Save to Pinterest A festive, visually stunning arrangement of sweet treats and themed snacks offers the perfect centerpiece for holidays or game nights. This dessert board features a customizable mix of flavors, textures, and colors for a memorable sharing experience.
I first started making themed dessert boards for family gatherings, where everyone loved sampling the variety of treats. Seeing the excitement as guests discovered their favorites made this tradition a highlight of our celebrations.
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
- Select Your Board:
- Choose a large wooden board, platter, or tray as your base.
- Arrange Bowls:
- Place bowls or ramekins on the board for dips, spreads, and loose candies.
- Place Baked Treats:
- Arrange cookies, brownie bites, and cupcakes in small groups around the board.
- Fill with Candies:
- Fill empty spaces with chocolates, candies, and themed treats.
- Add Fruits:
- Fan out fresh fruits in colorful sections for visual appeal.
- Add Snacks & Garnishes:
- Add popcorn, marshmallows, and extra garnishes to fill any gaps.
- Sprinkle 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.
Save to Pinterest Creating dessert boards together is a joyful activity in our house, especially when kids jump in to arrange the treats and sprinkle the final touches. It becomes both a dessert and a centerpiece for laughter and memories.
Required Tools
Large serving board or tray, small bowls or ramekins, spoons/tongs, small plates and napkins.
Allergen Information
Contains wheat, milk, egg, soy, and possibly nuts depending on treats chosen. Always check labels and adapt for allergy needs.
Nutritional Information
Each serving provides about 350 calories, 15 g total fat, 50 g carbohydrates, and 4 g protein.
Save to Pinterest Set out your dessert board just before guests arrive for the best presentation. Let everyone enjoy serving themselves and discovering new favorites.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → How do I arrange the sweet treats on the board?
Group similar treats together and use bowls for dips and candies, then layer fruits and popcorn to fill spaces. Garnish with sprinkles.
- → Can I personalize the board for different occasions?
Absolutely! Choose themed cookies, candies, and colors to match holidays or team events for a festive touch.
- → What dips work best for a dessert platter?
Chocolate fondue, hazelnut spread, marshmallow fluff, or vanilla yogurt dip pair well with cookies, fruits, and candies.
- → How do I make the board allergy-friendly?
Swap in gluten-free or vegan treats, and check candies for allergens. Add nuts or cheese if suitable for guests.
- → What drinks pair nicely with these snacks?
Hot chocolate, coffee, sparkling wine, or festive punch complement the sweet flavors and social atmosphere.