Buying guide for best cornucopia baskets
Fall décor just isn’t complete without a cornucopia basket. This horn-shaped vessel has been around for centuries and long predates Thanksgiving, but now it’s become a symbol of the autumn harvest and is frequently found on holiday tables. There are several different varieties of cornucopia baskets, from those that hold food to those that are more focused on décor, perhaps filled with leaves and flowers.
Before you add a cornucopia basket to your shopping cart, first consider a few factors. What do you plan to put in the basket? For example, if you want to use it for foliage, you’ll want a basket that can hold flower foam. Also think about the basket’s size, the material it's made of, and its color.
Regardless of your buying criteria, make sure your purchase is informed. You can learn more about the cornucopia basket’s origins and how to put one together in a good shopping guide, and a few recommendations will help simplify your shopping.
How to buy the best cornucopia basket
History
While we associate cornucopia baskets with Thanksgiving, they’ve been around since antiquity. The story of the cornucopia involves the Greek god Zeus. Because his father Kronos would eat his offspring, baby Zeus was hidden in a cave with Amalthea, a goat. When Zeus accidentally broke off one of Amalthea’s horns, it had the power to feed him endlessly.
The word “cornucopia” has Latin origins and translates as “horn of abundance.” For the past few centuries, the basket has been most linked with the Thanksgiving holiday, but it’s uncertain how the horn of plenty became associated with this holiday. It’s possible that European settlers adapted the horn-shaped basket from their homeland traditions and harvest festivals.
Assembling a cornucopia basket
Gather your basket and other items, such as gourds, fruits, flowers, and leaves, on a large work surface.
Start with the larger, heavier items, such as squash or gourds. Place the squash or gourd toward the center of the cornucopia, with the rounded end pointing outward.
Fill in the basket with other heavy items. Work them around the first item. Position each item firmly so that it stays in place.
Fill in around these heavier items with smaller items like flowers, wheat sheaves, and foliage. Remember that the items should appear to be spilling out of the basket. The cornucopia is a symbol of abundance, so it should be overflowing.
Edible vs. decorative
Part of the fun of assembling one of these baskets is that no two look the same. Most cornucopias fall into two categories: edible and purely decorative. Some combine both.
Edible: For the Thanksgiving holiday, it makes sense to have a cornucopia filled with food. Traditional North American harvest foods are excellent choices, including apples, baby corn, gourds, millet, and kale. You can also include a variety of nuts, fruits, and squash, with seasonal flowers for some added flair.
Decorative: If you prefer to go the decorative route, your cornucopia basket can be filled entirely with foliage, including autumn-colored leaves, sunflowers and other wildflowers, pumpkins and gourds, and flint corn (also known as Indian or calico corn). If you’re going to include a lot of flowers, it’s a good idea to put some flower foam in the basket first.
Size
Cornucopias range in size from tiny to massive. If you plan to fill the basket with produce or foliage, we recommend choosing a cornucopia basket that’s no smaller than 9 x14 inches.
Small cornucopia baskets are fun to decorate and fill with tiny wildflowers or flowers made of paper. Several 4-inch cornucopias make a fun craft project for a group, and everyone gets to take home their very own horn of plenty.
Materials
Wicker: The classic material for a cornucopia basket is wicker, or rattan. These baskets are environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and durable. They’re also lightweight. Most rattan baskets can be repurposed for various storage needs, though that can be challenging with the cornucopia’s distinct shape.
Ceramic: You might prefer a nontraditional cornucopia basket. Ceramic cornucopias are beautiful and many are handmade. A sturdy ceramic cornucopia basket is more durable than rattan, but it’s also heavier and breakable. Ceramic is a great choice if you care most about a good-looking vessel rather than what’s inside.
Metal: These cornucopias are also durable and can give your display a more modern look. You can see through many metal cornucopias, so you might want to line it with burlap or felt before arranging your gourds and flowers.
A Thanksgiving cornucopia makes an engaging kids’ table activity during the meal. Have the kids identify all the fruits, vegetables, and foliage in the basket. Include cornucopia coloring pages for more fun after dessert.
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Features to look for in cornucopia baskets
Color
Baskets tend to come in varying shades of brown or tan, and the same is true for cornucopias. Earthy brown tones are usually associated with these baskets. Rattan baskets range from light blonde to deep mahogany.
If you opt for a cornucopia made of ceramic or metal, you’ll see a greater range of colors. Metal baskets can be silver, bronze, and other metallic shades. Ceramic cornucopias can also be brown, though you’ll also find white, black, rust, green, and other autumn colors.
How to accessorize a cornucopia basket
Floral foam
Floral foam comes in handy if you plan to use real flowers in your cornucopia basket. The foam holds the flower stems securely while providing them with water. You can cut the foam to your desired size before soaking it in water.
Burlap
If you’re using a metal or open-weave basket you can see through, you can line it with burlap first. The fabric pairs well with the earthy, seasonal aesthetic of horn of plenty.
Serving platter
The "bounty" that spills out from your cornucopia basket can spread across the tabletop or onto a serving platter. For continuity’s sake, you can use a platter that matches the color of the basket.
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Customize your cornucopia basket! You can use spray paint, acrylic paint, glitter, and any other decorations you desire. Kids can join in the fun and decorate their own miniature baskets.
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How much do cornucopia baskets cost?
Inexpensive
Cornucopia baskets are fairly inexpensive. At the low end of the price range, you can expect to spend between $5 and $15. These baskets are small, probably 9 x 14 inches maximum, and made of wicker.
Mid-range
Spend $15 to $25 and your options encompass larger baskets, many of which are well-made and durable enough to last for years. You’ll also find some metal baskets and possibly a few ceramic ones, though they’ll likely be small.
Expensive
If you want to wow your guests with your Thanksgiving cornucopia, you might want to invest in one that costs $26 or more. You can choose from wicker, metal, and ceramic baskets, with some as large as 12 x 24 inches.
You can create an edible cornucopia with bread dough (even premade croissant dough), molded into a horn shape. Fill the cavity with foil so it holds its shape while baking.
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Tips
- Personalize your cornucopia basket. There are many items in traditional cornucopias, such as flint corn and squash, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fill yours with other items of your choosing. Add your favorite flowers and produce, whether or not they’re associated with fall and Thanksgiving.
- Stuff the tip of the basket with paper. To display as many of your cornucopia items as possible, fill the tip of the horn with some crumpled paper or aluminum foil so all your items are closer to the opening.
- Forage in nature for items for your basket. Step outside and see what wild leaves, flowers, grasses, and berries you can find for your basket. Then supplement those items with store-bought items. (We don’t advise eating the foraged items unless you’re positive they’re nontoxic.)
FAQ
Q. What do you use a cornucopia basket for?
A. Cornucopia baskets can be used for lots of things, but they’re primarily used as fall décor, and they’re especially popular around Thanksgiving. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t display yours year-round if you feel so inclined. Fill it with tulips and seasonal foliage and fruits for spring.
Q. Can cornucopia baskets be cleaned?
A. We recommend regularly cleaning your basket, especially if you want to put edible goodies inside it. Whether the basket is wicker, ceramic, or metal, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth dampened with warm water and a little mild soap. Be sure to dry a metal basket thoroughly to avoid corrosion.
