Professionals Share How to Create the Perfect Holiday Treat Boards
To spread delicious ho-ho-holiday cheer.
Are you hosting a holiday party this month? Or are have you been invited to a holiday party, and you don’t want to show up empty-handed? Either way, a seasonal and delicious treat board is a great option for adding fun and flavor to any holiday party. Not only are treat boards packed with delicious bites, like cheese, cookies, fruits, and dips, but they’re also colorful and creative, doubling as decor. See these treat board tips from professionals for a fun appetizer that will definitely be the hit of your next holiday party.
Holly Jolly Seasonal Snacking Board
“Snack boards are surprisingly easy to make yet they’re always impressive,” says Maegan Brown, founder of TheBakerMama.com. “Plus, they’re a fun way to get guests to try a variety of things, salty and sweet!” On Brown’s board, salty bites mingle with veggies, crackers, cookies, “Santa hats” (made from grapes, sliced bananas, strawberries, and mini marshmallows) and a trio of dips. To do: Fill 3 ramekins with dips (like ranch, peanut butter, and hummus) then add fruit and veggie “faces” and set on a board. Layer on crackers, pretzels, sliced meats, raw veggies, candy, and more.
“Oh, Christmas Brie” Board
“I love serving sweets and cheese after meals — and Brie is a great dessert cheese,” says Meg Quinn, author of The Cheese Board Deck: 50 Cards for Styling Spreads, Savory & Sweet (Buy from Amazon, $17.99) and founder of AintTooProudToMeg.com. “It’s so good drizzled with honey and pairs well with berries or chocolate — and it’s the star of my board!” Here, Quinn created a holiday board that she calls “Oh, Christmas Brie,” featuring a mix of berries, cheeses, crackers, candy, and cookies. To make the Brie Christmas tree, Quinn suggests popping a Brie wheel in the freezer for about 10 minutes so it’s firm, then pressing a tree-shaped cookie cutter through the cheese and removing the tree shape from the cutter. Fill the tree “hole” with red preserves. Add to a board with other bites, grouping into snack “zones,” as shown. For extra flair, top your board with a few rosemary or thyme sprigs.
Fun and Festive Sweet Treat Board
Dessert “charcuterie” boards are not only delicious, but they also lend color and holiday charm to any table — they’re the perfect edible centerpiece. For the tastiest (and prettiest) results, select board ingredients in a mix of colors, flavors, and textures, like vibrant red berries and green grapes, sweet cookies, smooth mints, and crunchy cookies. When building your board, add the largest items first, then fill in with layers of smaller bites. Tip: leftover treats? Give guests small to-go baggies to fill up as favors.
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
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