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 first made this dessert board for a family game night and loved seeing everyone pick out their favorite treats. Kids especially enjoyed helping assemble and decorate the board with festive sprinkles.
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, ½ cup festive sprinkles or edible glitter (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the base:
- Choose a large wooden board, platter, or tray as your base.
- Set up containers:
- 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 candies:
- Fill empty spaces with chocolates, candies, and themed treats.
- Place fresh fruits:
- Fan out strawberries, grapes, and apple slices in colorful sections for visual appeal.
- Fill gaps with extras:
- Add popcorn, mini marshmallows, and extra garnishes to fill any gaps.
- Garnish:
- 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 As a family, we love choosing themes together for our dessert boards, making each get-together more special. It has become our favorite way to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and game nights at home.
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. Adapt with allergy-friendly alternatives as needed.
Nutritional Information
Per serving: Calories 350, Total Fat 15 g, Carbohydrates 50 g, Protein 4 g
Save Try building your own themed dessert board and let everyone join the fun. This simple platter adds a delicious, eye-catching centerpiece to any celebration.
Recipe FAQ Section
- → How can I customize dessert boards for different themes?
Select cookies, candies, and decorations in specific colors or shapes to match the holiday or team you're celebrating.
- → What fruits work best for sweet boards?
Choose crowd-pleasers like strawberries, grapes, and apples. Toss apples with lemon juice to prevent browning.
- → Can I make the board allergy-friendly?
Yes, substitute gluten-free or vegan treats and double-check labels for nuts, wheat, milk, soy, or egg ingredients.
- → Which dips pair well with sweet snacks?
Chocolate fondue, hazelnut spread, marshmallow fluff, or vanilla yogurt are tasty, versatile options for dipping.
- → What drinks pair well with dessert boards?
Hot chocolate, coffee, or sparkling wines make delicious companions for a sweet snack board at gatherings.
- → How should I arrange treats for best presentation?
Group similar items, fan out fruits, use bowls for dips, and fill gaps with small candies or garnishes for color and texture.