Looking for a fun and easy summer dessert to make for your next party? Try making a dessert charcuterie board!
A traditional charcuterie board is a platter of food typically made up of a variety of deli meats, cheeses, and accompaniments such as dried fruits, nuts, and crackers.
But how about switching things up and creating a dessert board using the same concept? The board can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like and once you have the ingredients, takes no time to put together! It’s even great for those of you that don’t like to bake or don’t have the extra time because you can use all store-bought ingredients and still make a pretty impressive board.
Here are some great tips to get you started:
1. Think about the theme or colors of the party and the different types of foods you could use to play into that theme.
A movie night calls for all sorts of candies, chocolates, flavored popcorn, and soft pretzel bites with cheese. A Mexican fiesta board could feature a churro-inspired cupcake, colorful fruits and candies, or a spiced hot chocolate dip. A backyard barbecue-inspired board might include mini chocolate chip cookies, ants on a log, strawberry shortcake bars, or chocolate-covered pretzels.
2. Think about incorporating different textures and flavors—salty and sweet, crunchy and chewy, strong flavors vs milder and don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
Dips and sauces like caramel, fudge, or a chocolate hummus can be added in little jars or cups as well.
3. Keep the foods bite-size so that guests can choose multiple items to snack on.
Think mini cupcakes or cookies, cookie bars, or brownies cut into small squares, small candies, and fruits.
4. Once you have some basics in mind, look in the specialty aisle at your grocery store or even the local TJ Maxx for unique items to add to your board.
5. Choose a platter that won’t compete with the selected foods.
You typically don’t want to use a busy or patterned plate so that the foods themselves can be the focal point. You can even use a nice wooden cutting board or a white plate you might have sitting in your cabinet.
6. When arranging the board, keep the items in groupings or little piles and place contrasting colors next to each other to make the foods pop!
Also, think about adding some height to the board. by using mason jars to hold up taller items such as pretzel rods or licorice. You can place this in the center of the board as a focal point and build out from there.
7. Check out Instagram or Pinterest for inspiration.
There are so many beautiful boards and ideas on these sites—the possibilities really are endless!
8. Have fun!
This is a great activity if you want to get your kids interested in helping in the kitchen. Based on the tips above, I created a board perfect for a 4th of July or Labor Day party by choosing to play up the red, white, and blue theme! I included red raspberries, white jellybeans and marshmallows, and “blue” blackberries. I also added a few white chocolate-dipped strawberries and mini chocolate cupcakes iced in vanilla buttercream—both topped with red, white, and blue sprinkles for extra fun! Some other suggestions would include watermelon cut into star shapes, red candies such as licorice or m&m’s, white chocolate covered pretzels, popcorn, a dessert cheese, blueberries, blue m&m’s, or gummy bears.
Special thanks to Katie of Katie Cakes Cakery for sharing these tips! See more of Katie's work on her website, Facebook page, and Instagram.
