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A dessert charcuterie board is the easiest way to celebrate any occasion! Filled with cookies, truffles, candy, and fresh fruit, it’s a beautiful, stress-free centerpiece that you can customize for birthdays, holidays, or cozy nights with friends.
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Pin ItI’ve always believed that sweet and savory boards are the secret to a great party, and dessert charcuterie boards are my favorite! They’re simple to make, endlessly customizable, and always a showstopper—perfect for birthdays, holidays, game nights, or just because.
Now for the fun part—here’s everything you can add to create a show-stopping dessert board!
Table of Contents
- What to Put on a Dessert Charcuterie Board
- How to Assemble a Dessert Charcuterie Board
- Store-Bought Treats for Your Dessert Charcuterie Board
- Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
- Serving Guide
- Eden’s Dessert Board Tips
- Dessert Charcuterie Board Ideas and Themes
- More Platters and Boards You’ll Love
- Dessert Charcuterie Board Recipe
What to Put on a Dessert Charcuterie Board
Mix store-bought treats and homemade goodies for the best spread! Here are my favorite picks:
- Candy: Chocolate bars, truffles, mini candy bars, gummy bears, marshmallows.
- Cookies: Sugar cookies, chocolate chip, meringues, Rice Krispie treats.
- Popcorn + Pretzels: Chocolate-covered pretzels, caramel corn, yogurt pretzels.
- Chocolate Fruit: Chocolate-covered strawberries, cherries, or raspberries.
- Fresh Fruit: Grapes, berries, apple slices, candied oranges.
- Sweet Dips: Marshmallow dip, caramel sauce, or chocolate ganache.
- Cheese: A little brie or goat cheese for a sweet-and-savory twist!
How to Assemble a Dessert Charcuterie Board
Choose Your Base: A large wooden board or platter is your foundation.
Layer Larger Items First: Begin by placing larger treats like cakes or pies in focal points, then add height with small stands or bowls.
Arrange by Color and Texture: Group items by color for visual appeal and mix textures to keep it interesting (smooth, crunchy, creamy).
Fill Gaps with Smaller Items: Use candies, nuts, or popcorn to fill in empty spaces and create a cohesive look.
Add Dips and Garnishes: Include small bowls of sweet dips and garnish with fresh herbs or edible flowers for an elegant touch.
Store-Bought Treats for Your Dessert Charcuterie Board
Adding store-bought treats to your dessert charcuterie board makes it so much easier to put together while still looking and tasting incredible! Here are a few of my favorite healthier options to include:
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
- Prep Early: Arrange cookies, candy, chocolates, and nuts up to 24 hours ahead. Cover tightly and keep at room temp.
- Fresh Fruit: Wash, slice, and store fruit the day of your event for the best flavor and look.
- Dips: Make sweet dips like ganache or caramel 1–2 days ahead. Let them come to room temp before serving.
- Add Last-Minute Items: Save chocolate-covered fruit, berries, and frozen treats for just before guests arrive.
- Leftovers: Store cookies and candy in airtight containers at room temp, dips in the fridge for up to 5 days, and eat chocolate-dipped fruit within 24 hours for best texture.
Serving Guide
Here’s a quick guide to how much dessert you’ll need:
- 6 guests: 6–8 cups of assorted treats
- 10 guests: 10–12 cups
- 20 guests: 20–25 cups
If the dessert board is the main dessert, plan for 1–2 cups per guest. If serving alongside other sweets, ½–1 cup per person is perfect.
For a balanced board, include:
- 3–4 types of cookies or baked goods
- 2–3 chocolate or candy varieties
- 1–2 types of fresh fruit
- 1–2 sweet dips
- A handful of nuts or salty snacks for contrast
Bite-sized treats make it easy for guests to sample everything without feeling overwhelmed!
Eden’s Dessert Board Tips
Pick the Right Board: Use a large wooden board, marble slab, or festive-shaped platter (like a heart or pumpkin) big enough for all your treats and easy guest access.
Mix Textures and Heights: Combine crunchy cookies, soft truffles, chewy candies, and crisp fruit. Use small bowls or cake stands to create height and make your board pop.
Stick to a Color Scheme: Seasonal colors look amazing—pastels for spring, brights for summer, warm tones for fall, red and green for winter.
Balance Sweet and Salty: Add pretzels or nuts for contrast—it keeps things interesting and enhances all the sweet flavors.
Make It Easy to Serve: Add tongs, spoons, or picks so guests can easily grab sticky or delicate treats without mess.
Watch the Temperature: Save chocolate-covered fruit, berries, and other melt-prone treats for last-minute placement, especially in warm weather.
Label When Needed: If you have homemade goodies or items with nuts, label them so guests with allergies know what’s safe.
Dessert Charcuterie Board Ideas and Themes
Picking a theme makes your dessert board even more fun! Here are some ideas:
- Thanksgiving: Fill your board with chocolate-covered turkeys, fall candies, and caramel-dipped apples.
- Easter: Add pastel candies, marshmallow bunnies, and edible straw for a springtime feel.
- Valentine’s Day: Create a romantic board with pink and red candy, chocolate hearts, and heart-shaped cookies.
- Halloween: Use spooky candies, gummy brains, Halloween cookies, and stick to orange, purple, green, and black.
- Mother’s Day: Center mini cakes on the board and surround them with colorful sweets and fresh flowers.
More Platters and Boards You’ll Love
If you love easy entertaining ideas, here are a few more platters to check out!
I’d love to see your dessert charcuterie board! Leave a comment with your favorite treat combos, or tag me on social media so I can celebrate your beautiful creations!
You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to see more delicious recipes, cocktails, desserts, and parties!
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Dessert Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
Candy
- 1/4 cup chocolate-covered cherries
- 8 truffles
- 6 caramels
Cookies
- 10 chocolate chip cookies
- 10 lemon cookies
- 10 wafer cookies
- 6 meringue cookies
- 15 chocolate covered pretzels
- 6 palmier cookies
Fruit
- 6 whole candied orange slices
- 8 whole strawberries, sliced
- 8 dehydrated strawberries
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup blackberries
Nuts
- 1/4 cup candied walnuts
- 1/4 cup pecans
Instructions
- Set your base: Choose a large wooden board, platter, or marble slab.
- Add dips first: Spoon caramel sauce, marshmallow dip, or ganache into small bowls and place them on the board to anchor the layout.
- Layer larger items: Arrange bigger treats like cookies, small cakes, and large candies around the dips.
- Fill with smaller treats: Add chocolate truffles, peanut butter cups, berries, and dried fruits to fill in gaps.
- Add salty elements: Sprinkle in pretzels, nuts, or salty popcorn for contrast and texture.
- Finish with fresh elements: Place fresh fruits like grapes, strawberries, or apple slices last so they stay crisp and vibrant.
- Garnish: Add fresh herbs (like mint) or edible flowers for a beautiful final touch.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What a fun and great idea! 🙂