I love a good sweet dip for holiay parties. This Hot Cocoa Dip is great to make and serve on the Big Board with snacks, fruit, and cookies. Made with fluffy cream cheese, Marshmallow Fluff, and hot cocoa mix, it’s topped with whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and festive sprinkles for an irresistible presentation.

Hot Cocoa Dip

Pair it with cookies, peppermint bark, or candy canes for dipping, and you’ve got a treat that’s sure to spark joy and create lasting memories around the table. 

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … and I really love a good dessert board. I always say, set it out, and they will come. We love our big boards (with a raised edge, and that are food safe), to set out for a party. Whether a small party or a large gathering, our boards really do add a beautiful ambience (and taste) to the party!

EPIC Christmas Dessert Board

We ran to Trader Joe’s for the ingredients for this board. But you can also make homemade goods like, pumpkin cranberry muffins, coffee cake, apple fritter bites, and more.

Here’s another Epic Rectangular Charcuterie Board for the holidays–a festive board of cheese, dried fruit, nuts, crackers, and cured meats!

Why I love this board

• Most of these ingredients you can buy at your local Trader Joe’s!
• Optional to make ahead homemade desserts (and pull from the freezer).
• Ask your guests to contribute to the board!
• Set out the 12×36″ board.

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Just in time for autumn gatherings, grab the shopping list for this Fall Mini Pie Dessert Board. We so love this “mini pie charcuterie” dessert, and we think your guests will, too! Inspired from our Epic Summer Mini Pie Board — these dessert boards are a big party hit!

Fall Mini Pie Charcuterie

This Fall Mini Pie Charcuterie (dessert tray) is epic for a large gathering! Maybe it’s a soup potluck, where you are in charge of desserts (you can really stack the pies high), or you’re hosting a fall dessert party or setting out Thanksgiving desserts. We adore these mini pies. Mix up your favorite mini pies and serve with fresh whipping cream. [Order online in the recipe below.]

Think pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, and feel free to add berry pies! And you can buy sweet potato pie.

The post Fall Mini Pie Charcuterie appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

This fall dessert board is made entirely from store bought ingredients. It only takes 10 minutes to put together with fall fruits in season, chocolate, and cake bites! Most of you know I love hosting parties and firmly believe that sweet and savory snacks are the key to a successful party. I usually set out a beautiful epic charcuterie board, or chips and salsa, but this time, I decided to create a sweet bites board to go with it. 

Fall Dessert Charcuterie Board

This dessert spread is beautiful to enjoy on Halloween night, a Harvest party, or to serve for Thanksgiving or any fall gathering. We made this on our 26-inch big board (food safe, with a lip, so the food stays on the board). It’s easy to carry and move from the kitchen to the dining room table, too (with under-cut handles).

Host an old-fashioned dessert night and serve this board with hot drinks, like our Hot Buttered Rum, Russian Tea, coffee, or even hot chocolate. Just stop off at your local bakery for cake bites, fruit, caramel dip, and whip your own cream, and you’re nearly done.

Why I love this recipe

• Customizing your spread is what makes a dessert charcuterie board special.
• It makes a beautiful dessert presentation for “bites” where you don’t need to set out forks.
• The recipe comes together in 10 minutes.
• Perfect for any fall gathering or holiday.

I’ll show you exactly how to create this stunning dessert, including all my best food styling tips on how to put it together – in 10 minutes. Since this dessert doesn’t technically have any meat on it, it’s not a “charcuterie board” but you often see these terms used interchangeably when it comes to grazing boards, fruit and cheese platters, dessert boards, etc.

Once you’ve done your shopping and have all of the treats on hand, assembling the board takes very little time, and the results are so impressive! 

Gather these ingredients

• Caramel dip, warm for dipping
• Mini cinnamon rolls
• Cheesecake bites – storebought
• Pumpkin cake bites– storebought
• Chocolate cake bites– storebought
• Mini pecan tarts– storebought
• Red grapes
• Green grapes
• Green pears
• Red pears
• Green apples
• Red apples
• Dark chocolate bar
• Heavy whipping cream
• Creme fraiche
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

How to make a Fall Dessert Charcuterie Board

Make the whipping cream

1. To a small bowl, add the heavy whipping cream and whip, using a hand mixer, until thickened, 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the creme friache, powdered sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Whip again until creamy (not too stiff), and then pour the cream into a small pretty bowl for serving.

