A dessert board is a beautiful way to display an array of sweet treats. It's perfect for any occasion, whether you're hosting a birthday party, baby shower, or holiday get-together. Making a buttercream dessert board is easier than you might think, and in this blog post, I'll show you how to do it in just a few easy steps! This is basically the dessert version of those viral TikTok butter boards.

This one-of-a-kind spread is sure to tantalize taste buds and bring some fun flair to any gathering. This easy dessert idea can also be served for Valentine's Day or Mother's day, too.

BUTTERCREAM DESSERT BOARD

Elevate your dessert game with a whimsical buttercream board! Set out some beautiful buttercream and serve delicious items to dip into it.

DESSERT BOARD INGREDIENTS WITH BUTTERCREAM

There are two parts to making this board. First we will make a homemade buttercream. You can skip this and opt for store-bought frosting if you like. Next, we will add the perfect dipping pastries, chocolates and cookies to take this to the next level.

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING INGREDIENTS

You can easily whip up a delicious batch of buttercream with a handful of simple ingredients. You can also tint the buttercream in any color you like to match your occasion.

• Confectioners’ Sugar 
• Unsalted Butter
• Vanilla Extract
• Pink Gel Good Coloring (Neon Brite Pink Liqua-Gel® Food Coloring)

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE THIS

• Measuring Cups and Spoons of Various Sizes
• Medium Mixing Bowl
• Spatula
• Electric Mixer
• Charcuterie Board (suggested size 11.5” x 17.5”)
• Piping Bag
• Wilton 1M Piping Tip
• Small Candy Bowls (optional)

CANDIES, COOKIES AND TREATS TO ADD

Here are some thought-starters on what you can add to pair up perfectly with your buttercream.

FRESH FRUITS - include your favorites such as strawberries, grapes, pineapple slices, kiwis sliced in half, raspberries, etc.

VALENTINE STYLE CANDIES - work perfectly for this such as chocolate hearts, red and pink jelly beans, marshmallow hearts.

PASTRIES, COOKIES & TREATS - add a selection of mini donuts, mini brownies, mini cinnamon buns, heart shaped cookies, shortbread cookies, chocolate dipped cookies, pretzels, chocolate covered pretzel rods, Oreos, pound cake, chocolate squares.

MAKE A BUTTERCREAM DESSERT BOARD

First step is to select a large charcuterie board. Pictured here is an 11.5” x 17.5” rectangle board. Add your selected candies into a few small dishes and set aside for now.

Beat the confectioners’ sugar, butter and vanilla extract in a medium bowl on high until the mixture is light and fluffy. This will take about 5 minutes total.

Next, tint the buttercream pink by adding pink gel coloring until desired color is achieved. Then place the buttercream into a piping bag with a Wilton 1M icing tip.

Place the bowls of candy on the board. 

Next up, add pretty swirls of the pink frosting randomly around the board being sure to make them different sizes from smaller to larger.

Once the frosting is added, move onto adding the larger cookies and fruit and start placing these around the swirls of frosting. 

Lastly fill up the rest of the space with more of your items for dipping. Be sure to fill in all of the smaller gaps with extra little candies. 

WHEN TO SERVE A DESSERT BOARD WITH FROSTING?

If you ask me, serving up a buttercream board any day of the week is just right. However, here are some special occasions that this would be absolutely perfect for.

• Valentine's Day
• Mother's Day
• Baby Showers
• Engagement Parties
• Bachelorette Parties
• Anniversaries
• Easter Brunch
• Spring Brunch

BUTTERCREAM DESSERT BOARD FAQ

How to Store Leftovers?

Buttercream can stay out at room temperature for about 3 days but it should be wrapped well in food-safe plastic wrap. 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. 

Which Cookies and Sweets Work Best for Dipping into the Buttercream?

The best cookies and sweets for dipping into the buttercream are ones that are firm enough to not fall apart in the dip. Any sorts of cookies or brownies would work. For cake pieces, a regular cake probably isn’t firm enough (it would crumble on the board) but something firmer like a pound cake cut into small cubes would work well. Choose items that won’t dry out quickly once they are cut up and placed on the board. 

What is the Best Way to Display Items on a Dessert Charcuterie Board?

Always start with the biggest items first. For example, this board would be the bowls of candy first, then the swirls of buttercream, then the bigger cookies and lastly the little candies to fill in any gaps. Also be sure to alternate colors in the layout (for example, don’t put too many dark items beside each other like brownies and chocolate cookies). 

Are you ready to make your own yummy board? You can easily save or print the complete tutorial below.

If you make a buttercream dessert board, please share with me! I would love to see it! Tag @cutefetti on social media!

Happy grazing!