Sunny Yellow Citrus Burst (Print Version)

Vibrant yellow fruits and cheeses arranged beautifully for a fresh, tangy centerpiece.

# Components:

→ 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 use as the 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, 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 a small jar of honey, optional for drizzling

# Directions:

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 fruits.
04 - Nestle cubes of Gouda and cheddar cheese around the fruits and vegetables to balance flavors and textures.
05 - Place a small bowl of lemon curd near the edge of the board with a spoon for dipping.
06 - Fill remaining spaces with corn chips, nuts, dried apricots, and, if desired, honeycomb or a honey jar for drizzling.
07 - Serve immediately, ensuring perishable ingredients remain chilled until ready to eat to maintain freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It requires zero cooking—just beautiful knife work and an artist's eye, so even on your busiest days you can create something memorable
  • The sunburst presentation does all the heavy lifting for you; your guests will think you spent hours when it's really just thoughtful arrangement
  • Golden fruits and veggies naturally pair together in ways that feel both sophisticated and comforting, like sunshine on a plate
  • It works for any gathering—brunches, picnics, casual dinners—because it's elegant without demanding formality
02 -
  • Oxidation is real and relentless—that lemon juice you brush on bananas and sliced pears isn't optional, it's insurance against disappointing brown spots that undermine your beautiful work
  • The order of assembly matters less than the principle: arrange your fruits and vegetables first while they're fresh, then add crackers and nuts last so they don't absorb any moisture
  • Room temperature fruit tastes exponentially better than cold fruit—citrus brightness, mango sweetness, everything deepens when it's not numbed by cold
03 -
  • Buy your fruit one day ahead of serving and let it sit at room temperature—this concentrates flavors in a way that refrigerator-cold fruit simply cannot match
  • Use a sharp knife and make confident cuts; this prevents bruising and oxidation, and frankly, clean slices look infinitely more impressive than torn or ragged edges
  • If you can source yellow watermelon, golden raspberries, or yellow plums, add them without hesitation—these unexpected elements make people remember your board long after the last cheese cube is gone
Return