This post has been sponsored by Ghirardelli. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays and not because I want my husband to surprise me with a romantic dinner, heartfelt card and meaningful gift (although I wouldn’t mind that!). Rather, I love this holiday because of the pink, heart-shaped treats and cute Galentine’s Day party items! Most girls’ nights involve wine and a charcuterie board, so I thought it would be fun to put a sweet twist on this classic appetizer. Boards are great for get-togethers with your friends because they allow your guests to graze while socializing. Plus you have a variety of items, so there’s something everyone will like!
This Valentine’s Day dessert board is all about treating yourself! Enjoy the little things in life, like quality time with your girlfriends and decadent Ghirardelli chocolate. So… how exactly do you build a dessert board? Although it seems simple, there is a strategy behind the arrangement and selection of the treats. Follow these 4 steps to make an impressive (and delicious!) display.
Step 1: Supplies for Your Dessert Board
Before you start collecting treats for your Valentine’s Day dessert board, create a game plan and round up the supplies you’ll need. It might even help to sketch out the layout (no need to be a good artist!).
Board, Tray or Platter. First, decide on the kind of surface you will use to display these festive treats. I have a marble cheeseboard that worked well for this arrangement, but a wood platter, large plate or plastic tray would also work.
Bowls and Containers. Next, gather the bowls you’d like to use when assembling the board. In addition to separating the items, these containers also add visual interest to your arrangement by mixing in different heights, colors and textures. A heart-shaped bowl would be really cute for this Valentine’s Day dessert board. I used a pink ramekin dish, which complements the overall color scheme, and a white bowl with heart-shaped cutouts along the edges. Two or three little bowls should be sufficient, but this depends on the size of your board and the type of items you’ll be serving. If you have dips, jams or spreads, you may need more.
Serving Utensils. If you do have items that need serving utensils, don’t forget spoons, knives, etc. Toothpicks are also helpful for grabbing things off of the board.
Step 2: Gather the Goodies
I had such a fun time shopping for treats to use on this Valentine’s Day dessert board! Goodies for this holiday are so festive—and pink! My favorite color :) There are several factors to keep in mind to make sure you have a variety of shapes, sizes, textures and flavors on your board.
Factors to consider:
- Size (include some small items and some larger ones)
- Shape (round, square, hearts)
- Color (pink, brown, pastel)
- Sweet vs. Sour
- Hard vs. Soft
Chocolate. Quality chocolate is a must! I used Ghirardelli‘s Milk Chocolate Caramel Duet Hearts and Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Duet Hearts for this arrangement. The chocolate itself is amazing and the luscious filling complements it perfectly! Plus the duet heart shape is perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Ghirardelli also offers a seasonal collection of chocolate caramel squares that come in a cute floral package. It’s like flowers and chocolate all in one! Perfect for gifting to your neighbor, kid’s teacher, friend, or coworker.
Brownie Bites. These could be store bought or homemade. Either way, adding pink buttercream and festive sprinkles is a great way to dress them up!
Conversation Hearts. These are a classic Valentine’s Day treat and add pretty pastel colors to the board.
Marshmallows. Pink, heart-shaped marshmallows are a great addition. You could also try making homemade marshmallows if you’re feeling adventurous.
Strawberry Ribbons. Don’t forget something sour! These strawberry ribbons are pretty, colorful and break up all of the sweetness. Pro tip: use a toothpick to create that “ribbon” look.
Pink Wafer Cookies. The pink color is perfect for this board! Plus, the rectangular shape complements the round and heart shaped items.
Step 3: Assemble Your Dessert Board
When it comes time to assemble your Valentine’s Day dessert board, my best advice is to just go for it! Start by placing the bowls and/or other containers on the board, then filling them. Next, place the treats on the board in small groups. Don’t overthink it—you can play around with the positioning once you have everything set out. You want the board to look full, so don’t worry about overlapping or squishing things together.
Step 4: Serve & Enjoy!
Now the best part—eating it! Serve your dessert board alongside small plates and festive napkins. The goal is to have your guests grab, snack and socialize! It’s also helpful to have extra treats on hand so that you can refill the board as it dwindles throughout the party.
Worried about having too many sweets leftover? Set out small favor bags at the end of the evening so that your guests can take home a little gift. It’s a great little parting gift!
