Midnight Orchard Fruit Cheese (Printable Version)

A stylish combination of dark cherries, plums, grapes, and creamy black-ashed goat cheese with optional walnuts and honey.

# 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)

# How to Make It:

01 - Place the dark cherries, plum wedges, and purple grapes on a large serving platter, grouping each fruit to enhance visual appeal.
02 - Position slices or crumbles of black-ashed goat cheese alongside the arranged fruit.
03 - Sprinkle toasted walnuts evenly over the platter if desired and drizzle lightly with honey to add subtle sweetness.
04 - Garnish the platter with fresh thyme sprigs for aroma and presentation.
05 - Present immediately, allowing guests to customize their pairings.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely stunning with minimal effort, giving you that chef's-kiss moment when you place it on the table.
  • The contrast between creamy goat cheese and tart fruit feels like a conversation in your mouth, each bite surprising you differently.
  • You can throw it together in 15 minutes, making it perfect for when you want to impress without spending your whole evening in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Temperature matters more than you'd think; take the goat cheese out of the fridge just 5 minutes before serving so it's creamy but still holds its shape when sliced.
  • Pit your cherries at least 30 minutes ahead so your hands don't stain the presentation, and keep everything cold in the fridge until the last moment.
  • Don't assemble more than 30 minutes before serving or the fruits will start to weep and the plate will look tired instead of elegant.
03 -
  • Use a very sharp knife to slice the goat cheese cleanly; a dull blade will drag and tear it, making slices look ragged instead of pristine.
  • Chill your serving platter for 15 minutes before arranging so everything stays fresh longer, and the cold surface keeps the cheese from softening too quickly.
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