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Homemade Thanksgiving Cornucopia

& Thanksgiving Hostess Gift Ideas

Thanksgiving cornucopia

A Thanksgiving cornucopia makes a lovely centerpiece for your holiday table as well as a great Thanksgiving hostess gift. You can order a cornucopia from a florist or from a gift basket supplier. There are several different themes available, such as fresh flowers, gourmet foods, or sweets.

My favorite Thanksgiving cornucopia centerpiece is one filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts in the shell. And, you can make it yourself. If you choose to give this a try, here are the steps I use for making a fruit and vegetable filled Thanksgiving cornucopia:


  • First of all, purchase a traditional wicker horn of plenty basket.

  • For the actual assembly, place the empty basket on a tray so it is moveable.

  • gourds
  • Use a filler material, such as clean straw or purchased shred in an autumn color, to fill in the horn part of the basket. You may also place small amounts between the fruits to keep the pieces in place.

  • Place larger fruits like apples and firm pears in first. Then add smaller fruits or veggies such as miniature pumpkins and gourds, hot red peppers, tangerines, and small bunches of grapes. Fill in any gaps with nuts in the shell and fresh cranberries. I like to include a few clear wrapped caramels, too.

  • Instead of overfilling your Thanksgiving cornucopia, place several pieces of fruit, veggies, and nuts on the tray.
DECORATIVE TIPS:
    cranberries
  • Choose fruits and vegetables of different colors such as orange, red, yellow, and other fall colors. Also, a variety of sizes.


  • Add a sprig or two of artificial leaves in the basket or on the tray. If you prefer to use real leaves, twigs, or pine cones, make sure they are clean and bug-free.

Thanksgiving Hostess Gift Ideas

Place any of these gift suggestions in a small basket or other container:

Start by lining the basket or container with shred, straw, a terry towel, or paper Thanksgiving napkins. You can also use a paper shredder to shred brown paper or construction paper in an appropriate color.

Appetizers such as cheese, salami, crackers, mustard, or olives.

Beverages such as a small can of gourmet coffee, tea bags, and shortbread cookies.

Holiday scents such as spice, apple, pumpkin, and bayberry. Add a small bag of spice scented potpourri; look for a mix with dried apples, cinnamon sticks, or clean pinecones. Or search online for a recipe and make it yourself.

Snacks such as pretzels, dried fruit, nuts, and candy. For a decorative touch add a small bag of candy corn.

Keep it simple by choosing a natural color wicker basket with a handle and fill it with a variety of colorful apples. The only thing you may want to do is place a pretty terry cloth towel in the basket so the apples don't roll around and get bruised.

Recipes For Holiday Food Gifts

For those of you who prefer to give homemade gifts, below are links to several pages of this website that are nice Thanksgiving hostess gift ideas. These food gifts can be standalone gifts or place in a gift basket. Many of the recipes have decorative gift suggestions.

White Chocolate Cookies With Dried Cranberries -- Gift In A Jar
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies With Dried Cranberries
mug gift Pumpkin Bread Recipe -- Gift In A Mug
Cranberry Bread Recipe
Mini Muffin Recipe With Dried Cranberries
Date Nut Bread Recipe -- Mini Loaf
Carrot Cake Recipe -- Baked In A Mug
Caramel Apple Recipe
Spiced Tea Mix -- Gift In A Jar
Cappuccino Mix Recipe -- Gift In A Jar

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