A fruit basket is a great gift that most everyone will like. Fruit is colourful, delicious, and nutritious while also rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants. A basket full to the brim with fresh, ripe fruit makes a wonderful set piece for any table. Since fruit is something everyone can eat, no matter their dietary preferences or restrictions, it is a good source of healthy snacks at home as well as making a great gift for others.
While you can buy a gift fruit basket, it is not difficult to make one of your own which is not only a fun activity but will save you money. Following are the steps you need to follow to make a gift fruit basket.
- Choose Your Basket
You’ll need to choose a container to hold your fruit arrangement. Traditional baskets made from wicker are preferred but you can use almost any container that is sturdy, attractive, and large enough to hold the array of fruit you intend to fill it with. You could use, for example, bowls, pails, boxes, or gift bags but make sure to pay attention to the shape of the container to make sure it will hold well and attractively display the type of fruit you are using. - Create a Bottom Filler
You should build a cushion at the bottom of your basket from raffia strips, shredded paper, plastic grass or any other material that will provide a buffer between the bottom of the basket and the fruit. This will protect the fruit as well as provide support and display it to full advantage at the top of the basket. - Select Various Fruits
Choose the fruit you want to include in your fruit basket. You can choose the perennial favourites (such as apples, oranges, grapes and bananas) or be more adventurous and choose tropical or more unusual fruits if they are available. Before placing the fruit in the basket make sure that you wash it and dry it thoroughly so that the fruit can be eaten straight from the basket. - Include Some Additions
You might want to add some additional items to provide decoration for your basket. These could be nuts, dried fruits, candles, candies, decorative gourds, tea or even a bottle of wine. Use your imagination and what you know about the intended recipient to help you decide what to add to your basket. - Arrange the Fruit
Arrange the fruit in the basket by placing the largest and heaviest items at the bottom of the basket and make sure to place the biggest pieces of fruit in the centre. You should place smaller fruits around the large items and use the very smallest pieces (such as grapes, berries and dates, for example) at the very top and to fill in any gaps between the larger fruits. - Complete the Design of Your Basket
You can add decorative elements, such as a large bow and a ribbon around the edge and handle of your basket to complete your design. Finally you may want to include a card with gift fruit basket that is addressed to the recipient and includes a personal message.
