Dessert and Cheese Board
An epic dessert and cheese board for dessert includes gourmet chocolate bars, fruit, and sweet and savory cheeses. Plus all the accoutrements to go with them! This is an easy and delicious idea for a party, a ladies night, or date night.
Chocolate and Cheese
Turn a classic party cheese board into a delicious dessert board with a combination of sweet and savory items. It’s as easy as unwrapping and placing food in a pretty display where guests can help themselves.
I was inspired to create this by our trip to France many years ago. It was the first time I’d ever had cheese AFTER dinner!
When to Serve This
- This makes a fantastic theme party idea.
- This is a fun addition to a ladies night chocolate party.
- It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary party, or a date night at home.
- A fun theme for holiday girls night in.
- It’s an easy happy hour or cocktail party dessert.
Cheese Dessert Board
I think there are three main components that you should include on a dessert board: chocolate, cheese, and fruit. Then you can fill in with an assortment of complementary items.
Create a dessert board using the same method as savory appetizer boards. Incorporate lots of options, lots of variety, and lots of flavor!
Quick Tip
If you can, buy cheese from stores that offer tasting samples so you can try something new, and you know what you’re getting.
Baked Goods
Although chocolate makes a fabulous pairing, baked goods and pastries add even more texture, flavor and variety. Plus they help make this a real dessert board rather than just a chocolate and cheese board.
Add some of these scrumptious treats that require no baking from you!
- Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Chocolate Cookie Crisps
- Chocolate Chip cookies
- Biscotti
- Donuts
Tips for Chocolates
Include different types of chocolate: dark, milk chocolate, and white chocolate.
Include a mix of homemade bark, and gourmet commercial chocolates infused with dried fruit, nuts, or spices.
I suggest picking out a few bars that might be out of the ordinary like chocolate infused with spicy cayenne pepper, or this homemade chocolate salami.
- Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Bark
- Dark Chocolate Pineapple Almond Ginger Bark
- White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Bark
- Orange-Peach Dark Chocolate Bites
- Dark Chocolate Almond Blueberry Swiss Bar
Quick Tip
Find good quality chocolate bars at stores like HomeGoods, World Market, Aldi, and Trader Joe’s.
Choosing Cheeses
Choose a variety of mild flavorful cheeses that pair well with nuts and fruit.
- French Brie. This is a classic dessert cheese option. It’s soft and buttery flavor goes great with sweets.
- Fruit Infused Goat Cheese. You can find goat cheese rolled in cranberries or blueberries and either is a great choice for this board.
- Italian Blue Cheese. This isn’t just any blue cheese. It’s washed with wine with wine-soaked Cranberries. Blue cheese is a classic pairing for fruits and honey.
- Vermont Artisan Cheese. This is a fantastic palate cleanser as it’s not overwhelming and doesn’t leave an after taste.
Quick Tip
Simple water crackers are a good vehicle for the cheeses and let the flavors shine through.
Fruit
Fruit is a quintessential pairing and makes a nice palette cleanser between bites.
Fresh and dried fruit both go great with chocolate and cheese. Pick whatever is in season or easy to find.
- Pomegranate
- Grapes
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Pears
- Cherries
Additional Items
Assorted accompaniments add interest to the dessert board. Just as savory boards need small accoutrements, so does a dessert board.
Instead of olives and pickles though, serve sweet & spicy pecans or candied pecans, and crispy cookies.
- Plain water crackers
- Sugared Pecans
- Almonds
Quick Tip
Heart-shaped donuts from Duncan Donuts, and heart shaped goat cheese from Wegmans add a sweet detail perfect for date night, bridal showers, engagement parties or Valentine’s day.
More Charcuterie Board Ideas
The trend in charcuterie boards gets an updated twist with this chocolate and cheese platter, and if you like this idea you’ll love these other themes.
- Set up a beautiful chocolate fondue platter with dippers and two types of dessert fondue.
- You’ll also want to indulge in this chocolate charcuterie board complete with fruit, nuts, and spreads that go perfectly with chocolate.
- This brunch charcuterie board is festive and fun for the holidays or for a weekend brunch party.
Don’t forget the champagne for the perfect drink to serve with chocolate and cheese!
If you like this post, PIN, Share, or sign up for our Newsletter at the top of the page. And don’t forget to follow CAH on Instagram or Facebook. Cheers!
Dessert Cheese Board
Create a delicious dessert board with chocolate and cheese plus all the delicious accompaniments. Serve a crowd or a party or make a smaller version for date night.
Ingredients
Chocolate:
- Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Bark
- Dark Chocolate Pineapple Almond Ginger Bark
- White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Bark
- Orange-Peach Dark Chocolate Bites
- Dark Chocolate Almond Blueberry Swiss Bar
Cheese:
- French Brie
- Cranberry Goat Cheese
- Italian Blue Cheese with wine-soaked Cranberries
- Vermont Artisan Cheese
Fruit:
- Pomegranate
- Grapes
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Pears, sliced
Cookies:
- Chocolate Cookie Crisps
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Biscotti
Accompaniments:
- Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Simple water crackers
- Donuts
- Sugared Pecans
- Almonds
Instructions
- Add items to the board in an alternating pattern: chocolate, cookies, cheese, fruit, nuts.
- Arrange so that identical colors are opposite each other.
- Fill in gaps with small items like nuts.
Can’t wait to entertain with a tray and board similar to your Chocolate and Cheese Dessert Board!
Before Christmas I bought a set of chocolates especially made to be paired with specific cheeses and wines. I’d never thought of the idea before but it sure was delicious. Very creative post!
It’s a blend of 3 of my favorite things! 😉 Thanks, Nathalie!
Absolutely stunning!! The photos are top notch too 🙂
Thank you SO much Bird!
This is fabulous! I will make it tomorrow! Thank you!
Enjoy, Savannah! xo