Pin it A festive, visually stunning arrangement of sweet treats and themed snacks, perfect for holidays, parties, 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 holiday party, and everyone loved the interactive serving style. It quickly became my go-to for gatherings because guests always enjoy picking their favorites and trying something new 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)
- 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 your serving board:
- Choose a large wooden board, platter, or tray as your base.
- Set out bowls for dips and candies:
- Place bowls or ramekins on the board for dips, spreads, and loose candies.
- Arrange baked treats:
- Group cookies, brownie bites, and cupcakes around the board in small clusters.
- Fill in chocolates and candies:
- Add assorted chocolates, candy-coated treats, and themed snacks into empty spots.
- Display fresh fruits:
- Fan out sliced strawberries, grapes, and apple slices in separate colorful sections.
- Add popcorn and extras:
- Scatter popcorn, mini marshmallows, and extra garnishes to complete the look.
- Finish and serve:
- Sprinkle with edible glitter or festive sprinkles and serve immediately with tongs, spoons, and napkins.
Pin it Our last game night featured a board with team-colored candies and seasonal fruits. Seeing everyone gather around and share laughs while choosing their treats was such a sweet family moment.
Required Tools
You'll need a large serving board or tray, small bowls or ramekins for dips, spoons or tongs for serving, and small plates plus napkins for guests.
Allergen Information
This board may contain wheat, milk, egg, soy, and nuts depending on the treats selected. Be sure to choose allergy-friendly alternatives for guests with dietary concerns.
Nutritional Information
Each serving contains around 350 calories, 15 g total fat, 50 g carbohydrates, and 4 g protein.
Pin it A dessert board is sure to impress at any gathering. Enjoy putting together your favorite treats and watching guests dive in!
Common Questions
- → How can I choose the best snacks for my dessert board?
Select a mix of baked treats, chocolates, candies, and fresh fruits. Match colors and flavors to your chosen theme for visual appeal.
- → What is the best way to arrange items for a striking presentation?
Place dips in small bowls first, then group cookies and brownies. Fan out fruits, scatter candies, and fill spaces with themed snacks and sprinkles.
- → How do I keep fruits on the board looking fresh?
Toss apple slices with lemon juice to prevent browning, and add fruits at the last minute before serving for maximum freshness.
- → How can I adapt for dietary restrictions?
Use gluten-free, vegan, or allergy-friendly sweets and dips. Double-check ingredients and offer nut-free and dairy-free options as needed.
- → What drinks pair well with a dessert board?
Hot chocolate, coffee, sparkling wine, or fruit punch complement the sweet treats and encourage festive sharing.
- → What tools are essential for serving?
Provide small serving tongs, spoons, plates, and napkins so guests can easily help themselves to treats.