One of the most important things to focus on when putting together a fruit and cheese tray is incorporating different textures. So for example, crackers, cheeses, nuts, fruit, etc. There are different varieties within each of those types of foods that have different textures. Walnuts are rough, peanuts are smooth, swiss is smoother than parmesan, ritz has a different texture than Triscuits, and so on.

I recommend doing 2-3 of each category so 2-3 kinds of cheese, 2-3 fruits, and so on. Try to keep the numbers in variety so it’s not just 2 of everything. The more uneven and variety of shapes, sizes, textures, the better!

Some of my favorite of each for building a fruit and cheese tray is listed below:

Cheese

• Parmesean
• Gouda
• Sharp Cheddar
• Sharp White Cheddar
• Gruyere

Some cheeses are smoother, some are more gritty, some are sharp, some are mild. You might want to try some different ones to really feel and taste the difference, but I think the ones I mentioned offer a nice variety.

You can also always do a cream cheese to put on crackers, or brie, I’m just not a fan of brie…

Fruit

Some of my favorite fruits for fruit and cheese trays are:

• Raspberries
• Red Grapes
• Green Grapes
• Raisins
• Figs
• Cherries

The different shapes, sizes, and textures are always something to take notice of. If you choose a smooth, maybe pair it with a rough, and so on.

Nuts

Some of the best nuts to put on fruit and cheese trays are:

• Roasted almonds
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Seasoned Cashews

Nuts offer a nice and toasty vibe and also add a smaller, different shape and size to the platter. They are cute sprinkled throughout the platter, in a pile, or even in a small jar.

Crackers

Crackers are a little tough because depending on which store you go to, they might have a ton of different ones. But I recommend going with some different flavors, shapes, and sizes. Some faves are:

• Rosemary Olive Oil Triscuits
• Garlic and Herb
• Water crackers
• Ritz
• Wheat thins
• Pita chips

Don’t be afraid to get a little crazy and unique with the crackers. They’re bread, they most likely going to be amazing, especially paired with cheese. Try to mix up the shapes though, if you get round ones, try a rectangle for the second type, and so on.

Final Touches

Last but not least, putting this puppy together. Once you have a nice variety of things, it’s important to make sure you have a cool place to lay it all out on. This can be a rustic farmhouse tray, a butcher block slab of wood, a marble platter, a simple plate. The more unique the better, but don’t get too crazy of course. I’ve listed some awesome affordable platter options below.

Adding some sprigs of rosemary, cute jars, cute spreading knives, a jar of toothpicks, mini forks, and other garnish type things is always encouraged. The small details are what really add character and style to the board.

As far as laying everything out, I recommend doing the cheeses first and spreading those out in random spots throughout the board.

After that, add the nuts and crackers. Once that’s done, spread out the sweets and sprinkle the fruits in the small open spaces.

Lastly, add any garnishes and accessories to fill in the empty spaces.

It might take practice, but I guarantee you get a compliment on your first try! I always recommend checking out more ideas on Pinterest and Google as well! Post your pics below, I’d love to see what you put together!