won't take anyone by surprise. Be sure to pit cherries before adding them as well.
- Remember the cutlery- Fruit trays are tempting to grab with your hands. Be sure to offer tongs or cute mini forks to encourage guests to keep the platter clean and not use their hands.
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