Midnight Orchard Fruit Cheese Platter (Printable)

A striking fruit and cheese spread with cherries, plums, grapes, and creamy black-ashed goat cheese.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit

01 - 1 cup dark cherries, pitted and halved
02 - 2 ripe plums, sliced into wedges
03 - 1 cup purple grapes, halved

→ Cheese

04 - 7 oz black-ashed goat cheese, sliced or crumbled

→ Garnishes

05 - 2 tbsp toasted walnuts (optional)
06 - 1 tbsp honey (optional)
07 - Fresh thyme sprigs for decoration

# How To Make It:

01 - Arrange the dark cherries, plum wedges, and purple grapes separately on a large serving platter to create visual appeal.
02 - Place slices or crumbles of black-ashed goat cheese alongside the fruit clusters.
03 - If desired, sprinkle toasted walnuts over the platter and lightly drizzle honey for sweetness.
04 - Garnish the arrangement with fresh thyme sprigs.
05 - Present immediately, allowing guests to combine flavors according to preference.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It takes fifteen minutes from thought to table, making you look far more prepared than you actually are.
  • The combination of sweet fruit, tangy cheese, and the subtle earthiness of ash creates a flavor balance that feels sophisticated without trying too hard.
02 -
  • Pit your cherries just before serving or they'll start to weep juice and stain everything; I learned this the hard way at a plating that turned into a purple disaster.
  • The temperature matters more than you'd think—pull everything from the fridge about fifteen minutes before serving so the cheese softens just enough to be creamy while the fruit stays cool and crisp.
03 -
  • Arrange your platter no more than thirty minutes before serving; fruit starts to oxidize and lose its jeweled appearance if it sits too long, and the cheese begins to separate.
  • Use a sharp knife for everything—it makes the difference between clean, elegant slices and fruit that looks bruised before it hits the platter.
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