OREO Cookie Ball Apple Basket

The Thanksgiving tablescape calls for some adorable OREO Cookie Ball Apples in a homemade paper mini basket!  These are perfect for place settings and gifts!

I love harvest time.  It really helps me focus on all my blessings in life, and they are many.  It’s truly a time of thanksgiving when the fruit is ripe and ready to pick.  So to celebrate this time of beauty and bounty, I wanted to put together a treat package to represent all the glory of this gorgeous fall season.  I’m just soaking it all in, especially since we moved to the mountains where we get a firsthand look at the trees while they transition.

Because Thanksgiving is also on its way, this would make a wonderful conversation piece at the dinner table when set at each person’s place!  We may be hosting my sister and her family for the special feast in our home and I can’t wait to show these adorable apple baskets off!

So let’s get started! We’ll make the cardstock baskets first.

Cut 13 pieces of brown craft cardstock 1/2″ wide.  Lay four closely beside each other and then weave four more strips into those, going the opposite direction.  Make sure the ends all line up and the woven design is in the center.  Also be sure that the pieces stay close together to ensure a tightly woven design.  Place a hot glue dot in each corner to secure it in place.

Now fold up all four sides of strips, crease, then unfold.  Grab one more strip and start weaving it into one side.  Crease at the corner, then continue weaving it through the other sides, creasing it at the corners.  Place a hot glue dot at each corner to secure.  When you reach the end, make sure the remaining piece is inside the basket, trim, if necessary, and glue to the inside of the basket.

Repeat this process for the other strips.  You should end up with sides four strips high.  Glue in the corners and in other areas as necessary.  Trim the excess pieces so the top of the basket is even.  Grab one more strip, cut it to size, measuring it first inside the basket, and then glue it in place to form the handle.  Ta da!I realized after I had it all glued together that I made a mistake in my weaving, but it’s still super cute, and yours will be absolutely perfect, I’m sure.  🙂

Now let’s make the adorable OREO Cookie Ball Apples to go inside.

I picked up all my supplies at Walmart and then got busy in the kitchen!

Optional: I inserted broken straight pretzels into the OREO cookie balls before freezing them.  Then, after freezing them, I dipped them in melted white chocolate that I mixed with melted green and red candy melts in separate bowls.  I just used the pretzels as my handle when dipping.  Next, I sprinkled the red apples with red sugar crystals.  I cut some green candies and placed them next to the pretzels stems while the chocolate was still wet.

Aren’t they pretty?  I can just see the Thanksgiving guests already, ooohhhing and ahhhhing over these things!  Because how could you not? :)Oh how I love apples of the red and golden delicious variety, especially in chocolate and cookie form.  🙂

I’ll be making these in bulk before our turkey feast! I love me some fresh apples off the trees, but these little goodies sure give them a run for their money! 🙂

I love that they come together really quickly and sure make a statement, especially when placed in a cute DIY paper basket!These would also make great teacher gifts!  I think I’ll send a few with my kids to school before the Thanksgiving break.

Be sure to go HERE for more fun holiday OREO Cookie Ball recipes!Will you be hosting guests for Thanksgiving?  I’d love to hear all about it in the comments section below!