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Desert boards are super trendy nowadays. If you are planning to impress your family and friends by getting together then a dessert board is a perfect solution for you. They are not only visually appealing, but they also serve various foods that will satisfy different tastes. So, if you are looking for ideas for making your dessert board, I have gathered 30 ideas. These include a Chocolate dessert board, Holiday Season Dessert board, Charcuterie dessert board, Friends gathering dessert board, Birthday dessert, and seasonal and theme-based dessert board ideas. So, let’s begin!
Tools You Need to Make Dessert Board
The tools that you need to make a dessert board are
- Dessert trays: There are numerous types of trays that you can use which are Wooden , Marble , Slate and Ceramic.
- Serving Bowls: You can use ceramic bowls, Dome container cups, Ramekins bowls and mini serving dishes.
- Serving Tongs
- Serving Spoons
- Knives
- Icing bags and tips
- Edible Decorating Markers
- Label and Chalk Markers
- Fruit pick or Toothpicks
- Cutting Board
- Dessert Stands
Ingredients and Food You Need to Make Dessert Board
The ingredients you need to make a dessert board are as follows:
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- Assorted Chocolates: A dessert board is incomplete without chocolates. You can use chocolate truffles and dark, milk and white chocolate bars.
- Fresh fruits: Fresh fruits add a flavor, colorful and refreshing element to your dessert board. The best ones are seasonal fruits, especially ripe fruits. You can use fresh Berries (Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries), Grapes, apples, pears, melon, pineapple, kiwi, and oranges.
- Cookies and Biscuits: To add crunchy texture to your dessert you can use cookies and biscuits. These include chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, Macrons, shortbread cookies and biscotti.
- Roasted and chocolate-coated nuts: Almonds, Pistachios, walnuts, candied pecans, and sunflower seed.
- Dried fruits
- Honey
- Jam
- Cream
- Candies: These include Gummy bears, lollipops, caramel candies, Jellybeans and Marshmallows.
- Cheese: To balance the sweetness, you can use several types of cheese.
- Pastries and Mini Desserts: You can add Mini cupcakes, Mini cheesecakes, brownie bites, Mini Eclairs, cream puffs, and mini tarts to add an elegant touch to the dessert board.
- Pudding and Mousse: To add creamy elements use chocolate mousse, Vanilla Pudding, and fruit-flavored mousse.
Edible Decoration: You can use edible flowers, Sprinkles, and powdered sugar for decoration.
Dessert Board Ideas
There are many dessert board ideas that you can use and can easily make by following their recipes.
Ingredients:
- Pepperidge Farm Pirouette French Vanilla Crème Filled Wafers
- Nutella Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Dark Melting Wafers
- Skinny dipped Chocolate Almonds
- Smash Mallow Dark Chocolate Dipped Raspberry Marshmallows
- Snappers Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Clusters
- Ghirardelli White Chocolate Caramel Squares
- Brookside Dark Chocolate Pomegranate
- Justin’s Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps Dark Chocolate
- Voortman Chocolate Wafers
- 1-2 16 oz. packages of fresh strawberries
Instructions:
- First, prepare dark chocolate and add the chocolate Nutella to another small bowl and arrange both bowls close to the middle of your charcuterie board.
- Then, start adding the remaining ingredients to your board. Remember that there is no right or wrong way to design your board!
- Add a combination of whole and sliced-in-half strawberries to the fresh strawberries.
- When your board is fully stocked, start to serve and Savor!
Holiday Season Dessert board ideas
Ingredients:
- Fresh Fruit (Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries)
- Popcorn Balls (To prepare it 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/4 cup light corn syrup, 1 cup powdered sugar, 7 cups store-bought popcorn and 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste)
- Mini doughnuts and doughnut holes
- Salty Snacks
- Cookies and cakes
- Pound cake cubes
- Dried fruits
- Orange
- Chocolate fondue (To prepare you need 1 cup heavy cream, 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped, 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 1 tsp vanilla, and Liqueur to taste, optional)
- Sprinkles
Tips:
- First, prepare the chocolate fondue and then prepare the popcorn balls.
- Then, Stock all the ingredients on the board.
To make this dessert board you need to have these ingredients.
