Pin 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.
We first made this dessert board for a family movie night and everyone was thrilled to pick their favorite treats. It quickly became our go-to for holiday gatherings and game days!
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 Serving Base:
- Choose a large wooden board, platter, or tray as your base.
- Add Bowls & Ramekins:
- 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 Candies & Chocolates:
- Fill empty spaces with chocolates, candies, and themed treats.
- Display Fresh Fruits:
- Fan out fresh fruits in colorful sections for visual appeal.
- Fill Gaps with Extras:
- 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.
Pin Our kids love helping to design the dessert board, especially when we use team colors for game night or add seasonal treats for birthdays and holidays.
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. Check labels and adapt with allergy-friendly treats.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
Calories: 350, Total Fat: 15 g, Carbohydrates: 50 g, Protein: 4 g
Pin This dessert board will be the star of your next party! Feel free to mix and match treats to suit your celebration theme.
Recipe FAQ
- → How can I customize the dessert board for holidays?
Choose cookies and candies in colors or shapes that match the holiday, and use themed sprinkles or edible glitter for decoration.
- → What are suitable substitutes for vegan or gluten-free guests?
Swap in vegan cookies, gluten-free brownies, dairy-free chocolates, and fruit-based dips to meet dietary needs.
- → What tools are needed for assembling the board?
Use a large serving board, small bowls for dips, tongs, spoons, plates, and napkins to help guests serve themselves easily.
- → How do I keep fresh fruit looking appetizing?
Toss apple slices with lemon juice, use halved grapes and strawberries, and add fruits just before serving for best freshness.
- → Can I prepare the dessert board ahead of time?
Most components can be arranged a few hours in advance, but add fresh fruit and garnishes just before serving for optimal texture and color.
- → How do I avoid common allergens?
Check ingredient labels for nuts, gluten, dairy, or soy, and offer allergy-friendly alternatives if needed for guests.