I’m creating this post in partnership with Walkers Shortbread! If you have never tasted their shortbread you have to try it. It is so buttery and sweet, and absolutely addictive! It is the perfect addition to your dessert charcuterie board. They are tasty dipped in ganache or peppermint whip, but also just on their own! I’m snacking on a bag as I write this. It’s probably going to be gone soon :) You can grab your own from their holiday collection! So, raise your hand if you know what a charcuterie board is? My mom called me one day last year and told me they announced at church that they were going to have a meet-and-greet after the next Sunday school, with some French food. “Chatanook? Chartalane?” I thought it was so funny. I’m very much aware of food trends going on because well, it’s kind of my job to know food stuff, but sometimes I forget that not everyone knows about obscure entertaining trends. Trust me, Mom, you are not the only one! I remember the first time I saw someone build a charcuterie board. My friend Glory from Glorious Treats made one for a brunch we were having with some friends. She kept adding more and more until the whole board was filled, and then we feasted. It was so good, and also just really impressive and pretty! Who knew throwing a bunch of finger food all together on a board could be so fun?? A dessert charcuterie is basically a bunch of finger-food desserts and candies, all piled onto a big board and artfully arranged. It’s meant to be eaten, of course, but it’s also meant to be a beautiful centerpiece for your party or gathering. It’s a good way to let your creativity shine! They are so easy to put together, and everyone loves them. 4. Add small treats and candy and nuts at the end. Make sure to fill any gaps in your board. Feel free to leave your candy wrapped if it has a colorful paper. It can be a pretty accent and is good for adding texture to your board. I added some pistachios to a small bowl to give the board more height and interest. But you can also just make a pile on the board itself, like I did with the pecans. 5. Add garnishes. I added in some fresh rosemary to bring in some color, as well as fresh cranberries and crushed candy canes. Add texture. By this I mean use whatever materials you have available to make your board look less flat and dull. Add interest and height by putting candy or nuts into small bowls, layering a certain item on a bit of parchment paper, or including items like the English toffee or nonpareil chocolates that are naturally textured. Use different shapes. All of the Walkers Shortbread that I used for this board are great for adding different shapes: the gingerbread men, the shortbread fingers, and the stars all add interest. The pretzels add their fun twisty shape. The meringues add their beautiful swirl. Repeat items for balance. It’s pretty to repeat items throughout the board. You can see how I’ve added the gingerbread men to a little mini bucket layered with parchment paper to add texture. But I also added more gingerbread men in pairs of two or three in other places throughout the arrangement. Peppermint Whip. This is literally just some cool whip with crushed peppermint added in. It may not sound like much, but it was one of my favorites! (If you are a cool whip hater, you can just beat some heavy cream until it’s stiff.) By the way, don’t be afraid to dip the gingerbread into the peppermint. Ginger and peppermint is one of my favorite Christmas flavor combos! Check out these cookies and these gingerbread bars! Marshmallow Dip. This is a classic recipe that people usually dip fruit into. (But not us. We’re dipping shortbread. AND IT’S AMAZING.) The recipe is just one package of cream cheese beat together with one jar of marshmallow creme. I added in a little powdered sugar and vanilla too. It’s so ridiculously good. This one was Eric’s favorite. I think he’s eaten an entire army of gingerbread men with this dip since I made it. I love Walkers Shortbread because it’s a super tasty treat that feels gourmet on my dessert board, but I don’t have to lift a finger to make it. There is enough going on during the holidays! All the fun shapes they have are perfect for adding interest to your board. I hope you get to try out making your own dessert board this holiday season! They really are so much fun and will totally impress your guests.
More like these Dessert Board Ideas!
Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries « these would be really fun to add to a dessert charcuterie board! Easy Strawberries and Cream Appetizer « the easiest appetizer ever, and it’s so good. The Easiest Sugared Cranberries « a great way to add texture and color to your dessert board! Two-Ingredient Sugar Free Fruit Dip « this is easy and tasty! Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites « I love making these for the holidays Mint Chocolate Covered Almonds « these are so pretty and fresh The Perfect Fall Charcuterie Board from TidyMom How to Build a Dinner-Worthy Charcuterie Board from Snixy Kitchen Patriotic Charcuterie Board from Amanda’s Cookin How to Build a Charcuterie Board from Simply Home Cooked
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Valentine’s Day « yogurt covered pretzels, chocolate covered strawberries, all the heart shaped chocolates you can find, thumbprint almond raspberry cookies, red foil wrapped chocolate roses, cheesecake stuffed strawberries, marshmallows, madeleines (I love buying these from Costco), sugar cookies or chocolate sugar cookies in the shape of hearts (either use royal icing on these or add a bowl of red or pink homemade buttercream as a spread!), conversation hearts, pink, white, and red candies (like M&Ms), chocolate truffles, pink and red roses for garnish (and, technically the petals are edible!), heart shaped boxes and bowls for containers (check the dollar store!)
Easter « yogurt covered pretzels, all the colors and shapes of Peeps, jelly beans, Cadbury eggs, sugar cookies or chocolate sugar cookies in the shape of bunnies, eggs, chicks, and flowers (either use royal icing on these or add a bowl of pastel tinted homemade buttercream as a spread!), pastel macarons, madeleines, orange slices, Reese’s eggs, peanut butter filled pretzel bites, small foil-wrapped Ghirardelli chocolate rabbits (they make little foil wrapped chocolate carrots too, they’re so cute!), lemon sandwich cookies, mini decorative birds nests and six-egg cardboard cartons for containers
St. Patrick’s Day « rice krispie treats with green sprinkles, fudgy mint chocolate brownies, mint chocolate chip cookies, green grapes, dried kiwis, rainbow sour belts, marshmallows, gold foil wrapped chocolate coins, Chessmen cookies, sugar cookies or chocolate sugar cookies in the shape of shamrocks (either use royal icing on these or add a bowl of green homemade buttercream as a spread!), Rolos, mint oreos, Lucky Charms, Andes mints, black cauldrons for containers (check the dollar store at Halloween and be prepared!)
4th of July « cheesecake stuffed strawberries, marshmallows, rice krispie treats dipped in white chocolate with patriotic sprinkles, cinnamon bears, yogurt covered pretzels, Twizzlers, fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries with a bowl of cream cheese frosting for dipping, red white and blue Sour Patch Kids, squares of angel food cake, patriotic M&Ms, Ghirardelli white chocolate squares, chocolate covered blueberries (with a deep blue candy coating), Swedish fish, blue gummy sharks, red hots (or these thin and crispy sugar cookies with a red hot in the middle!) Halloween « spooky-shaped pretzels, sugar cookies or chocolate sugar cookies in the shape of bats, pumpkins, witches’ hats, or other spooky shapes (either use royal icing on these or add a bowl of orange, purple, or black homemade buttercream as a spread), candy corn and candy corn pumpkins, peanut butter cups, clementines (they look like little pumpkins!), ghost-shaped Peeps, caramel popcorn, apple cider doughnuts or pumpkin doughnuts, fresh figs, dried pineapple, blackberries, apple slices and caramel sauce, meringue cookies, chocolate dipped pretzel rods, black cauldrons for containers (check the dollar store!)
