Peppermint Stripe Celebration (Printable)

A vibrant platter combining fresh cheeses, red fruits, and savory accents for festive gatherings.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine or bocconcini)
02 - 7 oz white cheddar cheese, sliced
03 - 7 oz Havarti cheese, sliced

→ Red Accents

04 - 5.3 oz sliced strawberries
05 - 5.3 oz raspberries
06 - 3.5 oz cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
07 - 3.5 oz roasted red bell peppers, sliced

→ Savory Meats (optional)

08 - 5.3 oz thinly sliced salami
09 - 3.5 oz prosciutto

→ Crackers & Bread

10 - 5.3 oz water crackers
11 - 3.5 oz baguette slices

→ Garnishes

12 - Fresh mint leaves, for decoration
13 - Microgreens or edible flowers (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Arrange a large rectangular or circular serving platter as your base.
02 - Starting at one edge, arrange a row of white cheese such as mozzarella balls or cheddar slices.
03 - Place a row of red components, like sliced strawberries or raspberries, adjacent to the white cheese.
04 - Continue layering alternating rows of white and red elements including cheeses, tomatoes, roasted peppers, and optional meats to form clear stripes.
05 - Insert rows of water crackers and baguette slices between some stripes to enhance texture and variety.
06 - If using, roll salami slices into rose shapes and tuck them into the red stripes for visual appeal.
07 - Decorate with fresh mint leaves to evoke the peppermint essence and add microgreens or edible flowers if desired.
08 - Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before presenting.

# Tips from the Pros:

01 -
  • It takes just 25 minutes to create something so visually stunning that people assume you spent hours in the kitchen
  • The alternating stripes of red and white feel like pure holiday magic, turning a simple platter into the centerpiece everyone remembers
  • You can customize it endlessly based on what you have on hand—it's forgiving and flexible, just like good entertaining should be
02 -
  • Moisture is your silent enemy on this platter—pat absolutely everything dry before it touches the board. Wet berries, wet peppers, or damp cheese will create dark spots that ruin your color story. I learned this the hard way when my beautiful platter looked spotted within an hour. Now I pat everything with paper towels, sometimes twice.
  • Assemble this no more than 2 hours before serving. The longer it sits, the more the colors bleed into each other slightly, and the fresher elements begin to weep. There's a window of time when this platter is absolutely perfect—hit that window and you're golden.
03 -
  • Ask your cheese counter to slice everything for you at the thickness you want—most delis will do this happily, and it saves you 10 minutes and ensures uniformity that's almost impossible to achieve at home
  • Arrange this platter on a slightly chilled board if your kitchen is warm—a cool surface keeps cheeses from sweating and helps everything hold its shape and color vibrancy longer
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