Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board

Deliver the sweetness with this Valentine’s Day charcuterie board. This dessert charcuterie board is also perfect for anniversaries, date nights, girl’s nights, or celebrating the kids. Prepare it in no time for a huge impact that is sure to satisfy the sweetest tooth out there.

How to Build a Dessert Charcuterie Board for Valentines Day

Start With the Board

The first step to making a charcuterie board is deciding on the board to hold all your goodies! A pretty wooden board is a classic for any special occasion, but there’s a wide variety of charcuterie-friendly boards out there. You can even find a heart-shaped platter for Valentine’s day or romantic occasions. The board itself can be a part of the visual appeal and statement, but don’t feel like you have to spend a ton. Often you can find great pieces to use second-hand!

Select a Size

Choose the size of your board based on your event or occasion. A small board or platter will hold plenty for a date night for two. Size up if you’re hosting a double-date, including the family, or inviting a few friends. Use a large board for a bigger gathering like Galentine’s Day. You can even make a giant spread on parchment paper directly on your table or serving counter.

Once you’ve decided on your surface, then you can get creative with layouts and arrangements! If you are a planner, you can even draw how you want it to look and work accordingly.

What To Put on A Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board

People usually associate charcuterie boards with cheese and cold cut meats and you can check out my “How to Make a Vegan Charcuterie Board” guide for more on that (and for great tips on layout that also apply here!) But I wanted to switch things up with a dessert charcuterie board, to make Valentine’s Day extra sweet and special. Part of the fun is choosing all the ingredients and arranging them.

For this board, I focused on chocolate-based items (helped by my friends at Lily’s Sweets). Peanut butter chocolate cups, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate covered pretzels, and colorful fruits like raspberries, blackberries, and grapes gave a variety of flavors, textures, and even shapes. You can use any finger-friendly sweet concoction you have or love.

Pick of handful of treats to provide options, and try to vary the flavors, textures, sweetness levels, and even colors and shapes for a beautiful and appetizing board that keeps your special someone(s) coming back for more!

Chocolate Ideas:

If you plan to make any of these easy chocolate dipped or covered treats, start here with my guide to how to melt chocolate!

• Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• Vegan Peanut Butter Cups
• Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
• Cookie Dough Bon Bons
• Chocolate Coconut Balls
• Peppermint Patties
• Matzo Bark
• Chocolate Fruit Bars
• Vegan Fudge – sprinkle red and pink vegan candy on top for a festive effect!

Pinks, Reds, and Whites:

• Strawberry Brownies – even better if you cut out pieces with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.
• Raspberry Cupcakes – make them mini!
• Muddy Buddies/Puppy Chow – make it festive by mixing in pink and red candies, like vegan M&Ms. Serve in a small bowl or festive cupcake liners (like these silicone ones).
• Easy Strawberry Glaze – for bite sized baked goods of choice (would be adorable on mini donuts!)
• Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
• Snowball Cookies
• Beet Balls – so pretty but also add a little protein while giving a break from the super-sweetness!

Fruit Ideas:

Strawberries, raspberries, and cherries are the classic reds, but depending on the season and availability, don’t forget watermelon cubes or balls, pomegranate seeds, figs, plums, dragon fruit, or even blood orange.

Purples and blues add great hues too: grapes, blueberries, blackberries.

Dried fruit can be a yummy option also, like raisins, craisins, dates, and dried cherries or berries.

Other Sweets:

• Vegan candies
• Plain or candied nuts like cinnamon spiced almonds or candied walnuts.
• Vegan whipped cream or vegan vanilla buttercream (for dipping other treats in).

Recommended Equipment:

• Large Board for Charcuterie
• My favorite knives
• Medium Saucepan
• Small Whisk
• Small Bowls
• Double Boiler
• Spatula

Please let us know if you make this gorgeous love-inspired board, we’d love to hear from you!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla