How to Make Fruit Topiaries

Lovely Fruit Topiaries Can Also Be Made Using Faux Fruit

Fruit topiaries do more than just create a focal point as a festive centerpiece. Your guests will thoroughly enjoy the luscious fruits, no matter what kind of event you're hosting. Quick and easy to make, these topiaries are also impressive additions to a "bring a dish" gathering, as well.

Things You'll Need

• Green styrofoam cone, 12" tall with a 4" base
• Serrated knife
• Toothpicks
• White glue
• 1 Fresh pineapple
• 2 qt Fresh large strawberries
• 1 lb Green grapes
• 1 qt Freshblueberries
• 1 package Fresh whole cranberries
• Assorted fresh fruits such as grapes, cantaloupe, kiwi, mango, pears, cherries
• 1 small package of Mini marshmallows
• Fresh grape leaves
• Inexpensive plastic compote dish

Instructions

1. 

   Cut about 1" from the tip of the styrofoam cone with a serrated knife. Apply some white glue to the underside of the base of the cone, and center it onto the compote plate. Allow the glue to dry completely before attaching anything to to the cone.

2. 

   Prepare the fresh fruits while the glued cone dries, beginning with washing all of them. Pat them dry. Remove the leaves from the strawberries. Peel the pineapple and cut it into bite-size chunks, reserving the stem and leaves. Cut any larger fruit such as pears, mangoes, and cantaloupe into bite-size pieces.

3. 

   Insert a toothpick half its length into the underside of the pineapple stem and leaves. Insert the remaining half of the toothpick into the top of the cone.

4. 

   Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries. Working from the top of the cone to the bottom, stick the other ends of these toothpicks into the cone in rows. Leave a couple of inches between the rows.

5. 

   Repeat Step 3 with grapes, positioning them directly below the rows of strawberries.

6. 

   Fill in the spaces between the rows of strawberries and grapes randomly by attaching miniature marshmallows and any of the smaller fruits and fruit chunks with toothpicks. Attach a few grape leaves with toothpicks here and there, or wherever you need a little something for gaps between fruits.

Tips & Warnings

• When attaching the strawberries to the styrofoam cone, use the smallest berries near the top, and end by using the largest ones at the bottom.

Resources

• Another Topiary Idea
• Make a Stunning Fall Fruit Topiary
• Helpful Forum