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    Home » Dessert Recipes

    January 24, 2023 Christmas Recipes

    Dessert Charcuterie Board

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Dessert Charcuterie Board is an easy way to make a dessert spread that is great for a crowd, has something to suit everyone's tastes, and looks beautiful. It's also easy to swap out ingredients if there is something else you'd like to include! This Dessert Charcuterie Board is centered around a chocolate dip with the idea that everything on the board is ideal for dipping.

    A full Dessert Charcuterie Board with a bowl of chocolate dipping sauce in the middle.

    This board includes Homemade Coconut Marshmallows, but you can also use store-bought marshmallows. Jumbo size tends to be better for dipping in chocolate!

    If you're looking for other dessert items that could work well on this board, check out these Candied Orange Slices or these Chocolate Covered OREOs.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • How to make a charcuterie board
    • How to brulée marshmallows
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • Recipe FAQ
    • Dessert Charcuterie Board

    As always, I do include a few affiliate links in this post for products I truly use and love. This just means that if you make a purchase after clicking one of those links, I'll earn a little money (at no cost to you) to keep the kitchen up and running, which I promise to use to create more fun content like this! One of those affiliates is with Amazon, which requires a very clear disclosure: as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you have any questions about affiliates, please reach out!

    Ingredients

    This Dessert Charcuterie Board is very flexible, but these are a few of the key items I used to make it.

    Ingredients for a Dessert Charcuterie Board in small bowls.
    • Dark Chocolate: This is for the chocolate dipping sauce. If you prefer to use milk chocolate, you certainly can. Do use high-quality chocolate (I used Lindt 70% Dark Chocolate). It's the star of the show and high-quality chocolate will make the whole board taste better.
    • Strawberries and blackberries: These are both great for dipping in chocolate, but you could also use blueberries, or another fruit of your choice. This is an opportunity to think about the colors on your board. The red of the strawberries is a nice pop next to the dark purple of the blackberries! I also recommend trimming and halving the strawberries so they are very easy for dipping.
    • Cookies: I used LU Petit Écolier cookies, but you could use any cookie you like. Think about shape and size here. You don't want to use a cookie that is too big as it will take up a lot of space on your board, but also you want to have smaller things on the board so people can try multiple items (and not eat just one cookie).
    • Ritz crackers: These are a great salty addition for that salty-sweet kick. Of course, they're delicious on their own, but they're also great in the chocolate dip.
    • Mini pretzels: These are another nice salty option. Mini pretzels work well, but you could also use another shape if you prefer.
    • Marshmallows: I used Homemade Coconut Marshmallows for this board, but you could also use regular Jet-Puffed Marshmallows. I do recommend jumbo marshmallows; the minis are harder to control for dipping.

    See full recipe below for detailed instructions.

    Instructions

    There is very little actual cooking with this Dessert Charcuterie Board, and that's the beauty of it! It comes together in just a few minutes (but looks very impressive!).

    Chocolate and milk in a small pot.

    Combine dark chocolate and non-dairy milk in a small pot or double boiler.

    Melted chocolate in the pot.

    Heat on low, stirring constantly until the chocolate melts and creates a smooth dipping sauce. Add more milk, if needed, to reach your desired consistency.

    Cookies in two clusters on the charcuterie board.

    Place your bowl (for the chocolate dipping sauce) in the center of your board. Place the cookies in 2-3 clusters around the board.

    Crackers placed in clusters next to the cookies.

    Add the crackers in 2-3 clusters near the cookies.

    Marshmallows placed in a cluster on the charcuterie board.

    Place marshmallows in 2-3 clusters around the board.

    Halved strawberries placed on the board.

    Add strawberries in 2-3 clusters around the board. Keep in mind that if these are touching dry items (cookies, crackers, pretzels), they will make them soggy.

    A nearly full dessert charcuterie board.

    Add mini pretzels and blackberries to any remaining free space on the board.

    A bruléed marshmallow added to the stack of marshmallows on the board.

    Add the chocolate dipping sauce to the center bowl. Optional: brulée a few of the marshmallows using a kitchen blow torch.

    Place a small spoon in the bowl of chocolate dipping sauce and serve with either toothpicks or small forks (or eat with your hands)!

    Hint: A charcuterie board looks best when it's quite full. If you have more of each ingredient, add them!

