Save A festive, visually stunning arrangement of sweet treats and themed snacks, perfect for holidays or game nights. This customizable dessert board brings together a variety of flavors, textures, and colors for a memorable sharing experience.
I created my first dessert board for a family movie night, and everyone loved building their plates with their favorite treats. Now it's our go-to for celebrations, and the kids never tire of choosing new themes each time.
Ingredients
- Cookies & Baked Treats: 12 holiday or themed sugar cookies, 8 brownie bites or mini cupcakes, 12 chocolate-dipped pretzel rods
- Chocolates & Candies: 1 cup assorted chocolates (truffles, wrapped candies), 1 cup holiday or team-colored M&Ms or similar candy-coated chocolates
- Fresh Fruits: 1 cup strawberries (halved), 1 cup seedless grapes, 1 cup apple slices (tossed with lemon juice to prevent browning)
- Dips & Spreads: 1 cup chocolate fondue or hazelnut spread, 1 cup marshmallow fluff or vanilla yogurt dip
- Themed Snacks & Extras: 1 cup popcorn (drizzled with white chocolate or colored sprinkles), 1 cup mini marshmallows, 1/2 cup festive sprinkles or edible glitter (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Board:
- Choose a large wooden board, platter, or tray as your base.
- Set Bowls:
- Place bowls or ramekins on the board for dips, spreads, and loose candies.
- Arrange Treats:
- Arrange cookies, brownie bites, and cupcakes in small groups around the board.
- Add Chocolates:
- Fill empty spaces with chocolates, candies, and themed treats.
- Arrange Fruits:
- Fan out fresh fruits in colorful sections for visual appeal.
- Finish Board:
- Add popcorn, marshmallows, and extra garnishes to fill any gaps.
- Decorate:
- Sprinkle edible glitter or festive sprinkles over the board for a finishing touch.
- Serve:
- Serve immediately, providing small tongs, spoons, and napkins for guests.
Save At our last family holiday, we built a board together and everyone loved choosing their favorite cookies and candies. It's become a new tradition for gatherings with both kids and adults getting involved.
Required Tools
Large serving board or tray, small bowls or ramekins, spoons/tongs for serving, small plates and napkins.
Allergen Information
Contains wheat, milk, egg, soy, and possibly nuts depending on treats chosen. Always check ingredient labels for allergens. Adapt with allergy-friendly alternatives as needed.
Nutritional Information
Calories per serving: 350. Total Fat: 15 g. Carbohydrates: 50 g. Protein: 4 g.
Save This dessert board guarantees a cheerful table and happy guests. Have fun mixing flavors and colors to create the perfect spread for your gathering.
Recipe FAQ
- → How can I customize the dessert board for different occasions?
Adapt your board by swapping themed snacks, using holiday-specific colors, or adding team motifs for game nights.
- → What ingredients can be substituted for dietary needs?
Choose gluten-free cookies, vegan cupcakes, or alternative dips to suit dietary preferences and allergies.
- → How do I keep fruits fresh on the board?
Toss apple slices or other fruits with lemon juice to prevent browning, and assemble the board just before serving.
- → What drinks pair well with dessert boards?
Hot chocolate, coffee, sparkling wine, or fruit spritzers complement the sweet and savory variety.
- → What tools are helpful for serving?
Use a large tray, small bowls for dips, spoons, tongs, and napkins to facilitate easy sharing and tidiness.
- → Can this be made ahead of time?
Prep treats and assemble just before serving for freshest presentation. Store dips and fruits separately until ready.