A holiday dessert board is the easiest way to feed a crowd: a few bowls, some fresh fruit and a handful of treats everyone can pick from. Here is how to build one in 15 minutes with our dark chocolate covered fruit and nuts, plus a few gift ideas for everyone on your list.
What you need for a holiday dessert board
- A large board or platter. Wood, marble or a simple serving tray all work.
- Three or four small bowls. They give the board its shape and keep smaller pieces in place.
- Two or three chocolate covered flavours. One pouch (91g) per flavour fills a bowl.
- Fresh fruit in holiday colours: clementines, red grapes, pomegranate seeds or fresh berries.
- Something crunchy and something salty: shortbread, ginger snaps, pretzels or crackers.
- A little green to finish: rosemary sprigs look like tiny Christmas trees.
How to build it, step by step
- Place the bowls first. Spread them across the board, not in a line. Fill them with the chocolate covered flavours.
- Add the big pieces. Clementines, grape clusters and cookies go next, around the bowls.
- Fill the gaps. Pomegranate seeds, berries and a few loose chocolate pieces cover the empty spots.
- Finish with green. Tuck rosemary sprigs along the edges just before serving.
Build the board right before your guests arrive and keep it away from the oven or fireplace, so the chocolate stays glossy.
Which flavours to put on your board
- Cranberries: the holiday classic. Tart and bright, they look great next to clementines.
- Mango: chewy and sweet, a crowd-pleaser with kids and adults.
- Brazil nuts: rich and crunchy. Serve them with coffee after dinner.
- Coconut: a snowy-looking bite that goes well with hot chocolate.
- Pineapple and goldenberries: for something a little different that gets people talking.
Hosting a big group? Build a box with all six flavours and set out a little of everything.
Holiday gift ideas with dark chocolate
Stocking stuffers
A single pouch fits in any stocking. Pick a different flavour for each person in the family.
A host or hostess gift
Invited to a holiday dinner? Bring two or three pouches tied with a ribbon instead of the usual bottle. It also makes a ready-made dessert for later.
Gifts for coworkers, teachers and neighbours
When you have several small gifts to give, build one box and split it. In the Build a Box, the price per pouch drops as the box fills: free shipping from 8 pouches, 10% off from 10, and 15% off from 15.
For the person who has everything
Put together a tasting box of all six flavours. It is a gift they can share, and they get to pick a favourite.
Plan ahead for the holidays
We ship across Canada, and orders leave our warehouse within 1 to 2 business days. Delivery times then depend on where you live and get longer in December, so order early for gifts. Gifting to someone with allergies? Check each flavour's ingredients and allergens on our flavours page first.
Frequently asked questions
How much chocolate do I need for a dessert board?
For 6 to 8 people, two or three pouches of 91g, plus fresh fruit and cookies, make a full board.
Can I prepare the board in advance?
Set out the bowls and the dry items a few hours ahead, then add the fresh fruit and the chocolate just before serving.
What is a good chocolate gift for the holidays?
A box of dark chocolate covered fruit and nuts: one flavour for a small gift, or a mix of all six for a tasting box.
