How to Make an Epic Valentine’s Day Dessert Board
A dessert board is the easiest way to look like you tried really hard when you absolutely did not. This one is pink, red, chocolatey, and very Valentine’s-coded, but honestly, it works for birthdays, girls’ nights, baby showers, or a fun Friday night with your kids. It’s a no-bake, maximum wow-factor situation.
- 1 Erica’s Thoughts
- 2 You can download the full dessert board grocery list right here.
- 3 What You’ll Need To Make this Sweet Snack Board:
- 4 How to Make an Easy Valentine’s Day Dessert Board
- 5 Variation Ideas on a Sweet Charcuterie Board:
- 6 FAQs
- 7 How to Make an Epic Valentine’s Day Dessert Board
- 8 If you love this Valentine’s Day dessert board, you’ll love the ideas in this post:
Erica’s Thoughts
The beginning of February is a time of many birthdays in my family – my daughter, my dad and my dog. Last year, when my daughter turned five, I threw her a Wicked party. This year, she requested Barbie. If you know me, then you know I love making ‘boards’. Charcuterie board, crudité board, fruit tray and yes, a DESSERT BOARD.
So, several things inspired this board. 1) Valentine’s Day (ahem, Galentine’s Day) and 2) Lia’s Barbie birthday party. For both Wicked last year and Barbie this year, Lia’s birthday is perfectly timed for all of the pink to be in the grocery stores. So, a Valentine’s Day dessert board was born!
I snagged the vast majority of these items from Trader Joe’s (they seriously have such fun sweet treat items). You can totally switch up the theme or color scheme of this board based purely on whatever festive food Trader Joe’s has in stock. 😂 The remaining items you can get at any normal grocery store, with the exception of the twisty pink lollipops, which I ordered on Amazon.
I use this mango wood board for everything, but you can use any large serving board, or even a cutting board. These heart bowls are so cute, but feel free to use any small bowls you have on hand. There is no wrong way – just grab a bunch of your favorite things and pile them on! The best part is that there is something for everyone and no baking involved. Oh, and the fact that you can have like, 20 different things for dessert. #winning
You can download the full dessert board grocery list right here.
What You’ll Need To Make this Sweet Snack Board:
From Trader Joe’s
- Gummy X’s and O’s
- Strawberry yogurt almonds
- Heart jelly beans
- Dark chocolate caramel hearts
- Cannoli dip
- Raspberry mousse cakes
- Raspberry shortbread stars
- Chocolate heart cookies
- Chocolate-covered strawberry heart marshmallows
- Strawberry soft licorice twists
- Strawberry sour candy belts
- Belgian chocolate hearts
- Dark chocolate peanut butter cups
From Any Grocery Store
- Raspberries
- Apples
- Strawberries
- Pomegranate arils
- Strawberry Pocky sticks
- Lindt pink birthday cake truffles
- Pink and red starbursts
- Pink twist lollipops
How to Make an Easy Valentine’s Day Dessert Board
Place six small heart-shaped or regular bowls on a large serving board. Fill bowls with raspberries, pomegranate arils, heart jelly beans, gummy X’s and O’s, strawberry yogurt almonds, and cannoli dip.
Make apple hearts and add a few to the board. Cut two large sides off each apple without hitting the core. Cut each half into very thin slices. Gently push the center slices down and fan the slices into a heart shape.
Create 2-3 clusters of raspberry mousse cakes, shortbread stars, and chocolate heart marshmallows around the board.
Slice strawberries in half, leaving stems on if you like, and tuck them between bowls.
Add the lollipops (if using), Pocky sticks, and chocolate heart cookies.
Roll sour candy belts into spirals and nestle them into open spaces.
Fill remaining gaps with truffles, caramel hearts, Starbursts, licorice twists, Belgian chocolate hearts, and peanut butter cups.
If it looks messy, keep going. Boards magically come together at the end. Aim for 2 to 3 clusters of each item outside of bowls.
Variation Ideas on a Sweet Charcuterie Board:
- Add other fresh fruit like blackberries, banana, dates or grapes.
- Add other small baked goods like mini chocolate chip cookies, brownies, macarons or cupcakes.
- Add other candies like conversation hearts, gummy clusters, pink and red gummy bears, sour watermelon gummies, hot tamales, red sour patch kids or literally any other pink/red candy!
- Do a holiday dessert board by swapping colors and seasonal candy.
- Include a yogurt dip or peanut butter dip instead of the cream cheese dip.
FAQs
Every store has a seasonal section throughout January/February where you can get heart-themed candy, but Trader Joe’s selection definitely takes the cake (pun intended) in my opinion!
For my daughter’s birthday party, I assembled the board a day before, placed plastic wrap over the whole thing and stored it in the fridge for a day.
There are no rules! Use a big platter, large plate or even a cutting board.
It’s best for parties where you can just set it out and people can grab whatever they love! No slicing cake. No plating. Minimal cleanup. We love that.
If you’ve never made a dessert board, this is your sign. Whether it’s for a special holiday, romantic dinner, birthday party, or Galentine’s girl situation, it’s low effort, high reward, and always a hit with kids and adults. DEFINITELY tag me @itsaflavorfullife if you make it so I can see your sweet board!
Print
How to Make an Epic Valentine’s Day Dessert Board
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: N/A
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: many
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Chop + Assemble, No bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
An easy Valentine’s dessert board with Trader Joe’s sweets, chocolate, and fresh fruit. A no-bake, show-stopping dessert board for any party!
Ingredients
From Trader Joe’s
- Gummy X’s and O’s
- Strawberry yogurt almonds
- Heart jelly beans
- Dark chocolate caramel hearts
- Cannoli dip
- Raspberry mousse cakes
- Raspberry shortbread stars
- Chocolate heart cookies
- Chocolate-covered strawberry heart marshmallows
- Strawberry soft licorice twists
- Strawberry sour candy belts
- Belgian chocolate hearts
- Dark chocolate peanut butter cups
From any grocery store
- Raspberries
- Apples
- Strawberries
- Pomegranate arils
- Strawberry Pocky sticks
- Lindt pink birthday cake truffles
- Pink and red starbursts
- Pink twisty lollipops
Instructions
- Arrange six heart-shaped (or regular) bowls on a large serving board. Fill the bowls with raspberries, pomegranate arils, heart jelly beans, gummy X’s and O’s, strawberry yogurt almonds and cannoli dip.
- Add 3-4 ‘apple hearts’ to the board. (see note) Arrange 2-3 clusters of the raspberry mousse cakes, shortbread stars and chocolate heart marshmallows. Cut the strawberries in half (I like to leave the stems on) and arrange them in between a few bowls. Add the lollipops, chocolate heart cookies and pocky sticks.
- Roll the sour candy belts into little rolls ups and arrange 2-3 clusters in between the other items. At this point, use all of the remaining smaller items – truffles, caramel hearts, starbursts, licorice twists, belgian chocolate hearts and peanut butter cups to fill an any remaining gaps.
Notes
This board is forgiving – just start placing items and it will all come together. If you need to rearrange, then rearrange! As a general rule, make 2-3 clusters of each item that’s not in a bowl.
Apple hearts: Cut off two large pieces from each apple – like you’re cutting the apple in half, but don’t cut into the core. Cut each half into very thin slices. Push the centermost pieces down and arrange the slices so they make a heart shape.
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Nutrition
- Serving Size: Nutrition facts vary greatly based on items used
- Calories: varies
- Sugar: varies
- Fat: varies
- Carbohydrates: varies
- Protein: Varies
Such a beautiful way to arrange a snack board! I’m using it as my inspiration for an event I’m hosting today for International Women’s Day! ❤️