Peppermint Stripe Celebration Platter (Printable Version)

A colorful holiday platter with red and white elements combining cheeses, fruits, and savory bites for sharing.

# What You Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine or bocconcini)
02 - 7 oz white cheddar cheese, sliced
03 - 7 oz Havarti cheese, sliced

→ Red Accents

04 - 5 oz sliced strawberries
05 - 5 oz raspberries
06 - 3.5 oz cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
07 - 3.5 oz roasted red bell peppers, sliced

→ Savory Meats (optional)

08 - 5 oz thinly sliced salami
09 - 3.5 oz prosciutto

→ Crackers & Bread

10 - 5 oz water crackers
11 - 3.5 oz baguette slices

→ Garnishes

12 - Fresh mint leaves, for decoration
13 - Microgreens or edible flowers (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Place a large rectangular or circular serving platter as your foundation for assembly.
02 - Arrange a row of white cheeses, using either mozzarella balls or cheddar slices, along one edge of the platter.
03 - Follow with a row of red elements such as sliced strawberries or raspberries adjacent to the white cheese row.
04 - Continue assembling alternating rows of white and red components, incorporating cheeses, tomatoes, roasted peppers, and optional meats to form distinct stripes.
05 - For texture contrast and variety, insert rows of water crackers and baguette slices intermittently between some stripes.
06 - If using meats, roll salami slices into rose shapes and tuck them into the red stripes for decorative interest.
07 - Decorate the platter with fresh mint leaves to reinforce the peppermint theme visually.
08 - Serve immediately or cover the arrangement and refrigerate for up to 2 hours prior to serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when it actually took just 25 minutes—your secret's safe with me
  • Every guest can find something they love, whether they're a cheese devotee, fruit lover, or crisp cracker enthusiast
  • It's naturally vegetarian-friendly with the option to add meats, so no one feels left out at your table
  • The visual impact is genuine showstopper energy without any actual cooking required
02 -
  • Slice your strawberries just before assembly—cut them too early and they weep red juice that stains everything. Timing here is everything.
  • Pat your roasted peppers completely dry with paper towels, or they'll make neighboring ingredients soggy and sad. Dryness is your friend in platter building.
  • Temperature matters more than you'd think—pull cheeses from the fridge about 15 minutes before serving so they're cool but not stiff. They taste better and arrange more gracefully this way.
03 -
  • Build your platter on a chilled surface if possible—even a marble board or large cutting board that's been in the fridge makes a difference in how long everything stays fresh and firm
  • Use a light touch when arranging delicate items like raspberries and salami roses; they bruise easily and you want them to look pristine on arrival
  • Create visual anchor points—place your largest or most colorful elements first, then fill around them, rather than trying to build randomly from corner to corner
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