How to Make a Party-Ready Chocolate Board

Turn any occasion festive with this cheese and chocolate board loaded with fruit, cheese, nuts, crackers, cookies, and of course ALL THE CHOCOLATE. Perfect for a girl's night, date night, or really any night.

I recently shot this pretty little chocolate dessert board (aka dessert charcuterie board) for a post on Instagram. Jay and I couldn't wait until the shoot was over and we could dismantle copious amounts of chocolate, aged cheeses, salted nuts, and slices of fruit... into our mouths.

This chocolate charcuterie board was not only pretty to shoot and to look at, it also packed a variety of sweet and savory flavors that paired beautifully together. The combination was so lovely that I wanted to pop the formula on here in case you'd like to make one too.

I don't know about you, but I could house five of these by myself after the year we've had!

Sweet Charcuterie Board =  Instant Dessert

I love complicated desserts as much as the next recovering pastry chef. But it's nice to know you can throw together a variety of store-bought treats and still have an impressive dessert charcuterie board to share with guests. Something homemade can add a nice touch but it certainly isn't necessary.

You don't need a recipe to build a delicious chocolate board, but I've provided loose measurements below in case it helps with the shopping and inspiration.

Dessert Board Ideas

Here are some recommended goodies to include for a mix of savory and sweet flavors on your dessert cheese board. I've linked to store-bought favorites as well as some chocolate board-appropriate recipes.

Chocolate

Try a mix of colors (white, milk, dark) and flavors.

• Truffles: store-bought or try making homemade truffles or homemade vegan truffles!
• Dragées, aka chocolate-covered candied nuts
• Chocolate nut butter cups (store-bought or try these raw chocolate pistachio butter cups!)
• Chocolate bars: try an interesting flavor, a single-origin bar, or stick with something classic

Cheese

Go for something mild yet interesting. I recommend one soft and one semi-firm (or you know, all of the below!)

• Soft cheeses:
  • Aged or fresh goat cheese
  • brie
  • camembert or triple cream (local favorite: Mt. Tam)
  • whole-milk ricotta
• Semi-firm cheeses:
  • gruyére
  • gouda
  • aged cheddar
  • local NorCal favorites Toma and Wagon Wheel

Crackers and/or cookies

• Store-bought gluten-free favorites:
  • shown here with Simple Mills GF rosemary almond flour crackers
  • raincoast crisps
  • Absolutely GF crackers
  • Organic Pantry flaxseed crackers
  • Nairn GF biscuits and oat cakes
• Homemade:
  • Paleo Crackers (aka gluten-free knackebröd)
  • Gluten-free graham crackers
  • Gluten-free biscotti
  • Sourdough crackers
  • Gluten-free brownie cookies and chocolate peppermint cookies (shown here)
  • Gluten-free molasses cookies

Nuts

Something salty and crunchy to offset all that sweet, creamy chocolate.

• marcona almonds
• roasted salted pistachios
• candied pecans or walnuts
• salted mixed nuts

Fruit

Work with what's in season.

• Dried:
  • apricots
  • figs
  • prunes
• Fresh:
  • sliced apples, pears, or asian pears
  • persimmons
  • pomegranate
  • figs
  • grapes
  • strawberries
  • oranges or tangerines

Other optional goodies:

• honey or honeycomb, to drizzle over cheese
• nut butter or granola butter, to dip apples in
• jam, preserves, or chutney, to spread on crackers with cheese (I love this sugar-free strawberry rhubarb jam)
• chocolate spread, to do with what you will

How to make a dessert charcuterie board

1. Gather and prep your ingredients. Slice fruit (brush apple/pear slices with a little lemon juice to keep from oxidizing). Slice cheese. Break up chocolate bars.
2. Arrange ingredients on a board or platter. Start with the largest components (small bowls, large cheeses). Fan out fruit and cheese slices, crackers, and cookies for visual appeal and easy grabbing. Fill in the gaps with smaller components: chocolates, nuts, dried fruit.
3. Add accoutrements. Small knives or spoons for serving, small plates and napkins for you and your dessert buddies. Glasses for drinks.
4. Pour beverages (some options below!)
5. Enjoy devouring your delicious dessert cheese board!

Chocolate and Wine Pairing + other libations

I just love dark chocolate with red wine. Jay and I enjoyed glasses of Imagery Cabernet Sauvignon with this chocolate board. It was perfectly pitched against bittersweet chocolate, aged cheeses, crispy crackers, and roasted pistachios.

Other drinks you might serve:

• champagne or sparkling wine
• rosé or sparkling rosé
• good whiskey or bourbon
• coffee or tea
• vegan gingerbread lattes
• homemade eggnog
• mint hot chocolate
• homemade Irish cream liqueur

Holiday / Valentines Cheese Board

This cheese and chocolate board makes a sweet ending for any occasion, holiday, or just a weeknight treat. Serve one up on Chanukah or Christmas. Savor one as you usher in a new year. Make one for your valentine or galentine come February. Or treat yourself any time you see fit.

However and whenever you dress up this decadent chocolate cheese board, I hope it sweetens your day.

Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make a cheese and chocolate board like this one, I’d love to know, Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet.

More Party-Ready Platters and Boards

• Vegetable Platter with Lemon Artichoke Hummus
• Vegan Cheese Board & Cassava Crackers
• Onion Dip Veggie and Cheese Board
• Veggie Board with Chips and Green Salsa
• Falafel Platter
• Mezze Platter
• Snixy Kitchen's Dinner-Worthy Charcuterie Board
• Crowded Kitchen's Waffle Brunch Board
• Foolproof Living's Meat & Cheese Platter
• Eating Well's Boozy Hot Chocolate Board 

More Chocolate Cheese Pairings

• Chocolate Crusted Cheesecake (gluten-free)
• Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
• Double Chocolate Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting