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 made a dessert board for our last family movie night and everyone was eager to build their own sweet plate, making memories together as we sampled the colorful treats.
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 the Board:
- Choose a large wooden board, platter, or tray as your base.
- Set Out Dips & Bowls:
- 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.
- Add Chocolates & Candies:
- Fill empty spaces with chocolates, candies, and themed treats.
- Decorate with Fruits:
- Fan out fresh fruits in colorful sections for visual appeal.
- Finish with Extras:
- Add popcorn, mini marshmallows, and extra garnishes to fill any gaps.
- Final Sprinkle:
- Sprinkle edible glitter or festive sprinkles over the board for a finishing touch.
- Serve:
- Provide small tongs, spoons, and napkins for guests. Serve immediately.
Save This dessert board brought out joyful laughter from our youngest, who proudly helped add sprinkles and arrange fruits for everyone to share.
Required Tools
Large serving board or tray, small bowls or ramekins, spoons or 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 if unsure and adapt with allergy-friendly alternatives as needed.
Nutritional Information
Each serving contains approximately 350 calories, 15 g total fat, 50 g carbohydrates, and 4 g protein.
Save Your guests will love building their own dessert plate from this vibrant board—perfect for parties or joyful family gatherings.
Cooking Questions
- → How can I customize the board for different holidays?
Swap out candies, sprinkles, and cookies in colors or shapes that match the holiday theme, such as red and green for Christmas or orange and black for Halloween.
- → What ingredients can be substituted for dietary restrictions?
Use gluten-free, vegan, or nut-free baked goods and candies. Fruits, popcorn, and yogurt dips are naturally adaptable to many diets.
- → How do I keep fruits fresh on the board?
Toss apple slices with lemon juice to slow browning, and arrange fruit just before serving to maintain freshness and visual appeal.
- → What drinks pair well with dessert boards?
Hot chocolate, coffee, and sparkling wine are great companions for sweet and savory treat boards, adding a festive touch to your presentation.
- → What serving tools are recommended?
Small tongs, spoons, plates, and napkins help guests easily sample treats and dips while keeping the board neat and inviting.
- → Can I prepare components ahead of time?
Most baked and candy items can be arranged ahead; add fresh fruit and any perishable dips right before serving for best quality.