Sunny Yellow Citrus Burst (Print Version)

A bright board featuring yellow fruits, cheeses, and crunchy extras arranged in a sunny pattern.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Fruit

01 - 1 large pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into bite-sized wedges
02 - 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and sliced
03 - 2 golden kiwis, peeled and sliced
04 - 1–2 bananas, sliced (optional; add just before serving to avoid browning)
05 - 1 lemon, sliced into thin rounds (reserve one slice for the center)
06 - 1 orange, sliced into rounds (optional; can be used as centerpiece)

→ Vegetables

07 - 2 yellow bell peppers, seeded and sliced into strips
08 - 1 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - 1 cup baby yellow carrots, peeled and trimmed

→ Cheese & Dairy

10 - 5 oz aged Gouda cheese, cubed
11 - 5 oz yellow cheddar cheese, cubed
12 - 1 cup lemon curd, served in a small bowl for dipping

→ Crackers & Extras

13 - 1 cup yellow corn tortilla chips or gluten-free crackers
14 - ½ cup roasted salted cashews or macadamia nuts
15 - ½ cup dried apricots
16 - Honeycomb or small jar of honey (optional, for drizzling)

# How to Make It:

01 - Place a large round slice of lemon or orange in the center of a large serving board or platter to serve as the sun.
02 - Arrange pineapple, mango, golden kiwis, and other fruits in radiating lines outward from the central citrus slice, alternating colors for visual contrast.
03 - Fan out the yellow bell pepper strips, cherry tomatoes, and baby carrots in sunburst patterns around the fruit.
04 - Nestle cubes of Gouda and cheddar evenly around the fruits and vegetables.
05 - Set a small bowl of lemon curd near the edge of the board with a spoon for dipping.
06 - Fill remaining spaces with corn tortilla chips, nuts, dried apricots, and, if using, honeycomb or a honey jar.
07 - Serve immediately, ensuring perishable ingredients are kept chilled until ready to eat.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that requires zero cooking, just beautiful arrangement and a little prep work
  • Every bite is different because there's something for everyone—sweet fruit, tangy cheese, crunchy nuts, and creamy lemon curd
  • The sunny color palette naturally draws people together and makes even the simplest ingredients feel special
  • It comes together in twenty minutes, so you can spend more time enjoying your guests than stressing in the kitchen
02 -
  • Bananas will inevitably brown if added too early—this isn't a failure, but if you want them pristine, the lemon juice trick genuinely works. The acid slows oxidation and keeps them bright.
  • The most beautiful boards aren't perfectly symmetrical. Let some ingredients overlap slightly and leave some irregular spaces. This is what makes a grazing board feel alive and inviting rather than sterile.
  • Cut everything at roughly the same time. Even though this takes just twenty minutes total, you want the board coming together in the last ten minutes so all the colors stay vivid and nothing dries out.
03 -
  • Prep all your ingredients in separate bowls before you start assembling. This way you can arrange quickly while everything is still fresh, and you're not juggling half-peeled fruit while trying to create art.
  • If you're making this ahead of time for a party, assemble the board, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Most elements actually taste better at that cool temperature, and the board will look just as stunning two or three hours later.
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