How to Create a Crowd-Pleasing Christmas Dessert Board

Nothing captures the magic of the Christmas season more than sharing holiday sweets with all the folks you're sweet on. And this bountiful dessert board is the ultimate way to share a variety of irresistible treats with a crowd. Best of all: It can be prepared in advance, which means dessert is ready when you are. With our guide, you’ll learn how to build a board around a special homemade touch, all while choosing your level of involvement. (Think semi-homemade and store-bought ingredients.) Remember, the options are endless when it comes to flavor combinations and Christmas colors, so feel free to get creative and choose your own sweet adventure.

Just as a painter begins with a blank canvas, creating this sweet masterpiece begins with a blank surface. Large wood boards, fancy silver trays, ceramic platters and marble slabs can all be used as the foundation for your sweet spread. Wooden cutting boards and marble slabs are wonderful multitaskers that go from kitchen workhorse to dessert display. Trays and platters which are rimmed can be filled to the brim with loose candies and treats that would otherwise tumble off the sides of a board. Both large and small boards can be used depending on your guest list, but keep in mind that larger boards create an impact with more room for variety.

Pinch bowls, little ramekins, condiment cups and petite plates are all adorable and functional on a dessert board. They’ll anchor together loose candies and other small ingredients that might easily roll around if not corralled. White ceramic dishes look best for creating a uniform look, and will allow your desserts to shine.

Homemade treats will make your board truly special — but that doesn’t mean you have to spend days in the kitchen. Our easy cheesecake and shortbread cookie recipes have plenty of holiday appeal. Even better, each recipe yields three different flavors from a single batch. This will help fill up real estate on your board without breaking the bank. As a general rule, plan 3 oz. portions per guest. This is a generous serving that might include 2 cookies and 2-3 bite-size nibbles of candy or other treats.