Assemble the board

1. Prepare a large board (we used 26-inch BIG BOARD) and place the whipped cream in the center of the board.
2. Fill a second bowl with the warm caramel dip and place on the board.
3. Make your own design by laying down the mini cinnamon rolls and cake bites and tarts on the board. Place the grapes in 5 or 6 clusters on the board.
4. Lay down the whole pears for garnish, and fill in the open areas with the sliced pears and apples.
5. Fill in any open space with the chocolate pieces.

Tips and substitutions:

• Keep it simple – stop off a the grocery store (no baking needed).
• Replace the caramel dip with Nutella (for your chocolate lovers). 
• Buy whole fruit to slice, or you can buy pre-sliced red and green apples in a bag.
• To make it beautiful, include a mix of shapes, sizes, colors and textures.
• Consider garnishes , besides the whole pears, that might include candies that have fun colors or pretty wrappers or natural elements (such as mini pumpkins in this case).     
• There are two main things to keep in mind with styling:
  1. Start with the biggest, most important items and end with the small filler foods.
  2. Use the principles of grouping and repetition to make your board have a pattern to look beautiful!
  3. Fill in the open spaces with something easy (in this case, broken chocolate pieces). 

How to Choose a Serving Board

Being a big board lover, we have our own assortment (line) of food safe serving boards. Our priority is to use a board with a lip (raised edge), so the food stays in one place and does not fall off. Especially with little hands reaching in – serving boards can quickly become a mess on the counter, so our boards prevent that.

How do I get a BOGO BIG BOARD?

Get 2 boards for holiday entertaining: One at full price, and a second 12×36″ size at 50% off.

Buy the BIG BOARDS, here.

Buy any board, get the 12×36” at 50% off. A $94.50 savings.

• In your cart, add both boards that you are purchasing.
• At checkout, use this code: BOGO50
• $94.50 will be removed from your total.

Enjoy BOTH boards that you are purchasing when they arrive for fall entertaining! It’s fun to serve 2 or 3 at a time, depending on the theme of the party!

More Fall Desserts you may want to try while you are here:

• Lazy Susan Fall Dessert Board
• Pear Tart with Puff Pastry
• Hood River Fresh Apple Cake
• Chocolate Harvest Cake

Print

Fall Dessert Charcuterie Board

Create a Fall Dessert Charcuterie Board made with sweet treats (cake bites, chocolate, cinnamon rolls, and fruit) for a holiday gathering. Served on the 26-inch BIG BOARD.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 24

Calories 398kcal

Author Sandy Coughlin

Equipment

• 1 26-inch food safe BIG BOARD

Ingredients

• 1 cup caramel dip warm for dipping
• 13 oz mini cinnamon rolls
• 13 oz cheesecake bites
• 13 oz pumpkin cake bites
• 13 oz chocolate cake bites
• 1 pound mini pecan tarts
• 4 cups red grapes
• 2 cups green grapes
• 2 whole pears garnish
• 2 red pears cored and sliced
• 2 green apples cored and sliced
• 2 red apples cored and sliced
• 4 oz dark chocolate broke into pieces

Whipped Cream

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• ¼ cup creme fraiche
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

Whip the cream

• In a small bowl, add the heavy whipping cream and whip with a hand mixer until thickened, 3-4 minutes.
• Add the creme friache, powdered sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Whip again until creamy (not too stiff), and pour into a small pretty bowl for serving.

Assemble the board

• Prepare a large board (we used 26-inch BIG BOARD) and place the whipped cream in the center of the board.
• Fill a second bowl with the warm caramel dip and place on the board.
• Make your own design by laying down the mini cinnamon rolls and cake bites and tarts on the board.
• Place the grapes in 5 or 6 clusters on the board.
• Lay down the whole pears for garnish, and fill in the open areas with the sliced pears and apples. Fill in any open space with the chocolate pieces or other bites (snacks).

