Holly Berry Cluster Appetizer (Printable)

Colorful berry and cheese arrangement accented with herbs and nuts, perfect to impress guests.

# What You Need:

→ Berries

01 - 1 cup fresh red currants or cranberries
02 - 1 cup pomegranate arils
03 - 1/2 cup red grapes, halved

→ Cheese & Accompaniments

04 - 7 ounces goat cheese, shaped into small rounds
05 - 3.5 ounces brie, cut into cubes
06 - 3.5 ounces aged cheddar, cut into cubes

→ Crackers & Bread

07 - 1 cup assorted crackers
08 - 1/2 baguette, sliced into rounds (optional)

→ Fresh Herbs

09 - 1 large bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
10 - 1 small bunch fresh mint
11 - 1 small bunch fresh rosemary

→ Garnishes

12 - 1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
13 - 2 tablespoons honey for drizzling

# Directions:

01 - Wash and thoroughly dry all berries and herbs.
02 - On a large serving platter, arrange clusters of red berries in tight, organic groupings to mimic holly berries.
03 - Nestle goat cheese rounds and cubes of brie and aged cheddar among the berry clusters.
04 - Tuck sprigs of parsley, mint, and rosemary around the berries and cheeses to resemble holly leaves and greenery.
05 - Fill in any open spaces with assorted crackers and baguette rounds if using.
06 - Sprinkle toasted nuts over the platter and drizzle honey lightly over the cheeses if desired.
07 - Present immediately, allowing guests to select from the festive arrangement.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes just 20 minutes but looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, which is the best kind of secret
  • Everyone at the table feels celebrated because they're eating something that's both beautiful and genuinely delicious
  • No cooking required means you can actually enjoy your party instead of being stuck at the stove
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free friendly, so it works for almost any dietary need
02 -
  • The berries will weep slightly if they're not completely dry before you start. This taught me the importance of that drying step—it makes the difference between a platter that looks fresh at the end of the party and one that looks like it's been sitting out.
  • Goat cheese rounds stay more intact if you shape them just before arranging. If you make them too far in advance, they can absorb moisture and lose their definition.
  • The platter will look slightly bare after five minutes of guests picking from it, and that's okay. This isn't meant to be static—it's meant to be eaten and enjoyed.
03 -
  • A light spray of food-safe edible glitter or a few edible flowers tucked among the berries elevates the presentation into something truly unforgettable—this was a discovery that changed how I think about simple platters
  • Keep a small bowl of honey and a pastry brush at your serving station. Guests love drizzling a little more honey on their chosen cheese just before eating it
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