Autumn Harvest Horn Plenty (Printable Version)

A festive centerpiece filled with dried fruits, assorted nuts, and rustic cheeses to celebrate the harvest season.

# 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
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)

# Directions:

01 - Place the wicker cornucopia basket or bread horn on a large serving platter or board.
02 - Fill the opening of the horn with cubes and slices of various cheeses, allowing some pieces to spill outward for visual abundance.
03 - Layer dried fruits and nuts around and spilling out of the horn, mixing colors and textures for an appealing display.
04 - Nestle rustic crackers and sliced baguette alongside the fruits and nuts in small bunches for easy access.
05 - Decorate with fresh rosemary, thyme sprigs, and edible flowers or seasonal leaves to enhance the harvest theme.
06 - Present at room temperature, inviting guests to select their preferred bites from the arrangement.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that does double duty as both stunning centerpiece and delicious appetizer, so you're not scrambling at the last minute
  • Everything is no-cook, which means you can assemble it hours ahead and actually enjoy time with your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen
  • The combination of textures and flavors—creamy cheeses, chewy fruits, crunchy nuts—keeps people reaching for more without ever getting boring
  • It naturally accommodates different diets and preferences, so vegetarians, gluten-free guests, and adventurous eaters all feel included
02 -
  • Assemble this no more than 4 hours before serving if you're using fresh grapes or ultra-soft cheeses—they can weep and create little puddles that make everything look tired instead of vibrant
  • If you're making an edible bread horn, wrap your cone form tightly in foil before shaping dough around it, otherwise you'll be wrestling with foil shards during the reveal, which is neither fun nor edible
  • The secret to this looking abundant rather than sparse is layering everything at slightly different angles and heights—everything should feel tumbled and generous, never neatly organized like a salad bar
  • Taste your cheeses before assembly so you know their personalities and can position your favorites where guests will naturally reach first, because the strongest flavors deserve prime real estate
03 -
  • Chill your cheeses for 20 minutes before cutting—they slice cleaner and handle the arrangement without getting fingerprints and sadness all over them
  • When you arrange, think in clusters rather than single pieces; three apricots together create more visual impact and abundance than one apricot separated from its siblings
  • A very light mist of honey drizzled over just before serving makes the whole thing glow and deepens all the autumn flavors without overwhelming them
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