Name: Birthday Charcuterie Board
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 15 chocolate covered pretzels; 15 chocolate covered strawberries; 1 1/2 cups cookie dough bites; 15 macarons; 20 mini cupcakes; 25 marshmallows; 6 ounces raspberries

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Looking for fun birthday dessert ideas? Whip up this birthday charcuterie board with your favorite desserts!

Make your very own birthday charcuterie board filled with fun desserts and sweets! This is the perfect homemade or store-bought birthday dessert idea that would be great for any milestone birthday - 21st, 30th, or even 50th. You can change up the birthday treats to make them for adults or for kids. A birthday dessert board is a great alternative for people who don't like cake.

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How to Make a Dessert Charcuterie Board

This obviously isn't a true charcuterie board since charcuterie refers to the cured meat (sausage, Spanish chorizo, etc.). However, since charcuterie boards are so trendy, we're making a fun take with this birthday dessert platter.

First, you'll need to make your board. Since we are personalizing this to the age of the birthday guest, we are just using a piece of cardboard for the board. Draw the number(s) freehand or with a stencil on the cardboard (about 24 inches tall and 12 inches wide). Cut it out with a craft knife or box cutter.

Then, grab some parchment paper and carefully wrap the cardboard numbers in the parchment paper (see video for example). This will give us a clean surface to build our birthday charcuterie board on.

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Building a dessert charcuterie board is very similar to other charcuterie boards. There aren’t any hard & fast rules for this, so use your creativity. If it’s your first time, or you’re looking to step up your charcuterie game, here are some of my favorite plating secrets.

Use the “large” items has an anchor point. Place these down first.

Vary the colors of the items next to each other. Contrasting colors next to each other make the board POP!

In a similar sense, vary the textures that are next to each other.

Add some height or some small bowls for some visual change.

Once you’ve laid out all the main items, place some “dainty” items for a finishing touch - some flowers or extra sprinkles.

RELATED POST: Ultimate Charcuterie Board Shopping List

What Can I Make Instead of a Birthday Cake?

I know there are people out there who don't want cake for their birthday. Maybe they just don't like cake...or they're just looking for an alternative to a birthday cake. This dessert birthday charcuterie board is perfect for you!

What I love about this birthday platter is that it can be completely homemade or it can be completely store-bought. Here are the birthday dessert ideas (and recipes) I used on my board:

How Can I Personalize My Board?

There are so many ways you can personalize your dessert birthday charcuterie board. Whether you are looking for birthday treats for adults, or a fun kids party display, you can make this birthday platter very personalized for all your needs. Here are a few ways to customize it:

Make your "board" cutout for whatever age your birthday guest is turning. This is especially fun for milestone birthdays like 21st birthday, 30th, or 50th. If you're celebrating multiple people's birthdays, you could make a personalized board for each person, just make them a little smaller.

Customize the colors on the birthday board to match your party theme. Or, choose your birthday guest's favorite color(s)!

Use the birthday guest's favorite desserts, candies, and fruit.

To make this board full of birthday treats for adults, try adding a boozy touch - this would be fun for a 21st birthday too. Make boozy desserts and add in shooters (mini liquor bottles).

If you're making this for a kid's birthday party, print out their favorite characters, mount them to toothpicks, and incorporate them into the board on top of desserts.

Your birthday guest doesn't like cake or desserts? Try a fun savory board!

Bring A Birthday Dessert to a Friend

If you like this idea, but need an option that you can mail to a friend or drop off at their doorstep, this is a great option for you! Just grab a small cake box, and arrange your birthday charcuterie board in there!

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