Nutrition

Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 349mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Fall Dessert Charcuterie Board appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Who doesn’t love pie? I sure do, but serving pie to guests can be messy and isn’t quite so pretty when you’ve got a bunch of sliced pie sitting on plates. Enter this Summer Mini Pie Board. You can load it with your favorite mini pies and other treats. Then, just put out a carafe of coffee and a pitcher of iced tea and let everyone dig in!

Summer Mini Pie Board

This mini pie board is ideal for dessert, but it’s also fun when having company over in the afternoon or after dinner. The best part is that you can get it all ready ahead of time, so it’s ready to go when you are.

I built this board on my Big Board. It is a 26-inch food-safe board with handles for easy carrying and raised sides so nothing slips off. Wait until you see the amazed looks on your guests’ faces when you bring out this fully loaded board! 

Why I love this epic Summer Mini Pie Board

• This is a no-cook board! This easy dessert board is loaded with mini pies that you can purchase premade. All you need to do is add some whipped cream and garnishes to the board, and it’s good to go!
• Mini pies are so much better than big pies. They’re cuter, and people can try a few different kinds.
• You can prepare it ahead of time, then whip the cream and serve! It’s that easy!

Gather these ingredients

• 4-inch mini peach pies – You’ll need about 6.
• 4-inch mini lemon pies – About 6 mini pies.
• 4-inch mini berry pies – 6 mini pies.
• 4-inch mini cherry pies – 6 mini pies
• Fresh blueberries – 1 pint.
• Fresh raspberries – 1 pint.
• Fresh blackberries – 1 pint.
• Peaches – 2 peaches, peeled and diced.
• Cherries – 2 cups fresh cherries.
• Heavy whipping cream 
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract

How to make this epic Summer Mini Pie Board

1. Ensure you’ve got a flat, sturdy spot to place your Big Board loaded with goodies. Have plates and napkins nearby for your guests.
2. Place a large bowl in the center of the board. You’ll add your whipped cream to this bowl.
3. Arrange the mini pies around the board. You can add cute little tags so that your guests know what kind of pies they are.
4. Place the fruit in the spaces between the pies. I love using these pie-shaped dishes. They look so cute on the board when loaded with fruit and other garnishes.
5. Before serving, whip the whipped cream until thick. Whisk in the powdered sugar and vanilla and gently mix with a large spoon.
6. Transfer the whipped cream to the bowl in the center of the board, garnish with cherries or fruit, and serve!

Tips & substitutions

• I find mini pies at Walmart, but many other bakeries and large grocery stores sell them. Use your favorite selection of mini fruit pies. Just ensure you have a good variety for your guests.
• Use fresh fruit to garnish your board, not frozen. Frozen fruit will be too watery and hard to eat.
• For the best texture, make the whipped cream just before serving. 
• Where did I get the cute little pie shaped dishes? Easy to buy, they fit so nicely on the big board.

Serving suggestions

This is such an amazing board to share with friends. I love serving it after a summery Chili-Lime Chicken Thighs or Lemon Chicken Gnocchi dinner.  Sometimes we skip the meal and just feast on finger foods. This mini pie board goes well with appetizers like Lemon Ricotta Bruschetta and prosciutto-wrapped mini peppers. 

Storage

Store any leftover pies in an airtight container on the counter for 1-2 days. The fruit can be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days, but the whipped cream will not keep once it’s been whipped.

Check out these awesome summer board ideas while you’re here

• Summer Camping Charcuterie Board
• Summer Bruschetta Board
• Summer Snack Board

Print

Summer Mini Pie Board

Super cute and easy to assemble, this summer Mini Pie Board is perfect for sharing with friends and family. Forget whole pies; go mini! Made on 26-inch BIG BOARD.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 24

Calories 112kcal

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

• 6 4-inch The Bakery Mini PEACH Pies
• 6 4-inch The Bakery Mini LEMON Pies
• 6 i4-nch The Bakery Mini BERRY Pies
• 6 4-inch The Bakery Mini LEMON Pies
• 1 pint blueberries
• 1 pint raspberries
• 1 pint blackberries
• 2 peaches peeled and diced
• 2 cups fresh cherries

Whipping cream

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

• On a large serving board, arrange a large bowl in the center (to hold the whipped cream).
• Next, arrange the pies and fruit around the whipping cream.
• To whip the cream, pour the heavy cream in a bowl and using a hand mixer, whip the cream for 2-4 minutes, until thick.
• Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla and gently mix with a spoon. Pour the cream into the large bowl and place in the center of the board.
• Garnish the whipping cream with cherries or fresh fruit. Serve!

