Create a Valentine’s Day dessert charcuterie board using a mix of candies, cookies, cakes and even ice cream! Completely customizable to suit any family’s taste preferences, this easy guide will help you create a dreamy dessert board for any occasion.

Before we start, I know this isn’t technically a charcuterie board. To be true charcuterie, it must contain cured meats and cheeses. I discussed this in my very first posts on the subject. But charcuterie in any form has become so very popular, that we’ve all become a little loosey-goosey when using the term. I’m using it here as a reference to various little snack items arranged in a way that is appealing to the eye.

Why make a dessert charcuterie board?

They’re easy to put together since they mainly use store-bought treats.
People love eating foods that are artfully arranged – presentation is everything!
Kids absolutely love dessert boards because all their favorites are in one place. Plus they get to choose more than just 1 sweet treat!
It’s a great way to clean out the pantry, using half-eaten (but still good) boxes and bags of treats that may have been forgotten about.
You can make them any theme you like. This one’s obviously for Valentine’s day, but you can easily customize it for any holiday or special occasion.
You can add in homemade treats to really make your dessert board your own special creation.

How to choose items for your dessert board

Begin by deciding your theme of course. For my Valentine’s dessert charcuterie board, I of course knew I needed lots of pink and red! Stores typically start stocking holiday treats weeks before the actual holiday, so I had no problem finding great options!

Most of the items I featured here are from Trader Joe’s. I then filled in a couple of additional candies from Sprouts. I like the candy options from Trader Joe’s because they typically limit the use of artificial dyes. They are often a tiny bit lower in sugar than conventional candy. I don’t get super strict about this stuff, but if one can easily find “healthier” alternatives, why not use them?

Once your theme is decided, gather a good variation of candies, cookies, and maybe even a small cake or cupcakes. I also added mochi ice cream since my kids LOVE them and the strawberry flavor perfectly fit the color theme. I added in some strawberries and almonds to healthify it a bit haha!

Arranging your board

Start by choosing how you will present your dessert board. With the items I bought, I used a rimmed platter to neatly hold all the little pieces of candy and such. With a traditional charcuterie board, foods are typically arranged directly on the platter. Here though, I used several different small bowls and plates to neatly hold items and keep them separated.

Once you have your board, begin by placing your focal point item. For me, it was the heart shaped cake I found at Trader Joe’s. I then began adding in bowls of candy.

One of the last things to place are any items that need to stay cold/frozen till serving. For me, it was the cute strawberry mochi ice cream balls. Then finish off the charcuterie dessert board by filling in any obvious holes with candy, confetti and cookies!

I have an assortment of small bowls and plates on hand to use for any occasion, but I also have a few holiday themed vessels. Here, you see I have ceramic heart bowls and plates. Adds a little extra nod to the holiday.

Other board ideas that aren’t such a sugar rush

This spread definitely packs a sugar rush punch! Perhaps you have really little kids who are more susceptible to the highs and lows of sugar crashes. Or you just aren’t a huge sweets fan. Either way, here are a few other ideas:

Focus on fruit! Pick from an assortment of berries and sliced apples. Make a naturally sweetened yogurt dip (where you control the added sugar), for some protein & healthy fats.
Swap out a decadent chocolate cake for a light and airy angel food cake. Serve alongside loads of fruit options, and a couple of fun flavored whipped creams. Throw in a few simple sprinkle or candy options to make it a little extra festive.
Create a cookie decorating board. Sugar cookies, alongside frosting and a couple of sprinkles and toppings. Arranged in an eye-appealing and festive way will get kids excited and ready to dig in. Plus, it creates an activity to keep little hands busy for a bit.
Throw together a cheese and chocolate pairing, that is heavier on the chocolate. Add in some fresh fruit and nuts, and you have a well-balanced dessert board that feels decadent, but won’t leave you with a sugar hangover. This one from Two Peas & Their Pod looks amazing!

It goes without saying that creating a dessert charcuterie board can be customized to just about any theme or holiday. Christmas is a no-brainer, but some other fun ideas include:

Halloween (very similar to my spooky charcuterie board, but just focus on sweets)
Other colorful holidays like St. Patrick’s Day (shades of green, white and gold), or 4th of July (red, white and blue)
Baby shower (pastel pinks, yellows and blues)
Sports themed with the colors of your favorite team and little sports themed decorations (paper football cutouts, checker flags, etc)
Poker night (red, white and black)
Movie night (different popcorn flavors, licorice bites and other favorite movie theater candy)

I love to offset savory with sweet, and always call for adding sweets to my traditional charcuterie boards. But with the dessert charcuterie board, I’ve gotta just be a purist and suggest you keep it all sweet. Trying to add in some savory items, like different cured meats or even cheese may just feel weird and out of place. My advice to you is just embrace the sugar rush and go all in with the sweets!