Dessert

Festive Dessert Board with Cookies, Fruits, and Chocolates Recipe

BySophie Carsel January 7, 2026January 7, 2026

Introduction

Create a festive and fun dessert board packed with a variety of sweet treats perfect for any holiday or themed celebration. This customizable snack board combines cookies, brownies, candies, fresh fruit, and more for an impressive and shareable dessert display.

A large white rectangular tray is filled with many colorful treats arranged in sections. There are layers of plain popcorn on the bottom right and top left corners. Near the popcorn are multicolored round candies scattered in the center, surrounded by sprinkled ring-shaped cookies in green, white, and colorful dots on them. Fresh red strawberries are placed in various spots along the edges along with bright green grapes and red apple slices. There are yellow lemon-shaped candies near the strawberries, and chocolate-covered pretzel sticks lie in a neat bundle near the top right. Small round chocolate-covered treats and white frosted cookies are spread throughout. A clear round bowl filled with melted chocolate is located near the top right corner with a spoon inside it. Everything sits on a white marbled surface with a glass of liquid and some gold metal forks nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

12 sugar cookies, holiday or themed
8 brownie bites or mini cupcakes
12 chocolate-dipped pretzel rods
1 cup assorted chocolates such as truffles or wrapped candies
1 cup M&Ms or similar candy-coated chocolates, holiday or team-colored
1 cup strawberries, halved
1 cup seedless grapes
1 cup apple slices, tossed with lemon juice
1 cup chocolate fondue or hazelnut spread
1 cup marshmallow fluff or vanilla yogurt dip
1 cup popcorn, drizzled with white chocolate or colored sprinkles
1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup festive sprinkles or edible glitter for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Select a large wooden board, platter, or tray as the base for arranging the snacks.
Step 2: Place small bowls or ramekins on the board for the dips, spreads, and loose candies to keep things tidy.
Step 3: Arrange the sugar cookies, brownie bites, and mini cupcakes in groups around the board for easy access.
Step 4: Fill the spaces between the baked treats with assorted chocolates, M&Ms, and chocolate-dipped pretzel rods to add variety.
Step 5: Fan out the halved strawberries, seedless grapes, and apple slices in colorful sections to add fresh flavor and visual appeal.
Step 6: Scatter the popcorn and mini marshmallows in any remaining gaps to fill out the board.
Step 7: Sprinkle festive sprinkles or edible glitter over the entire board to give it a finishing festive touch.
Step 8: Provide small tongs, spoons, and napkins for guests, and serve the dessert board immediately to enjoy at its freshest.

Tips & Variations

Use seasonal fruits or candies to match the theme or holiday you’re celebrating.
Swap chocolate fondue for salted caramel or fruit jam to offer different dipping options.
Add nuts or pretzel sticks for extra crunch if desired.
Try colorful yogurt or cream cheese-based dips for lighter options.

Storage

If not serving immediately, cover the board tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one day. Keep fresh fruit separate to prevent sogginess. Reassemble just before serving and avoid reheating to maintain the best texture and flavor.

How to Serve

A large white rectangular tray filled with many colorful snacks arranged in sections. Starting from the top left, there is white popcorn next to red strawberries, yellow lemon-shaped candies, green grapes, and two white meringue cookies with brown dust on top. Below that, there are chocolate pretzel sticks, more strawberries, and apple slices with red skin. Center layers show multicolored candy balls, white frosted cookies, sprinkled chocolate donuts in green and red bases, and clusters of chocolate-covered nuts. The bottom right corner holds more white popcorn and a glass bowl filled with smooth dark chocolate sauce with a spoon inside. The tray sits on a white marbled textured surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare the dessert board in advance?

You can assemble most of the board up to a day ahead if refrigerated and wrapped tightly. Keep fresh fruit and delicate items separate until just before serving for best quality.

What can I use if I don’t have a wooden board?

A large platter, baking sheet, or even a sturdy tray works well as a base. Just make sure it’s big enough to hold all the snacks and easy to carry for serving.

Sophie Carsel