A Dessert Board Is My Favorite Hosting Hack—and It’s So Easy

You already know that cheese boards are a low-lift yet crowd-pleasing way to kick off a dinner party. Now take that same idea and extend it to after the meal. “Guests love a dessert board because they can sample several different treats, and it’s easy on the host because the boards can be quickly assembled ahead of time,” says Maegan Brown, author of Spectacular Spreads. Read on for tips that will help you build a board with style.

Choose a Theme

An organizing principle helps you decide what to shop for. This can be as simple as going with a dominant color, says Erin Emmett, founder and pastry chef of Pistachio Culinary Studio & Experiences. “I’m always inspired by whites and greens during the holidays,” she says. Bebe Black Carminito, author of The Curated Board also suggests turning to seasonality (say, leaning into berries over the summer) to provide the theme. “Or, if there’s a guest of honor, you could highlight their favorite sweet or confection.”

Another idea is to focus on a specific category of sweets, such as a candy board. Or turn the dessert into an activity, like with a chocolate tasting board. Guests can sample different types of chocolate at the same time and compare notes, almost like a wine tasting, and nibble on other goodies in between.

Go for Store-Bought

The beauty of a dessert board is that it can be a knockout with exclusively store-bought items. Emmett suggests grabbing a sheet cake or cheesecake from your supermarket’s bakery. “Then, to give the desserts a polished look, pop them into the freezer until firm, and cut them into bite-size squares to make mini sweets,” she says. (Wipe your knife frequently with a hot, wet towel to keep the cut edges super neat and crumb-free.) If the cake is thin enough, you can even use cookie cutters to make special shapes. Brown recommends scouting your grocery store for colorful cookies and candies. Chop up some of the candies to sprinkle over store-bought desserts. “That fun garnish can turn a normal brownie into a special dessert,” Emmett says.

Add Some Savory

Yes, this is a dessert board, but adding some salty to the sweet is a winning move. Whether that’s potato chips, pretzels, or a selection of cheeses, savory components balance the spread and will delight your savory-inclined crew.

Plan Quantities Properly

A well-filled 13-by-9-inch board should be fine for six people. If you’re going with a marquee treat—like truffles or macarons—make sure you have one or two pieces per guest. “Then fill in the board with candies, nuts, store-bought cookies, and fruit,” Brown says. If you’re including cheese, Carminito suggests about 1 1/2 ounces of cheese per person per cheese. “Then I always go overboard on other components so I can also pack up goody bags for guests.”

Value Variety

“Try to hit a few flavor profiles to create a vibrant mix,” Emmett says. For example, combine a chocolaty bakery treat with buttery cookies and fruity candy. The same goes for texture: “Incorporate a variety, from smooth to chewy to crunchy,” Brown says. “You could pair crisp cookies with a bowl of whipped cream for dipping.” For color and lightness, always include some fresh or dried fruit.

Build It Beautifully

Presentation is key. Carminito favors bold and punchy hues for boards. “Remember, we feast with our eyes first so I love my dessert boards to look vibrant, colorful, abundant.” Brown likes to add interest by varying heights and shapes in the arrangement. “Serve smaller foods in little bowls. Pile foods on top of each other. Fan cookies around bowls or on the edges of the board.” She also suggests spacing out similarly colored foods: “Don’t put red strawberries next to red grapes.” If you’ve assembled the board and it doesn’t have the visual pizzazz you were hoping for, Emmett has a few quick fixes. “Some dollops of whipped cream, an elegant pile of berries, or even a strategic dusting of powdered sugar can really spruce it up.” Be sure to include mini tongs or small scoops for serving.