This Holiday Dessert Charcuterie Wreath Recipe was an absolute blast from start to finish, and let me tell you, it stole the spotlight at our holiday gathering. Remember those wreath-shaped wooden charcuterie boards that took Instagram by storm last year? Yeah, if you remember they were everywhere on social media! Well, guess what? I’ve joined the party but with a sugary twist. Get ready for the lowdown on my unique version, where I’m loading up that wreath with all kinds of holiday candies and cookies, turning it into a yummy dessert tray.
In this post, I’m spilling the beans on this Holiday Dessert Charcuterie Wreath Recipe (With Licorice Bow Instructions) and including a tutorial on creating that picture-perfect string licorice bow. Because, let’s be honest, a wreath just isn’t complete without a bow, am I right? So settle in because I’m about to serve up all the scrumptious details on making this festive edible wreath that’s destined to be the star of your holiday party.
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Why You Will Love Making this Holiday Dessert Charcuterie Wreath Recipe
- Embrace the Festive Spirit: Putting together a dessert wreath charcuterie board lets your creative side shine as you craft a visually striking and festive centerpiece that’s perfect for your holiday get-togethers.
- Unique and Original: The wreath shape adds a distinct touch to your dessert presentation, impressing your guests and making it a standout focal point.
- Simple Assembly: Don’t be fooled by its intricate appearance – assembling the board is surprisingly straightforward and doesn’t require any advanced cooking skills. It’s a great choice for both beginners and seasoned hosts.
- Mix and Match Delights: The dessert wreath charcuterie board’s versatility allows you to combine an array of sweet treats to cater to everyone’s taste preferences.
- Start a Chat: The beautiful and delectable board is sure to kick-start conversations among your guests, bringing a joyful vibe and increasing the holiday cheer.
- Personal Touch with Heart Candy Canes: Crafting heart-shaped candy canes adds that special personal touch.
- Step-by-Step Assurance: The provided step-by-step guide for crafting the red string licorice bow ensures your wreath charcuterie board will look complete and stylish.
- Appeals to All Ages: From the little ones to the grown-ups, everyone will relish the array of sweets on the board, making it a hit for all generations.
- Make It Yours: Customize the board to your liking by incorporating your cherished holiday treats and even experimenting with new recipes.
- Effortless Cleanup: Unlike intricate baking projects, this board minimizes the cleanup, leaving you with more time to savor the festivities.
- Craft Cherished Memories: Sharing this delightful board assembly with loved ones creates timeless memories. Bring your children in on the fun!
- A Dash of Holiday Magic: Crafting and enjoying the dessert wreath charcuterie board brings that extra bit of holiday enchantment into your home, making the season even more memorable.
About Charcuterie Boards
So, let’s talk about charcuterie boards, pronounced, “shahr-koo-tuh-ree.” (say THAT 3 times fast, lol) These things are like edible masterpieces, where you get to show off a mix of meats, cheeses, fruits, and other tasty bites all on one platter. And while the name might sound all fancy and French, it’s just a nod to the way they used to make cured and smoked meats. But these boards have come a long way from just meats and cheeses. Over time, they’ve taken on all sorts of shapes and sizes, from snowman versions perfect for winter hangouts to Christmas tree setups loaded with edible decorations. And guess what? One of my favorites is the wreath-shaped charcuterie board – a total game-changer for serving up sweets and desserts that steal the show at any festive get-together. It’s like turning your food into art, and who can say no to that? So next time you’re thinking about how to make your spread extra special, consider grabbing a charcuterie board and unleashing your creativity in the tastiest way possible.
Shop for your Holiday Charcuterie:
Materials and Ingredients for this Holiday Dessert Charcuterie Wreath Recipe
The Wreath Charcuterie Board
I got my hands on the wreath-shaped board from Target but you can also whip up a wreath-shaped board (aka Charcutewreath 😉 ) on a regular round board. In fact, Maegan at The Bakermama did just that in her beautiful Charcuterie Wreath board post! To make a dessert board like the one featured in this post, simply arrange your treats in a circle with the center empty, and that licorice bow will do its thing to give that wreath vibe!
The Sweets
A lot of the candies, cookies, and even those delicious raspberries you see on this dessert board were snagged from Aldi’s during the holiday season. I’m a big fan of shopping there – the deals are awesome! Now, for the heart-shaped candy canes and that awesome licorice bow, I turned to Amazon. I’ll drop the links down below, along with some of my tips to help you pick out the tastiest treats for your own board regardless of where you shop.
Curating Your Dessert Charcuterie: What to Shop For
- Go for Variety: Opt for a mix of smaller treats that will let your guests sample a little bit of everything.
- Create Groupings: Buy several of each item to create groupings. You will want to arrange similar candies and cookies together for a cohesive and visually pleasing display.
- Play with Colors: Incorporate a variety of colors to add vibrancy and excitement to your board.
- Think Shapes: Consider including treats with different shapes like those adorable snowflake and star cookies you spot here.
- Chocoholic’s Delight: Chocolates are always a crowd-pleaser. Add some chocolatey goodness to your board!
- Fruity Freshness: Don’t forget to add some fresh fruit for a delightful and refreshing balance to the sweetness.
- Round Cookies for Ornaments: Round cookies and candies can mimic the look of ornaments, adding a fun holiday touch to your board.
Making Heart-shaped Candy Canes
First let me say, this mini project is totally optional but I love the addition of these sweet, very easy-to-make heart candy canes on this holiday dessert charcuterie board. To make them I bought small candy canes and Complete Meringue Powder Mix from Amazon. Here are the steps for making them:
- Prepare the meringue (using the royal icing recipe) according to the package instructions. You’ll need powdered sugar, water, and a mixer as per the mix’s directions.
- Unwrap the small candy canes from their protective clear wrap and place them on a plate.
- Take one candy cane and use a knife to add a small dollop of the meringue mixture to both ends of the candy cane.
- Take a second candy cane and connect it to the ends of the first candy cane to create a heart shape.
- Place the heart-shaped candy cane on a cookie sheet or another flat surface. You can use parchment paper if available.
- Allow the meringue to dry completely. This typically takes 6-8 hours so plan ahead!
See me make these heart-shaped candy canes here.
String Licorice Bow
Let’s move to that adorable sweet bow made from long-string licorice. I used this licorice which worked out great. Other than the licorice, all you need are kitchen shears. Here are the quick and easy steps for this licorice bow!
Step-by-step Instructions for Making a String Licorice Bow
String Licorice Bow
Equipment
- 1 Pair kitchen shears
Materials
- 1 Pkg Long Red String Licorice
Instructions
- Begin by removing the licorice from its packaging.
- Set aside three strings of licorice; these will be used to tie the bow later.
- Take the remaining bundle of licorice and use your hands to separate approximately 1/2 of the licorice from the bundle. The remaining licorice can be saved for enjoyment later.
- Lay the bundle of licorice in a straight line. Gently take the right end of the licorice bundle and bring the ends down to the center, allowing about 4 to 5 inches to hang.
- Repeat the same process with the left side of the bundle and cross it over the right side.
- Gather the licorice at the center where the two sides crossed.
- Now, take the three licorice strings that you set aside earlier and place them vertically under the gathered center.
- With caution to prevent breakage, tie the licorice strings in a double knot at the center of the bow.
- Carefully flip the bow over to the backside.
- Double knot in the back using the tails from the 3 strings from the front knot. This will reinforce your bow.
- Flip the bow back over, so it's right side up. With Kitchen shears trim the ends so the tails of the bow are even.
- Here is a shot of the finished bow.
- Gently place the licorice bow on top of the charcuterie board. Feel free to "fluff" it a bit by gently pulling on some of the licorice. Arrange candies, cookies, and fruit around and within the bow to your preference.
Quick Tips for Assembling Your Dessert Charcuterie Wreath Board:
With your heart-shaped candy cane treats and the licorice bow already in place on the top of the wreath board, you’re set to assemble the board. Here are some tips:
- Cluster and Group: Arrange your candies, cookies, and other treats by clustering or grouping them together. This creates visual interest and makes it easy for guests to select their favorites.
- Around the Bow: Position some treats in and around the licorice bow for an added festive touch. This draws attention to the centerpiece of your board. If you would prefer you can make a simple ribbon bow instead of the licorice bow. I would suggest using a 1 1/2″ wide red ribbon.
- Size and Color Balance: Pay attention to even distribution of items based on their size and color. This ensures a balanced and appealing display.
