Dessert Charcuterie Board - easiest dessert / snack - A Gouda Life (2024)

Dessert Charcuterie Board – how to make the easiest snack or dessert board perfect for game day, girls’ weekend, movie night, barbecues and parties.

This Dessert Charcuterie Board has some serious wow factor and couldn’t be easier to make.

Perfect for a crowd because there’s a little something to satisfy every sweet tooth.

It’ll be your go-to dessert for movie nights, game day (think Super Bowl party!), summer barbecues, birthday celebration or girls’ weekend.

A simple Dessert Charcuterie Board is a fun way to entertain with lots of great options.

Homemade, store-bought or a combination of treats – the choice is yours!

WHAT KIND OF BOARD IS BEST?

First you need a vessel for all these goodies.

Before you head to the store, look around your kitchen. Any wooden board, serving platter, tray — even a baking sheet works well.

Depending on the size of your crowd, a dessert platter will also work.

WHY MAKE A DESSERT CHARCUTERIE BOARD:

• A dessert charcuterie board is easy to customize.
• It feeds a crowd.
• You can use homemade sweet treats or store-bought so there’s no cooking involved.
• You can make it ahead of time.

WHAT DO I put on a desSERT CHARCUTERIE BOARD?

Homemade brownies or cookies, store-bought items, chocolates, fruit, dips – even cheese – which pairs perfectly with the fruit.

There are endless possibilites.Choose items with different colors, shape and texture for visual interest.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• fresh berries or other fruit
• chocolate covered strawberries and other fruit
• graham crackers
• chocolate-covered pretzels
• mini chocolate bars
• chocolate chip cookies
• mini cupcakes
• rice krispie treats
• dark chocolate
• your favoriteeasy recipes
• simple desserts from the grocery store

DIPS:

3-Ingredient Fruit Dip – blend plain Greek yogurt, creamy peanut butter and honey for a delicious healthy 5 minute fruit dip.

Nutella – this chocolatey hazelnut spread is always popular and a great dip for amost anything. Buy a jar at any grocery store.

Marshmallow Dip – another easy 3-ingredient dip. Blend marshmallow creme, cream cheese and a splash of vanilla extract.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE A DESSERT CHARCUTERIE BOARD:

1. Once you have your board, add a couple of small bowls for dips, nuts or other loose items.

2. Add larger items such as the goat cheese log topped with jam.

3. Place small bunches of grapes and other favorite fruits on the board near the dips.

4.Close in spaces with cookies, mini desserts or any homemade goodie (don’t forget a dusting of powdered sugar!)

5. Add the last of the fillers for any gaps on the board (popcorn or small candies are ideal for this).

You don’t need to cover entire board but you’ll want the majority of it filled.

CAN I MAKE THIS AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes – just add all items to the board that can be refrigerated including the dips.

• Wait to add crackers, popcorn, nuts or items that aren’t fridge-friendly until just before serving.
• Wrap really well – I use Cling ‘n Seal – then refrigerate.
• About 1 hour before serving, remove the tray from the refrigerator to come to room temp, uncover and add the rest of the items.

THEMED DESSERT CHARCUTERIE BOARDS:

Instead of a traditional charcuterie board or dessert charcuterie, try a themed board.

It’s the perfect dessert or snack board for any holiday parties and can be made completely with items from the grocery store.

SUPER BOWL:

This is the perfect dessert for a crowd but a few savory finger foods are great too!

• football shaped candies or other sweet treats
• gummy bears, M&M’s and foil wrapped candies in team colors
• savory snacks like buffalo snack mix, 3-ingredient saucy meatballs or spicy chicken wings

VALENTINES DAY:

• heart shaped crackers
• candy conversation hearts
• cheese cut into hearts
• salami “roses”
• red colored fresh fruit
• chocolate covered fruit
• foil wrapped hearts
• pink frosted cupcakes

GIRLS WEEKEND:

If it’s a girls’ weekend, there will be wine or mimosas. It’s sort of an unspoken rule.

Think of all the foods you enjoy while drinking wine:

• dark chocolate
• salted caramels
• a variety of cheeses, prosciutto or salami
• chocolate covered nuts
• chocolate truffles
• brunch charcuterie board (great for the next morning!)

MOVIE NIGHT:

• popcorn – buttered, cheese-caramel mix – make at home or buy a bag.
• everyone’s favorite treats and candies
• potato chips
• cheese dip and tortilla chips

EASTER:

• jelly beans
• foil covered chocolate eggs
• peeps
• sour gummy bunnies
• mini cheesecakes

THANKSGIVING:

• candy corn
• dried fruit
• pumpkin shaped candy
• orange slices
• anything pumpkin flavored
• salted nuts
• fall fruits such as apple slices, cranberries, figs and grapes are all a good choice
• Thanksgiving Apple Cider Sangria

FOURTH OF JULY:

• raspberries
• cherries
• strawberries
• blueberries
• brie cheese topped with any red jam
• yogurt covered pretzels
• blueberry goat cheese
• mini cheesecakes

CHRISTMAS CHARCUTERIE BOARD:

Think red and green for your Christmas dessert charcuterie board:

• Grinch cookies – bright green with a red heart made from cake mix
• Christmas cookies decorated with red and green sprinkles (homemade or store bought)
• red and green M&M’s
• candy canes
• mini Christmas tree shaped hummus pizzas
• citrus fruits peeled and segmented
• raspberries
• strawberries
• kiwi
• Christmas Margaritas

WHAT TO SERVE WITH A DESSERT CHARCUTERIE BOARD:

• a variety of red and white wines
• sangria
• co*cktails
• juice or other fun drink for the kids

Enjoy!

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