Pin it 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 first made a dessert board for a family holiday, and everyone loved the playful variety. Watching guests discover new favorite treats and combinations made the experience feel extra special.
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, ½ cup festive sprinkles or edible glitter (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare your board:
- Choose a large wooden board, platter, or tray as your base.
- Set out serving bowls:
- Place bowls or ramekins on the board for dips, spreads, and loose candies.
- Arrange baked treats:
- Arrange cookies, brownie bites, and cupcakes in small groups around the board.
- Add chocolates and themed snacks:
- Fill empty spaces with chocolates, candies, and themed treats.
- Fan out fruits:
- Fan out fresh fruits in colorful sections for visual appeal.
- Fill gaps and garnish:
- Add popcorn, marshmallows, and extra garnishes to fill any gaps.
- Sprinkle for decoration:
- Sprinkle edible glitter or festive sprinkles over the board for a finishing touch.
- Serve:
- Serve immediately, providing small tongs, spoons, and napkins for guests.
Pin it My kids love helping arrange the snacks and choosing their favorites, making dessert boards a new family tradition for celebrations and movie nights.
Required Tools
Large serving board or tray, small bowls or ramekins, spoons and tongs for serving, small plates and napkins make setup easy and ensure guests can serve themselves comfortably.
Allergen Information
This board may contain wheat, milk, egg, soy, and nuts depending on selected treats. Always confirm specific ingredients and provide allergy-friendly alternatives when needed.
Nutritional Information
Each serving contains approximately 350 calories, 15 g total fat, 50 g carbohydrates, and 4 g protein, offering a festive snack with variety for guests.
Pin it Create your own dessert board with favorite treats. Guests will love the opportunity to personalize their selections and share in the festive fun.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → What treats work best for themed dessert boards?
Choose baked goods, chocolates, candy-coated snacks, fresh fruit, and popcorn with festive designs or colors.
- → How can I adapt for dietary preferences?
Opt for gluten-free, vegan, or allergy-friendly treats and check all ingredient labels before arranging snacks.
- → Can I assemble ahead of time?
Portion dry items in advance, but add fresh fruit and dips just before serving to keep everything fresh and appealing.
- → What are creative ways to decorate?
Use edible glitter, colorful sprinkles, seasonal fruit slices, and themed candies to enhance your board’s visual appeal.
- → Which serving tools should I use?
Provide small tongs, spoons, bowls for dips, and napkins to ensure guests can serve themselves neatly and easily.
- → What beverages pair well with this board?
Serve with hot chocolate, coffee, sparkling drinks, or wine to complement the board’s sweet and savory treats.