Make Desserts Fun Again with a Party Ready Chocolate Board

Recipe & Image from BojonGourmet.com

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