Notes

Optional to add tags or labels for the kinds of pies (ex: lemon, cherry, berry, peach).

 

Reposted from July 2019.

Nutrition

Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.4mg

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I simply adore this Valentine’s Day Sweet Snack Board. It’s loaded with all sorts of tempting treats, and because you’re using mostly store-bought items, it’s an easy board to build. 

Valentine’s Day Sweet Snack Board

The best part about boards like this is sharing them! This would make a great treat for co-workers, to surprise your child’s teachers, to share with friends at gatherings, or just to have out for nibbling when having friends and family over. 

I build this board on my 26-inch Big Board, and it’ll serve between 12 and 20 people. You can always make these boards bigger or smaller by doubling or cutting the recipe and suggestions in half.

Have fun building these boards! Make them colorful, tempting, and loaded with tasty snacks. The key to a great board is to keep it looking bountiful and to break up the colors and textures. Be sure to see all my suggestions below on how to build the best Valentine’s Day Sweet Snack Board!

Why I love this board

• Who doesn’t love sweets and snacking? If your love language is food, then this is the perfect board for you to share with all the important people in your life.
• It’s got a great balance of sugary sweets, but there’s fresh fruit, too, for pops of freshness and flavor.
• There’s something on this colorful and delicious board of goodies for everyone, even people looking for gluten-free treats!

Gather these ingredients and items

I got a lot of these items from Costco and local markets. Feel free to mix and match with whatever you have locally available. The idea behind these boards is to make them easy and fun, so go with what you can find!

• Crispy coconut rolls – I found these gluten-free treats at Costco.
• Heart-shaped shortbread cookies – I got these from a local market, but you should be able to find heart-shaped cookies this time of year at most supermarkets and bakeries.
• Churro donut bites – Also from Costco.
• Petite cinnamon rolls – I get these from Costco, too, but I’ve seen them in grocery stores as well.
• Chocolove candy bars – These are gluten-free and dairy-free.
• St. Michel chocolate sweetheart cakes – I got these from Costco, but any mini chocolate cake or even mini brownie bites would work.
• Le Chic heart-shaped macarons – Also from Costco. If you can’t find heart-shaped macarons, any pink, red, or white macarons would look pretty on the board.
• Blackberries, raspberries, and even blueberries – See what’s fresh and fabulous in your local store.
• Cherries – Cherries start to come in season around this time of year so they’re perfect on this Valentine’s Day board.

How to build the best Valentine’s Day Sweet Snacking Board

1. Find a spot for your Big Board and have small plates and napkins handy for your guests. 
2. Add the cinnamon rolls around the outside of one of the sides of the board, and line the churro bites right next to them.
3. On the opposite side of the board, add a row of sweetheart cakes and macarons.
4. Place the crispy coconut rolls in a small glass cup or dish with 2 small bowls next to it to hold the cherries. Add the cherries to the bowls just before serving.
5. Arrange the chocolate bars in the center of the board along with the shortbread cookies. Just before serving, unwrap and break up the chocolate bars so they’re easy to eat.
6. Fill in the open areas with the berries.
7. Serve and enjoy!

Tips & substitutions

• Don’t stress if you can’t find the same exact items as I’ve used. Building this board should be fun and easy – use what you can find in your local stores.
• Everything on the board should be finger food-friendly and not too big or messy to eat. 
• You can serve this snacking board on any kind of large serving tray or board. Being portable is a plus!
• You can get most of this board ready ahead of time. Put out the fruit just before serving.

