Cornucopias: Not Just for Decoration

A table with fall decorations with a memo that says
One of the most common images associated with Thanksgiving is the cornucopia. According to Wonderopolis, “the cornucopia serves as a symbol of abundance. In the United States, it most commonly appears as a centerpiece at Thanksgiving. Some historians suspect the cornucopia's place at the Thanksgiving table was borrowed from the European harvest festivals, where farmers celebrated by filling a goat's horn with grain and fruit.”

We thought it would be fun to invite residents of our Liv Ahwatukee Apartments community in Phoenix, AZ to make their own cornucopias. Today, we’re sharing two different ways to make a cornucopia: non-edible and edible.

Non-Edible (from Thanksgiving.com)

“Start with a simple wicker cornucopia basket, available at your local craft supply store. Aim to find one that is at least five inches tall at the mouth, so that you’ll have plenty of room to fill it with a variety of festive goodies.”

For this project, you’ll need the following items:

— A large serving tray
— Colorful fall leaves (fake or real)
— Raffia or straw
— Burlap fabric
— Assorted fruits and vegetables. Because these can spoil, you can always use fake fruits and vegetables.

Instructions:

— Line your serving tray with burlap and create small folds or bundles so that the surface remains flat, but slightly uneven. Tuck corners under the tray, and allow loose edges to fall naturally. Sprinkle a layer of fall leaves on top of the burlap to complete your base.
— Place your wicker basket flat side down on top of the burlap and leaves.
— Use a handful of straw or raffia to stuff the wicker basket no more than an inch high, creating a soft bed for your fruits and vegetables.
— Start to place the largest items into the basket first. Add smaller fruits and vegetables to the outer rim, allowing looser items like grapes and nuts to overflow out of the mouth.
— Continue to tuck in fruits and vegetables until the cornucopia is full, and use any remaining nuts or leaves to fill empty spaces or holes between the produce.
— As a last finishing touch, tie a bow around the pointed end of the cornucopia to add a splash of color.

Edible (from Allrecipes)

This cornucopia is made completely out of bread. If you’re looking for the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner table, then this is it! When finished, you can fill the cornucopia with fruits and vegetables or freshly baked rolls.

Have you ever made a cornucopia? Share your ideas, tips, and tricks in a comment below. Thanks for reading. Happy Thanksgiving!

A table with fall decorations with a memo that says