Autumn Harvest Horn Centerpiece (Print View)

Festive centerpiece with dried fruits, nuts, cheeses, and crackers for autumn gatherings.

# Components:

→ Fruit & Nuts

01 - 1 cup dried apricots
02 - 1 cup dried figs
03 - 1 cup dried cranberries
04 - 1 cup dried apple rings
05 - 1 cup seedless grapes (optional)
06 - 1 cup walnuts
07 - 1 cup pecans
08 - 1 cup almonds

→ Cheeses

09 - 6 ounces aged cheddar, cubed
10 - 6 ounces creamy goat cheese, sliced
11 - 6 ounces rustic blue cheese, crumbled
12 - 6 ounces aged gouda or similar hard cheese, cubed

→ Crackers & Bread

13 - 2 cups rustic crackers or gluten-free crackers
14 - 1 small baguette, sliced

→ Garnishes

15 - Fresh rosemary sprigs
16 - Fresh thyme sprigs
17 - Edible flowers or seasonal leaves (optional)

→ Cornucopia Base

18 - 1 large wicker cornucopia basket or homemade edible bread horn (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Place the cornucopia basket or bread horn on a large serving platter or board.
02 - Position cubes and slices of cheese inside the opening of the horn, allowing some pieces to spill outward to create an abundant appearance.
03 - Layer dried fruits and nuts around and spilling out of the horn, mixing colors and textures for visual appeal.
04 - Tuck crackers and sliced baguette along the sides or in small clusters among the fruits and nuts.
05 - Decorate with fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs and optionally with edible flowers or seasonal leaves.
06 - Present at room temperature, allowing guests to select their preferred pieces.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a centerpiece that doubles as appetizers, so your guests are already snacking while admiring your table
  • Zero cooking required means you can spend time with family instead of being stuck in the kitchen
  • The combination of sweet dried fruits, savory cheeses, and crunchy nuts creates a flavor story that keeps people coming back for more
  • It's naturally vegetarian and can easily accommodate dietary preferences by swapping ingredients
02 -
  • Don't assemble this more than 2 hours before serving—dried fruits and nuts can start absorbing moisture from the air, and cheeses can begin to sweat, especially goat cheese and soft varieties
  • If you're making an edible bread horn from scratch, cool it completely before filling, or the cheese will start to melt and slide around
  • Taste your cheeses before buying—aged cheddar can range from pleasant to aggressively sharp, and blue cheese varies wildly. Choose what speaks to you and your guests
  • The most visually stunning arrangements happen when you repeat elements throughout rather than clustering them in one spot
03 -
  • Toast your nuts lightly in a dry pan for 3-4 minutes before serving if you want them to taste fresher and more vibrant—the aroma alone will make people think you've been cooking all day
  • If you want to make this ahead, prepare all components separately and assemble within 2 hours of serving to maintain cheese texture and cracker crispness
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