Serving suggestions

You can serve this Valentine’s Day Sweet Snack Board on its own or as a part of a larger feast. I love serving it with other themed dishes like these gorgeous Cherry Crunch desserts or these cute Valentine’s Day lunch board ideas. 

Storage

If you have leftovers, pop everything back into their original containers or store them in airtight containers. The berries should be kept in the fridge, and be sure to read the package labels to see if other items require refrigeration once opened.

Check out these awesome Valentine’s Day board recipes while you’re here

• Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board
• Date-Night Charcuterie Board
• Valentine’s Day Dessert Board

Print

Valentine’s Day Sweet Snack Board

Loaded with all your favorite sweets and treats to celebrate, this Valentine’s Day Sweet Snack Board has something for everyone! Made on the 26-in BIG BOARD.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 20

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

• 20 Crispy Coconut Rolls Costco – GF
• 8 pink heart shortbread cookies Newport Avenue Market
• 10 oz Churro Donut Bites Costco
• 18 petite cinnamon rolls Costco
• 3 Chocolove candy bars GF + dairy free
• 21 oz pkg St Michel chocolate sweetheart cakes Costco
• 13 oz 25 Le Chic heart-shaped macarons (Costco) – GF
• 12 oz blackberries
• 12 oz raspberries
• 2-3 cups fresh cherries
• Blueberries optional

Instructions

• On a large round board, add the cinnamon rolls around the outside of one of the sides of the board, with the Churro bites lined up right next to them.
• In the front, fill in the outer edge with the chocolate sweetheart cakes, followed by a row of the macarons.
• In the center of the board, place the crispy coconut rolls in a little glass cup or container, with 2 small bowls next to it (you’ll add cherries for the final touch). Place the chocolate bars in the center, along with the shortbread cookies. When it’s time to eat, unwrap the chocolate bars and break apart into chunks. NOTE: These chocolate bars are gluten free and dairy free, so a nice addition to the board for those with dietary restrictions.
• Pour the cherries into the 2 small bowls (a bowl full of cherries – cute!) and it’s okay if they overflow. Then fill in the open areas with the blackberries and raspberries.
• Serve and enjoy!

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I love this time of year and so many unique Christmas charctuerie board ideas to try. The problem is, which one will I make this year? With so many to try, I’ve gathered a variety of unique boards that will make your entertaining fun and festive! So let’s get noshing!

Unique Christmas Charcuterie Board Ideas

These Unique Christmas Charcuterie Board Ideas are all the rave this holiday season. We’ve been making big boards for over 5 years now, and we have quite the ideas here to share with you. Last year our breakfast baord ideas went crazy over on Pinterest, and it’s full of some great board ideas for Christmas morn. The internet is full of so many recipes, but here are a few of our favorites to make this time of year special with your loved ones.

We are sharing appetizer boards, Christmas theme boards, dinner and salad board ideas, and more! Grab one of our big boards and get started.

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This fun and festive dessert charcuterie board is filled with an assortment of mini pies, Christmas (or chocolate) cookies, red and green grapes, raspberries, apple slices, and cinnamon whipped cream!

Winter Pie Dessert Charcuterie

Dessert boards are all the rave right now, so why not grab your BIG BOARD and prepare the easiest dessert for your next party!? Just thing “red and green” for the holidays! And grab my tips on where to find the mini pies. Such a fun dessert idea, and easy, too! (more…)

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Caramel apples are some of the best fall treats, but here’s a Caramel Dipped Apple Slices Wreath—much easier and fun to eat.

Caramel Dipped Apple Slices

Everyone loves a good holiday charcuterie board, but this sweet fall appetizer board — full of apple slices and your favorite toppings — will be perfect to serve at your next party! Maybe you’ve tried our Banana Split Honeycrisp Apple Nachos recipe already! (more…)

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To save time and money on our weekly grocery shopping, we’ve been shopping online with Walmart. We not only love the low prices, but the quality private brands are outstanding.

Pumpkin Butter Board

You’ve heard of the butter board trend? Just in time for fall entertaining, Walmart.com has made this Pumpkin Butter Dipping Board so easy to gather ingredients and make. We found everything we needed for the pumpkin butter recipe, and then the snacks to go on the board. (more…)

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