Midnight Orchard Fruit Cheese (Printer View)

A striking fruit and goat cheese platter with cherries, plums, grapes, and black-ashed cheese, perfect for elegant sharing.

# 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)

# Method:

01 - Arrange the dark cherries, plum wedges, and purple grapes on a large serving platter, grouping each fruit for visual appeal.
02 - Place slices or crumbles of black-ashed goat cheese alongside the arranged fruit.
03 - Sprinkle toasted walnuts over the platter if using, then drizzle lightly with honey for added sweetness.
04 - Garnish the platter with fresh thyme sprigs.
05 - Serve immediately, allowing guests to create their own pairings.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes fifteen minutes but looks like you've been planning it all day.
  • The tartness of the cheese plays beautifully against the natural sweetness of ripe fruit, creating little moments of surprise on the palate.
  • You can make it entirely your own by adjusting what you have on hand.
02 -
  • Don't refrigerate this before serving—cold mutes the flavors of the fruit, and the cheese becomes firmer and less creamy.
  • If you're making this ahead, wait to add the honey and walnuts until right before guests arrive, so they stay crisp and the honey catches the light.
03 -
  • Choose your platter carefully—a dark slate or even a wooden board will make the colors pop far more than white ceramic.
  • Pat your fruit dry with a soft cloth right before arranging; any lingering moisture will make the cheese cling to the fruit and everything will look sloppy within minutes.
Return