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This EASY Turkey Fruit Platter is the cutest Thanksgiving appetizer! Perfect for little hands to help prepare.
Pair this Turkey Fruit Platter with Baked Brie and crackers for the very best (and easiest) appetizer spread for your Thanksgiving Dinner.
The Cutest Thanksgiving Appetizer
As you may have guessed by my recipes for Santa Pancakes and Candy Cane Pizza, I LOVE to make festive recipes for the holidays.
But just like you, I don't want to spend a lot of time or energy in making my food look cute. I like to focus more on it tasting good and having time to enjoy the people I prepare it for!
So if you are looking for an adorable, easy, healthy Thanksgiving appetizer, let me introduce you to this Fruit Turkey Platter.
This adorable fruit turkey makes a healthy appetizer that not only staves of hunger while you wait for the big Thanksgiving dinner, but it is fun to make as well.
A Few Helpful Tips Before You Start
- Put the Kids in Charge! Let kids of all ages be in charge of making the fruit turkey platter. It keeps them keep them occupied and out from under your feet, while creating a memory they will forever cherish. For younger children, have the fruit cut and prepped and let their imagination go wild!
- Select a Large Platter. Select a platter that is long and narrow and has a neutral background, which will allow for the fruit turkey to pop. You can even use a wooden cutting board if you don't have a suitable platter.
- Vary the Fruit. For the feathers, use a variety of colorful fruit that is on sale or that your family loves. During the fall I can easily find kiwi, grapes, strawberries, and fresh cranberries that when combined together, create a colorful, beautiful replication of a turkey's feathers.
- Use Cloves for Turkey Eye. I find that cloves work best for the eyes, as they have a stem that can be stuck right into the pear and don't need anything else to adhere to the turkey's body. Of course, feel free to use candy eyes or mini chocolate chips, you will just need to use frosting or melted chocolate to adhere the eyes to the pear.
- Prepare No More than 12 Hours in Advance. To prepare the fruit turkey platter more than 12 hours in advance would cause the pear to brown and kiwi and strawberries to become watery.
How to Make a Fruit Turkey Platter
The following tips are meant to guide you. Let your imagination (or fresh produce you have on hand) guide you! You will find more detailed instructions in the recipe card as well.
- Form the Turkey Body. Cut a pear in half to create the body of a turkey. Place the pear half on the bottom third of a large platter or cutting board.
- Create the Feathers. To create the feathers for the turkey, arrange fruit in alternating colors. I use layers of sliced kiwi, followed by red grapes, then green grapes finished with a row of fresh strawberries. Add a pop of color and definition by dotting the feathers with fresh cranberries.
- Give the Turkey Legs. Peel and thinly slice a carrot. Cut off a tiny triangle on one of the thin sticks to form the nose. Arrange thin slices at the bottom of the pear to create the turkey's legs.
- Add Eyes. Pierce two cloves into the flesh of the pear to create the eyes of the turkey.
More Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes
If you made this Fruit Turkey Platter, I would love to hear about it in the comments below. I love sharing food experiences with you!
Fruit Turkey
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pear
- 2 cloves
- 1 carrot, peeled
- 4 kiwi, peeled, and thinly sliced
- 1 pound green grapes
- 1 pound red grapes
- ¼ cup fresh cranberries
- 7 strawberries
Instructions
- Cut a pear in half to create the body for a turkey. Place the pear half on the bottom third of a large platter or cutting board.
- Pierce two cloves into the flesh of the pear to create the eyes of the turkey.
- Thinly slice the peeled carrot. Arrange 2 sticks as the legs at the bottom of the pear. Cut another thin stick in half and then use that for the turkey's feet. Cut off a tiny triangle from a remaining carrot stick to form the nose. Place underneath the clove eyes.
- Arrange the sliced kiwi around the pear, followed by layers of red grapes then green grapes finished with a row of fresh strawberries. Add a pop of color and definition by dotting the "feathers" with fresh cranberries.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Aww this is so adorable. I've seen Turkey Veggie trays. But LOVE this idea. Perfect for a Thanksgiving breakfast or brunch. So many healthy and yummy choices!
Such an adorable party platter! My kids are going to love making this platter.