Dessert Charcuterie Board (Printer-Friendly)
An elegant spread of fruits, chocolates, cookies and dips arranged for sharing at parties and gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fresh Fruits
01 - 1 cup strawberries, halved
02 - 1 cup seedless grapes
03 - 1 cup raspberries
04 - 1 cup blueberries
05 - 1 kiwi, sliced
→ Chocolates and Sweets
06 - 4.2 oz dark chocolate squares
07 - 4.2 oz milk chocolate truffles
08 - 3.5 oz white chocolate bark
09 - 1 cup chocolate-covered pretzels
→ Cookies and Pastries
10 - 4.2 oz shortbread cookies
11 - 3.5 oz macarons, assorted flavors
12 - 4.2 oz mini brownies or blondies, cut into small squares
→ Dips and Spreads
13 - 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
14 - 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
15 - 1/2 cup caramel sauce
→ Nuts (optional)
16 - 1/2 cup candied pecans
17 - 1/2 cup roasted almonds
# How-To Steps:
01 - Rinse all fresh fruits under cold running water and pat dry thoroughly with clean paper towels. Hull and halve the strawberries, slice the kiwi into thin rounds, and leave grapes, raspberries, and blueberries whole.
02 - Transfer the chocolate hazelnut spread, marshmallow fluff, and caramel sauce into individual small serving bowls. Place these bowls on the board first to establish anchor points for the arrangement.
03 - Distribute the prepared fruits in vibrant clusters at several points around the board, creating natural color contrast and visual balance between the dip bowls.
04 - Arrange dark chocolate squares, milk chocolate truffles, white chocolate bark, chocolate-covered pretzels, shortbread cookies, macarons, and mini brownies in decorative groupings around the fruits and dips, varying heights and textures.
05 - Scatter candied pecans and roasted almonds across the board for added crunch if desired. Tuck smaller items such as extra berries or pretzels into any remaining gaps to create a full, abundant presentation.
06 - Present the board immediately for best results, or cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature until ready to serve.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Zero cooking means you can pull this together in under half an hour without breaking a sweat or dirtying a single pan.
- The sheer variety guarantees every guest finds something they gravitate toward, from the fruit lovers to the full chocolate devotees.
02 -
- Wet fruit will make your chocolates sticky and your cookies soggy, so dry everything thoroughly before it touches the board.
- Placing the dip bowls first and building outward is the trick that keeps the arrangement balanced instead of lopsided.
03 -
- Odd numbers look better on a board, so group items in threes or fives for a naturally appealing arrangement.
- Taste your fruit before you put it on the board because one tart strawberry can throw off a perfectly lovely bite.