- Fruit as Finishing Touch: If you’re adding fruit to your board, such as raspberries, place them last, just before serving. This helps to keep the fruit fresh and vibrant.
With these simple tips, your dessert charcuterie wreath board will come together beautifully, creating a delightful and tempting centerpiece for your holiday gathering.
Bonus Tip: Add a touch of whimsy by dusting some confectioners’ sugar over the fruit, creating a fun snowy effect.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Dessert Charcuterie Wreath Recipe
You can include a wide range of holiday treats such as Christmas candies, chocolates, cookies, mini cupcakes, macarons, marshmallows, dried fruits, nuts, and even small pastries or tarts.
Transporting the delicate dessert charcuterie wreath can be challenging due to its easy shifting. To keep it secure, opt for a tight-fitting container with tissue or parchment paper, or assemble the board at your destination if possible.
If you don’t have a wreath-shaped board, you can still craft a delightful Christmas dessert charcuterie display on a large platter. Here are some suggestions:
1. Cut out a wreath-shaped pattern from parchment paper and position it on a round board. Arrange your charcuterie items within the parchment wreath to maintain the desired shape.
2. Incorporate fresh herbs like rosemary to give your charcuterie arrangement the appearance of a vibrant wreath.
3. Introduce red and green elements to infuse a festive look into your board.
4. Beginning from the center, organize the treats in a circular arrangement, creating layers and adding textural variety.
5. To add a festive touch, apply holiday-themed decorations around the treats.
Absolutely! You can tailor the treats to accommodate dietary preferences or allergies. Consider including gluten-free cookies, dairy-free chocolates, or nut-free options to ensure everyone can enjoy the festive spread.
It’s easy to make a variety of festive charcuterie boards using this wreath charcuterie board. Here are some ideas:
Cheese board: Up your charcuterie game by making an all-cheese board. Be sure to use both hard cheeses and soft cheeses, like pepper jack cheese, brie, small mozzarella balls, etc. Incorporating fresh rosemary sprigs adds both a delightful flavor and an impressive touch to this charcuterie spread.
Hot cocoa board: Get into the holiday spirit with a festive Christmas charcuterie wreath board featuring marshmallows, candy canes, assorted chocolate candy, and a small bowl of whipped cream – perfect for creating a delightful hot cocoa board. This creative treat is bound to be a crowd-pleaser at your family gatherings!
Traditional charcuterie board: Arrange a variety of your favorite meats, cheeses, crackers, bread, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables in a circular pattern. You can even add small dishes of dips, green olives, and nuts to complete the spread.
Caprese salad board: Here’s a fantastic holiday charcuterie board suggestion: Craft a Caprese salad board featuring ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil, drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Beyond being a delectable appetizer, the red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil create a stunning display of Christmas colors. Arranging it in the shape of a wreath adds an extra touch of festive flair!
Vegetable board:
Elevate your holiday gathering by transforming your holiday wreath charcuterie board into an all-veggie delight. Load it up with cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, red peppers, and an array of other crisp vegetables, and don’t forget to include a variety of flavorful dips for a wholesome and colorful feast!
Antipasto style board: Lay out some small plates and serve your guests a gorgeous Christmas charcuterie board filled with artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, fresh herbs, sweet cherry peppers or roasted red peppers, roasted eggplant, and savory meats. Add sliced bread toasted and drizzled with olive oil. Yum!
As we gear up for the holiday season, why not add a dash of creativity to your gatherings? The Dessert Charcuterie Wreath Recipe lets you whip up a visually captivating centerpiece that’s sure to charm your guests. Whether you’re crafting heart-shaped candy canes, tying the perfect licorice bow, or curating an array of delightful treats, this edible masterpiece promises to steal the spotlight. Thank you for visiting the blog today I hope you found this Holiday Dessert Charcuterie Wreath Recipe (With Licorice Bow Instructions) inspiring! I promise it will make your celebrations even sweeter. Visit my Charcuterie Board post on LTK to shop holiday charcuterie board items.
For a little holiday inspiration visit these posts:
Mod Podge Photo Transfer: An Easy Laser Printer Method: This is a fun holiday project you won’t want to miss using a simple transfer technique!
Green and White Christmas Decor: Take a stroll through our home all decked out for the holidays in green and white.
Have fun creating your own Holiday Dessert Charcuterie Wreath!