- Raspberry Star Cookies,
- Ginger Snowball Cookies, Holiday Shaped Cookies,
- French Macaroons,
- Biscotti,
- Trader Joe’s Peppermint Pretzel Slims,
- Trader Joe’s Jingle Jangle,
- Sugar-Glazed Lebkuchen Cookies
- Iced Gingerbread Cookies
- Mug of Hot Cocoa
- Snowflake Shaped Marshmallows
- Hammonds Ribbon Candy
- Snowman Gummies
- Peppermint Meringues
- Jelly Belly Holiday Mix
Charcuterie dessert board ideas
Chocolate Covered charcuterie Board
To make this you need grapes, chocolates covered strawberries, Pineapple, and watermelon.
Learn more about Christmas Charcuterie Boards
Friends gathering dessert board ideas
You can make this using a birthday cake, various cookies, and candies.
Formal event dessert board idea
Seasonal dessert board ideas for Summer
Famous themed dessert board ideas
Barbie Theme charcuterie Board
Prepare this for your mom on Mother’s Day:
Thanksgiving charcuterie board
What food items are typically included on a dessert board?
You can add a variety of food items according to your choice to the dessert board. You can add several types of chocolates, fresh fruit, cookies, biscotti, candies, tiny cupcakes, brownies, and much more to your dessert board.
What goes first on a charcuterie board?
Dessert board is an enjoyable and creative process. Here is a step-by-step process of it:
- First, select a base layer. Choose a large, flat surface, such as a wooden board, marble slab, or huge platter. If you want to use parchment paper, select one accordingly but it is optional.
- Then, place larger items like dessert cheeses.
- After that take small bowls for sweet dips and sauces in which you can add chocolate ganache, caramel sauce, or fruit preserves.
- Arrange the fresh fruits around the bowls and the large items you have placed. These fruits include berries (Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries), grapes, watermelon, kiwi, pineapple, sliced apples, and pears.
- Then add chocolates and sweets according to your choice.
- After that add nuts and dried fruits.
- You can also add crackers and bread after adding nuts.
- To decorate your dessert board, you can use decorative garnishes.
- To add the last touch, you can add honey and powdered sugar.
Building a Dessert Board: Where Do I Start?
When you are preparing a dessert board, always begin with selecting an idea of the type of dessert you want to make on which type of board you want to make dessert.
Tips And Tricks for Making the Best Dessert Tray
There are some tips and tricks that you need to follow while making the sweet treats:
- Balance Flavors: You must combine sweet, salty, and sour ingredients.
- Texture Variety: Mix crunchy, creamy, and chewy things.
- Seasonal Ingredients: For the finest flavor, use fresh seasonal fruits.
- Color Coordination: Arrange bright items on the tray to make it look more inviting.
- Portion Sizes: Make sure your portions are bite-sized for convenient eating.
- Complementary Pairing: Pair these foods together, such as cheeses and fruits or chocolates and almonds.
- Decorative touches: Garnish with edible flowers or mint.
- Organization: Begin with larger goods and work your way down to smaller delights.
- Temperature control: Keep ingredients refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Personal Touch: To add your delicate touch, use handmade goodies.
Can you make a dessert board ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dessert board ahead of time. Here are some pointers:
- Prepare the ingredients by washing and cutting fruits, slicing cheeses, and portioning out nuts and sweets.
- To keep goods fresh, store the wet and dry separately.
- Keep components in sealed containers to prevent them from drying out or becoming brittle.
- Keep perishable products in the fridge.
- Just before serving, assemble the board to ensure that everything appears fresh and appealing.
How far in advance can you prepare a dessert board?
You can make a dessert board up to a day ahead. Store perishables (such as cheeses and fruits) in the refrigerator and keep them apart from dry goods. Put the board together right before serving to guarantee its appearance and freshness.
Storage suggestions?
Store components individually in airtight containers: cookies in a cookie jar, sweets in sealed bags or jars, fruits in covered bowls, and cheeses in airtight fridge containers. To ensure that everything is tasty and fresh, arrange right before serving. Savor the delectable dessert board!
Making a dessert board is an enjoyable and creative way to impress your visitors. Whether you prefer traditional flavors, healthier selections, or themed delights, there is a dessert board suggestion for every occasion. Combine different items to create a visually beautiful and appetizing spread that everyone will love. Your next event will be a sweet success if you use these 30 dessert board ideas.
Written by: Alveena Nazir
