A dessert charcuterie board is a fun and festive to celebrate holidays without too much effort! A big board filled with store-bought and homemade goodies, cookies and candies, mini cupcakes, and fresh fruit makes it the perfect stress-free dessert for entertaining.

Dessert charcuterie board filled with cookies and candy.

IN THIS POST

I love hosting parties and firmly believe that sweet and savory snacks are the key to a successful party. I usually serve a beautiful cheese board or a mezze board, but this time, I decided to create a sweet charcuterie board to go with it.

This is a fun and easy dessert for holidays and special occasions. It’s the easiest dessert you’ll ever make and a great way to combine and serve your favorite treats.

My guests were thrilled to choose what they loved, as there is something for everyone. The joy of customization is what makes a dessert charcuterie board special. I’m already planning my next charcuterie dessert board, and I can’t wait to see what tasty treats I come up with next!

If you’re a fan of themed boards, you’ll love my Christmas dessert board, complete with gingerbread cookies and peppermint bark, or my Halloween charcuterie board, featuring spooky-shaped cookies and gummy worms. And for those cozy winter nights, there’s nothing better than a hot chocolate board with all the fixings!

Dessert board filled with candy and chocolate.

What to Put on a Dessert Charcuterie Board

The sky is the limit regarding what you can put on a dessert charcuterie board. However, deciding what to add to your board can take time and effort. To help you, I’ve listed some of my favorite items:

Use a mix of store-bought items and homemade items for the best board. You can easily make this board gluten-free and vegan if you need.

Candy

Candy is a good choice for a dessert platter because it’s a colorful, flavorful, and easy store-bought treat. Here are some ideas:

Chocolate bars
Gummy bears or gummy worms
Mini candy bars
Fluffy homemade marshmallows
Chocolate truffles
Peanut butter cups

Cookies

Who doesn’t love cookies? They’re a good choice for a dessert platter because they’re sweet, crunchy, and easy to eat. They also come in different sizes and shapes to go with the platter. Here are some of my favorite recipes and store-bought ideas:

Sugar Cookies
Meringue Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Wafer Cookies
Spritz Cookies
Rice Krispie treats

Popcorn and Pretzels

Popcorn is an excellent addition to a dessert board because it’s a light, crunchy, and salty snack. We also love to add pretzels to the board for dipping. Here are some suggestions:

Chocolate-covered pretzels
Yogurt-covered pretzels
Candy-coated popcorn
Caramel Corn

Chocolate Covered Fruit

Chocolate-covered strawberries or fruit is a healthier option that satisfies your sweet tooth. The chocolate helps balance the sweetness of the fruit, and it’s a great way to get your daily dose of antioxidants! Here are some options:

Dark chocolate cherries
Chocolate-covered strawberries
Milk chocolate-filled raspberries

Fresh Fruit

Fruit is an excellent addition to a dessert charcuterie board because it adds color, flavor, and texture. The sweetness of the fruit pairs well with the sweetness of the dessert and helps balance the richness. Plus, it’s a healthy option for your guests! Here are some suggestions:

Grapes
Fresh Berries
Apple slices, Pears, and Orange slices

Dried Fruit, Candied Fruit, and Dehydrated Fruit

All of these look beautiful on a platter. Candied fruit can be found in the snack aisles of your local grocery store. We love the different textures and flavors these fruits bring to a platter.

Candied oranges
Candied pineapple
Dehydrated strawberries
Dried orange slices

Chocolate dip on a candy platter with fruit and caramels.

Dips

If you want to elevate your dessert charcuterie board, add dessert dips! Nutella and caramel are always a hit, but you can use any dip.

Marshmallow Dip – A fluffy, sweet dip perfect for dipping fruit, cookies, or pretzels. This is our tried-and-true recipe, and we always make it! It works perfectly, and it’s great for desserts.
Caramel Sauce—This rich, creamy caramel sauce is perfect for dipping apples, pears, or graham crackers.
Chocolate Ganache—This rich chocolate dip is perfect for dipping strawberries, graham crackers, or pretzels.

Cheese

There are a few reasons why cheese is a great addition to a dessert charcuterie board.

First, it adds another layer of flavor and texture.
Second, it helps to balance out the sweetness of the dessert.
Third, it gives your guests something to nibble on between the sweets.

Chocolate truffles and caramels on a charcuterie platter for dessert.

More Themed Dessert Board Ideas

When planning a party, my first advice is to pick a theme. Nothing is better than having a theme to play off of when preparing food, drinks, and decor! It just makes everything so much fun.

So, when it comes to dessert platters, I love making themed boards for holidays or specific celebrations. There are endless possibilities for boards and platters.

Thanksgiving Desserts Platter—Inspired by fall, this platter is filled with chocolate-covered turkeys, fruit, and beautiful fall treats. Serve it with a stunning Thanksgiving appetizer platter.

Easter Dessert Platter – We lay down on this platter with an edible straw before adding all the incredible spring candy and Easter bunnies!

Valentine’s Day: Make a romantic board with pink and red candy, chocolate-shaped hearts, and cookies!

Halloween Dessert Platter – This dessert platter has all the best Halloween candy, cookies, and fruit! Fill it with spooky items, like gummy brains and Halloween jello shots. Keep the colors green, orange, purple, and black to match the theme. Serve it with our Halloween cheese platter.

Mother’s Day: Make mini mom cakes for the middle of the board and then fill the board with treats and delicious, colorful candy.

Cookie wafers and cookies served on a platter for dessert.

How Much Candy and Desserts Per Person

As a general rule, I recommend:

For a small group (under 12 people), I recommend one to two cups of candy and dessert per person.

For a larger group (over 12 people), I recommend one cup of candy and dessert per person.

Have less candy and dessert per person if you serve other dessert options.

However, if you’re not serving other dessert options, we recommend having more candy and dessert per person.

If you have leftovers, store them in Tupperware or Ziploc bags. Extra treats always come in handy.

Dessert charcuterie with cookies and nuts and chocolate-covered fruit.

Let me know if you make this simple dessert charcuterie board by leaving a comment and review below. You can also tag me on social with your gorgeous dessert charcuterie board!

You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to see more delicious recipes, cocktails, desserts, and parties!

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Easy Dessert Charcuterie Board