Galentine’s Day is celebrated every year on February 13th — and if you plan on being the hostess with the mostest and inviting over a few of your favorite girlfriends, then you may need some Galentine’s Day party ideas.
Charcuterie boards are great for the holidays — and you can even get by with designing them on a budget. But charcuterie boards are so much more than cheeses, crackers, and meats. This Galentine’s Day, put together a dessert-themed charcuterie board perfect for any last-minute party ideas you may need.
How to create dessert-themed charcuterie boards for Galentine’s Day
1. Choose a serving board
First of all, you’ll need to select a serving board. This will be a blank slate, literally and figuratively, for your Galentine’s Day culinary masterpiece. Choose a flat, large, wooden surface such as a butcher block or a large cutting board like one of my personal favorites, Fab Slabs.
2. Cover in cookies
After you’ve decided on your Galentine’s Day serving block, board, or tray, cover it with cookies. They’re crunchy, easy to eat, and a sweet Galentine’s Day treat. If you’re feeling festive, bake up a batch of homemade cookies from scratch. Choose from brownie bites, traditional chocolate chip cookies, or heart-shaped sugar cookies frosted in pink, red, and white icing with a smattering of sprinkles.
If you prefer other crunchy treats, include a few pieces of Nonni’s Triple Chocolate Biscotti or Simple Mills Honey Cinnamon Sweet Thins. They also come in Chocolate Brownie and Mint Chocolate for all of the chocolate lovers in your life.
3. Cue more crunch
Crunchy cookies are great, but you may also consider including brittles, candied nuts, or granola like these super cute tubes from Struesli. The packaging is so beautiful and chic, you’ll want to include them on your dessert board just as they are.
Roasted nuts also add a layer of flavor. You can even include flavored nuts like these Peppermint Cocoa and Snickerdoodle options from Blue Diamond, which are perfect for all of the wintertime holidays.
4. Don’t forget the dip
Besides all of the sweet treats, you’ll want one or two bowls of homemade or store-bought dips. Think of things like caramel dip, chocolate dip, or fruit dip. You may even decide to whip up a peanut butter fluff or simply open a jar of manuka honey like this one from The New Zealand Honey Co.
5. Find some fruit
Another great addition to a Galentine’s Day dessert-themed charcuterie board is fruit. If you’re a chocolate connoisseur, opt for chocolate-covered fruit like chocolate-filled raspberries, dark chocolate cherries, or hand-dipped chocolate-covered strawberries. Why choose just one when you can have all three?
You can also include fresh fruit, which will add a bright burst of color to your dessert board. It will also act as a refreshing palate cleanser in between the decadent and rich tastes of the other desserts. Some great fresh fruit options for your dessert board include any type of berry, grapes, or slices of apples, pears, or Sumo Citrus, which just so happen to be the sweetest mandarins out there.
If you’re looking to add a touch of texture to your Galentine’s Day dessert board, then opt for some candied fruit, dehydrated fruit, or dried fruit. You can even include crunchy fruit chips like these fun flavors from RIND Snacks.
6. Include something salty
When I have something sweet, I always want to pair it with a handful or two of something salty, like crackers, popcorn, or pretzels.
Some of my salty favorite options are From the Ground Up Cauliflower Pretzel Twists, Made Good Cheddar Star Puffed Crackers, and Moonshot Crackers. If you want something salty and sweet, try YOU NEED THIS Cinnamon Churro Puffs.
7. Make room for candy
Once your Galentine’s Day dessert board is complete and teeming with delicious sweet treats, locate any holes in your design and fill them in with handfuls of colorful pink, red, and white Galentine’s Day candies.
Big, fluffy white marshmallows will do the trick — or if you have larger gaps, gather little bowls and fill them with more mindful candy options. Some of my favorites are from YumEarth and include Valentine’s Day candies like Choco Yums, Giggles, and Gummy Fruits. Can’t decide? You could also grab a variety of Galentine’s Day treats and opt for their Valentine’s Day Variety Box.
More Galentine’s Day party ideas
This Galentine’s Day, host a dessert-themed charcuterie board night. Order some pizzas or make some at home like these fun flatbread pizzas from Eat Banza. Then, turn on the fireplace or light this nifty little indoor fire pit from Colsen. (Legit, it’s one of my favorite things ever.)
Set up a complimentary DIY hot chocolate bar complete with hot coffee options like these fun flavored K-Cups from Angelino’s Coffee as well as some tea offerings. Because let’s be real: Who doesn’t love a hot beverage coupled with their dessert?
Be sure to have packets of things like Upright Instant Oat Milk for anyone who prefers a splash in their coffee or tea. Hey, it’s the little things that go a long way and serve as such a nice touch to an already super sweet night with girlfriends.
Finally, bring out the Galentine’s Day dessert board and dig in with all of your favorite gal pals. Happy Galentine’s Day, everyone!
