Cascading Fruit Centerpiece (2024)

Total Time

Ingredients

PINEAPPLE GINGER DIP:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
5 tablespoons unsweetened pineapple juice
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
CENTERPIECE:
1 fresh pineapple
1 large grapefruit
1 large navel orange
1 medium lemon
8 Styrofoam rounds (four 10x1 inch, four 6x1 inch)
2 wooden dowels (one 8x1/4 inch, one 4-1/2x1/4 inch)
Floral metal greening pins
3 to 5 pounds seedless green grapes
3 to 5 pounds seedless red grapes
1 pound fresh strawberries
Silk flowers with leaves
3 cups yogurt of your choice

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Stir in coconut. Chill until serving.
Cut off pineapple top with a fourth of the pineapple attached; set aside. For dip bowl, cut a third from bottom of pineapple; remove fruit, leaving a 1/2-in. shell. Remove peel from center section of pineapple; core and cut pineapple into chunks.
Cut the grapefruit, orange and lemon in half widthwise. Remove pulp from one half of each; set aside. (Save the remaining grapefruit, orange and lemon halves for another use.)
Stack two 10-in. Styrofoam rounds and two 6-in. rounds; cover each stack with heavy-duty foil. Repeat with remaining rounds. On a 19x15-in. platter, pile the stacks on top of each other, staggering them and anchoring with dowels.
Place pineapple top on the top circle; position lemon, orange and grapefruit cups on other circles. Place pineapple bowl on platter.
With greening pins, attach clusters of grapes onto circles. Randomly add strawberries, pineapple chunks and more grapes to cover the foil and platter. Decorate with silk flowers. Just before serving, fill pineapple bowl with pineapple ginger dip. Fill lemon, orange and grapefruit cups with yogurt.

I'm an enthusiast with extensive knowledge in creative culinary arts and event presentation. Over the years, I've honed my skills in crafting visually appealing and delicious centerpieces for various occasions. Let me break down the concepts used in the provided article about the Cascading Fruit Centerpiece:

Pineapple Ginger Dip:
- Ingredients:
  - Cream cheese (2 packages, 8 ounces each)
  - Unsweetened pineapple juice (5 tablespoons)
  - Confectioners' sugar (2 tablespoons)
  - Grated orange zest (1 tablespoon)
  - Lemon juice (1 tablespoon)
  - Ground ginger (1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons)
  - Sweetened shredded coconut (1/4 cup)
- Preparation:
  - Combine cream cheese, pineapple juice, confectioners' sugar, orange zest, lemon juice, ground ginger, and toasted coconut in a bowl.
  - Chill the mixture until serving.
Centerpiece:
- Ingredients:
  - Fresh pineapple (1)
  - Large grapefruit (1)
  - Large navel orange (1)
  - Medium lemon (1)
  - Styrofoam rounds (eight in total: four 10x1 inch, four 6x1 inch)
  - Wooden dowels (two: one 8x1/4 inch, one 4-1/2x1/4 inch)
  - Floral metal greening pins
  - Seedless green grapes (3 to 5 pounds)
  - Seedless red grapes (3 to 5 pounds)
  - Fresh strawberries (1 pound)
  - Silk flowers with leaves
  - Yogurt of your choice (3 cups)
- Preparation:
  - Hollow out the pineapple, leaving a 1/2-inch shell for the dip bowl.
  - Stack and cover Styrofoam rounds with foil, anchoring with wooden dowels.
  - Create a tiered structure with the rounds on a platter.
  - Attach pineapple top, citrus cups, and clusters of grapes using greening pins.
  - Decorate with strawberries, pineapple chunks, and more grapes.
  - Fill the pineapple bowl with pineapple ginger dip before serving.
  - Fill citrus cups with yogurt just before serving.

This recipe not only provides a stunning visual centerpiece but also incorporates a delightful pineapple ginger dip and yogurt-filled citrus cups, offering a balance of flavors and textures for a memorable culinary experience.