Christmas Dessert Board (with Buttercream Icing)
Servings 12 servings
Ingredients
- For the Buttercream Frosting:
- 3 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp pure almond extract
- green gel food coloring
- 1 5 oz package gummy berries (or red hots or red gum drops to decorate the wreath and add color to the board)
- 1 10 oz package candy kisses, jelly beans or any of your favorite Christmas candy
- candy canes either hard candy or gummy candy canes
- Candies, Cookies & Other Treats:
- 10-20 mini brownie bites
- 10-20 chocolate covered pretzel rods or chocolate dipped Oreos
- 10-15 chocolate dipped cookies or ginger cookies
- 5-10 mini donuts
- 5-10 mini cinnamon buns or pecan rolls
- 5-10 shortbread cookies
- You could also add fresh fruits for dipping like strawberries and cubed pound cake
Instructions
- To make the Buttercream Frosting: In a medium bowl using an electric mixer beat butter with vanilla and almond extracts for 2 minutes or just until light yellow and fluffy. Lower the speed of the mixer and gradually add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Once all is added, beat on high until light and fluffy. (about 5 minutes). Scrap the bowl, then use a toothpick to swirl green gel into the buttercream. Beat with the mixer, repeating until the desired depth of color is reached.
- Prepare a piping bag with a Wilton 1M piping tip (or similar large open star tip) and fill the piping bag with green buttercream frosting.
- To assemble the Christmas Dessert Board: In the middle of a large 15-18" charcuterie board (pictured here is a 15” round board), make a circle of green swirl “roses”. Place red berry candies around the frosting wreath.
- Place several small bowls around the board, fill with seasonal gummies, candy kisses and Christmas candy.
- Fill the rest of the board in with the cookies, mini brownies, pretzel rods, mini doughnuts, cinnamon buns, shortbread cookies, fruit and pound cake or your favorite sweets to dip into the buttercream.
- Please note: The buttercream can stay out at room temperature safely while serving for several hours. To store, it should be wrapped well in food-safe plastic wrap and popped into the refrigerator. The best way to store these leftovers is to scoop the buttercream into a food-safe container. Then keep the candies and other sweets stored separately in food-safe containers at room temperature.
Notes
Please note: There's no wrong amount or types of sweets and goodies you use to create a dessert board. Have fun and get creative!