Edible Centerpiece Ideas

Edible centerpieces save you time and expense. Using some of the food that you are already planning to serve to your guests as the centerpieces is logical and is a common party-planning strategy. Fruit, cookies or candy decorate the center of your table and give your guests something extra to munch on during the dinner party. Have your guests eat the centerpieces as they wish, or offer to let them take the centerpieces home as party favors.

Fruit

Fruit bouquets make wonderful centerpieces. A fruit bouquet is made of a variety of different fruits cut and shaped into flower patterns and then placed on skewers so they can be arranged to look like an actual bouquet of flowers. Arrange the prepared fruit in vases to give the look of a bouquet. You can make them yourself or order them from specialty retailers.

Chocolate Extravaganza

Chocolate not only is a rich and yummy dessert that anyone would enjoy but also is a beautiful centerpiece. Arrange chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-covered pretzel sticks, chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles, and anything else chocolate that you may love in the center of your table. Arrange the chocolate-covered strawberries on one large platter or two smaller ones, depending on the size of your table. Place the chocolate-covered pretzels in a bread basket lined with a decorative hand towel. Stack the cupcakes on a tier platter. To add a little color to your delicious chocolate-colored treats, use mint leaves or fresh flowers as garnish. This centerpiece works well for light lunches where dessert can be eaten intermittently or when your guests finish with the main course.

Holiday Fun Treats

If you are throwing a dinner party around Halloween, clean out small pumpkins and fill them with apple slices that can be dipped in chocolate or caramel sauce. (Soak the apples in lemon water for an hour before placing them in the pumpkins to keep them from turning brown.) Place the dips in small glass candy bowls around the table for easy access. You may also want to include dishes of chopped nuts for additional toppings.

Gingerbread is a common centerpiece during the Christmas season. Make your own gingerbread houses from scratch, buy everything you need in a kit, or have them professionally made at a bakery. Either way, your guests will love them.

Candy Vases

Edible centerpieces make excellent decorations for weddings, birthdays or other special events. Fill tall glass vases with the guest-of-honor's favorite candies, such as individual chocolates, miniature candy bars, licorice or taffy. For weddings or bridal showers, you can also fill the vases with Jordan almonds, a popular wedding candy. Jordan almonds are sold at most wedding specialty stores and are available in a variety of colors to coordinate with those used for the event. For other celebrations, chocolate-covered nuts and mints are popular choices (for chocolate candies that are unwrapped, freeze them before placing them in the vases so they will not melt). Place these vases in the center of each table, and encourage guests to help themselves.

Cookie Bouquets

Cookies on a stick or cookie bouquets come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, depending on what you are looking for, and are a delicious and appetizing way to decorate a table for any holiday or special occasion. Cookie bouquets can be party favors for your guests to take home, but first use them as your centerpieces. Check with your local bakery to see if they make cookie bouquets, or order them online and have them delivered.

References

• YouTube: How to Make a Fruit Bouquet
• Cvent: Another Benefit of Edible Centerpieces