Turn A Pumpkin Into The Cutest Thanksgiving Treat That Doubles As Decor

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The foodies among us know a secret that those who are less enamored with vittles might not. Tasty treats done right are every bit as pretty on a Thanksgiving table as centerpieces made from ribbons and flowers. The trick to unlocking the decorative potential of foods lies in knowing which ones to use and which holiday-themed visuals to create. Take the common pumpkin. Add skewers of fruits like grapes and strawberries, plus a deftly cut pear and pepper, and you've got a decorative appetizer that's shaped like a Thanksgiving turkey. It's a fruity treat that becomes a perfect piece of Thanksgiving decor for your table. 

The pumpkin you use for this centerpiece can be a medium to large size. A round one is best if you can find it because it'll make the turkey's body look plump. As you're shopping, you might see pumpkins that look like they've been flattened on one side — If you find one of those, buy it. The flat side gives the centerpiece a solid base to stand on. Further, you can use a regular orange pumpkin for this, but you'll give your Thanksgiving decor an extra pop if you swap out the orange gourd for a blue or white heirloom pumpkin. The blue would make an especially pretty bird because it would look like a stylization of a real turkey's dark body feathers.

For this edible display, you're also going to need some decorative fruits. Grab grapes, strawberries, apples, a pear, some raisins, and a red or orange pepper. Material-wise, you'll need some common kitchen tools, like fruit skewers, toothpicks, a large cutting board, and a sharp knife. 

To begin, you'll need to make the pumpkin stable before you add the skewers to it. This bird is designed so that the pumpkin's stem gets cut and becomes the turkey's hind end. If you didn't find a pumpkin with a flat side, then you need to slice off a part of the gourd's side to create the turkey's base. If you've ever made a fruit skewer display out of a watermelon and cut part of the rind to make the melon sit flat, you'll understand how to trim the shell of the pumpkin, too.

Skewers, like HOPELF Natural Bamboo Skewers, adorned with grapes and topped with whole strawberries become the feathers for the tail. To add more color, swap some of the strawberries out for sliced star fruit, pineapple, or melon. Stick the skewers into the back part of the bird's body, fanning them out so that they mimic the look of the bird's tail feathers. Next, slice apples into quarters, place them on toothpicks, and position them in front of the bird's tail feathers.

For the head, start by cutting the pear in half. Then, cut a cube of apple and a long strip from the pepper. These parts, plus two raisins, become the turkey's face. Pin these elements onto the pumpkin with toothpicks and use the rest of the pepper to make the bird's feet. Finally, lay some kale or grape leaves on a platter and set your turkey on that to make a breath-taking pumpkin Thanksgiving display for your table. Your guests can marvel at your creativity while they dine on the skewer feathers.