Holly Berry Cluster Platter (Printable)

Colorful berry and cheese clusters with fresh herbs arranged for festive entertaining.

# What You'll 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 oz goat cheese, shaped into small rounds
05 - 3.5 oz brie, cut into cubes
06 - 3.5 oz 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 tbsp honey for drizzling

# Directions:

01 - Wash and thoroughly dry all berries and fresh herbs.
02 - Place clusters of red berries in tight, natural groupings on a large serving platter to resemble holly berries.
03 - Nestle rounds of goat cheese and cubes of brie and aged cheddar among the berry clusters.
04 - Tuck sprigs of parsley, mint, and rosemary throughout the platter to evoke holly leaves and greenery.
05 - Fill in open spaces with assorted crackers and optional baguette rounds for texture and variety.
06 - Sprinkle toasted pecans or walnuts over the platter and drizzle honey lightly over the cheeses if desired.
07 - Present immediately, inviting guests to select from the festive arrangement.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours on it, but honestly takes just 20 minutes—your secret's safe with me
  • Everyone at the table will be mesmerized by the holly-inspired arrangement before they even taste it
  • It's naturally gluten-free and vegetarian, so you're covered for almost any dietary need
  • The combination of tart berries, creamy cheese, and fresh herbs creates such a balanced flavor that even the pickiest eaters come back for more
02 -
  • Prep everything ahead of time and refrigerate your components separately, but don't assemble more than two hours before serving. Room temperature softens the cheese and wilts the herbs—you want this to look fresh and intentional
  • The key to a platter that actually works is contrast—tart berries next to creamy cheese, fresh herbs among bright fruit, crunchy nuts scattered across smooth surfaces. This interplay is what makes people want to keep coming back for another bite
03 -
  • Buy pre-seeded pomegranate arils if you can. Your hands will thank you, and the platter comes together so much faster
  • Toast your own nuts if possible—store-bought toasted nuts are often stale, and fresh toasted ones add a dimension that really matters in something this simple
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