Autumn Harvest Horn Plenty (Print View)

A vibrant harvest display featuring dried fruits, nuts, and cheeses, ideal for festive autumn gatherings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ 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 oz aged cheddar, cubed
10 - 6 oz creamy goat cheese, sliced into rounds or logs
11 - 6 oz rustic blue cheese, crumbled
12 - 6 oz 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)

# Method:

01 - Position the wicker cornucopia or bread horn on a large serving platter or board.
02 - Place the aged cheddar, goat cheese, blue cheese, and gouda inside the opening, allowing some pieces to spill outward for visual abundance.
03 - Layer the dried apricots, figs, cranberries, apple rings, seedless grapes, walnuts, pecans, and almonds around and spilling from the horn, mixing colors and textures attractively.
04 - Nestle crackers and baguette slices along the sides and intersperse them among the fruits and nuts.
05 - Decorate with fresh rosemary, thyme sprigs, and optional edible flowers or seasonal leaves for a festive appearance.
06 - Present at room temperature and allow guests to select their preferred bites.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter that doubles as a functional appetizer—your guests will Instagram it before they eat it, and that's okay.
  • Requires zero cooking skills or actual cooking, which means you can focus entirely on the arrangement and presentation.
  • The flavors are naturally complementary—creamy cheese against tart cranberries, buttery nuts against sweet figs—without a single element feeling out of place.
  • It works for any gathering from intimate dinners to large celebrations, and you can adjust quantities and ingredient choices based on what you love.
02 -
  • Don't wash dried fruits before arranging them—they're meant to look substantial and a little dusty, which actually makes them appear more abundant and artisanal.
  • Cut your cheeses into larger, more irregular pieces rather than perfect cubes. Rustic chunks look more generous and are actually easier to balance in the arrangement.
  • Assemble this no more than 2 hours before serving. The arrangement stays fresh and beautiful, but the dried fruits can start to look tired if they sit uncovered too long.
03 -
  • Chill your cheeses for 30 minutes before cutting and arranging—they'll hold their shape better and look more defined in the final composition.
  • Arrange the cornucopia in the location where it will be served. Moving it afterward risks losing your careful composition and the herbs shifting out of place.
  • If you're using a wicker basket, line it first with parchment or a food-safe cloth to prevent any small pieces from falling through the weave.
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