    Substitutions

    This is a very flexible recipe and there are some easy variations and substitutions you can make:

    • Add dried fruit or nuts - If you want to have more smaller items on the board, consider adding some dried fruits (dried mangos, apricots and banana chips would work well) or some nuts.
    • Change the cookies - Swap out the cookies for your favorite kind! This could be homemade cookies or store-bought cookies.
    • Add sprinkles - Want to add a little color? Add a small bowl of sprinkles that you can dip into after you have an item coated in chocolate.

    How to make a charcuterie board

    A charcuterie board is not just a random selection of small (and yummy) foods. The most important thing to remember is to choose a theme for your board, which also often dictates the centerpiece for your board. The theme of this recipe and this board is dipping chocolate. Everything on the board is appropriate to dip in the chocolate.

    If you think about other charcuterie boards, you might have a hummus board (everything on the board makes sense to dip in hummus), or a hot chocolate charcuterie board (everything makes sense to serve with or eat with hot chocolate).

    Anything can be fitting for a charcuterie board, just make sure it all fits with a theme!

    How to brulée marshmallows

    This is an optional step, but if you'd like to brulée the marshmallows, place a marshmallow on a fork or skewer. Use a kitchen blow torch to brown the outside edges of the marshmallow (brown this as much as you like!). Let the marshmallow cool for 1-2 minutes, then remove from the fork and place on the board.

    Bruléeing the marshmallows gives them a wonderful caramelized (and perhaps slightly burnt) flavor and crunchy exterior.

    This method works whether you are using homemade marshmallows or store-bought marshmallows! For this board, I bruléed a select few of the marshmallows, but left the others plain.

    Equipment

    There are only a few things you'll need to bring this Dessert Charcuterie Board together. Start with a great board. This can be almost anything and honestly, could also be a tray if you'd rather! I love this Acacia Wood Cutting Board, this Wood Cutting Board with Handle, and this Round Acacia Serving Tray.

    You'll need a small pot or double boiler to melt the chocolate, as well as some small forks, cocktail picks or toothpicks for serving. If you want to brulée the marshmallows, you will need a kitchen blow torch.

    Storage

    All of these items can be stored in airtight bags or containers. Dry ingredients (crackers, pretzels, cookies) can be stored together and kept at room temperature. The fruits can be stored together in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    The chocolate can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat either in a small pot or in the microwave to make it warm and smooth again for serving.

    Top tip

    The size of your board will determine the amount of each ingredient you need. Adjust the recipe below based on how large or small of a board you are filling (or how many people you are serving).

    Recipe FAQ

    How did you brulée the marshmallows?

    Place the marshmallow on a fork or skewer. Use a kitchen blow torch to lightly brown the sides of the marshmallow. Let cool 1-2 minutes, then gently remove from the fork and add to the board.

    What recipe did you use for the marshmallows?

    I made these Homemade Coconut Marshmallows (just the base recipe) for the board. You could also use store-bought marshmallows.

    What if the chocolate dipping sauce hardens?

    If the chocolate dipping sauce hardens, reheat briefly in the pot or in the microwave.

    A Dessert Charcuterie Board with a bowl of chocolate dipping sauce in the center.

    Dessert Charcuterie Board

    A delicious and easily adaptable recipe for a Dessert Charcuterie Board with a bowl of dipping chocolate.
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    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 ounces dark chocolate chopped
    • 2 Tablespoons non-dairy milk
    • 12 LU Petit Écolier cookies or cookie of your choice
    • 24 Ritz crackers
    • 16 jumbo marshmallows
    • 2 cups strawberries trimmed and halved
    • 1 cup mini pretzels
    • 1 cup blackberries

    Instructions
     

    • In a small pot or double boiler over low heat, combine chocolate and non-dairy milk. Stir frequently until smooth and melted. Transfer to a small bowl for serving on the board and set aside.
    • Choose your board and place the bowl of chocolate dipping sauce in the center. Place the cookies in 2-3 clusters around the board. Add crackers in clusters near the cookies.
    • Place marshmallows in 2-3 clusters around the board*, then add the halved strawberries. Keep in mind the strawberries will make the dry items (cookies, crackers, pretzels) soggy if touching.
    • Fill in the remaining space with mini pretzels and blackberries. Serve immediately with small forks, cocktail picks or toothpicks.

    Notes

    *If you'd like to brulée the marshmallows, place a marshmallow on a fork and use a kitchen blow torch to lightly brown the sides of the marshmallow. Let cool 1-2 minutes, then carefully remove from the fork and add to the board. 
    Keyword charcuterie, charcuterie board, chocolate, dessert
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    Hi, I'm Jess! I'm a food photographer, videographer and recipe developer based in Chicago. I focus on keeping the kitchen real, simple, and dairy-free.

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