Pin it!A candy charcuterie board lays candy out the way a cheese board lays out meat and cheese: in tight groups by color and type, with a few small bowls as anchors and something salty or fresh, like pretzels, nuts or strawberries, tucked between the sweets. Almost everything is store-bought, so there is nothing to bake, and the colors do most of the work.
Below are 17 candy charcuterie board ideas for birthdays, movie nights, game days, showers and any party: a classic candy board, a sour candy board, a fun-size candy bar board, a retro candy board, a candy and cheese pairing board, a candy salad board and more. Each candy board idea lists exactly what's on it, with amounts and how many it serves.
Candy charcuterie board ideas
1. Classic Candy Charcuterie Board
Pin it!A little of everything: chocolate, gummies, sour worms, licorice and chocolate-covered pretzels around two bowls, with strawberries for color. Serves 12.
What's on the board
- 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
- 6 oz candy-coated chocolate pieces, in a small bowl
- 4 oz malted milk balls, in a small bowl
- 12 red licorice twists, cut in half (24 pieces)
- 18 chocolate-covered pretzels
- 20 mini peanut butter cups, unwrapped
- 6 oz gummy bears
- 4 oz sour gummy worms
- 9 strawberries
How to make it
- Set the two bowls at opposite corners and fill them with the candy-coated chocolates and malted milk balls.
- Lay the licorice pieces in a winding S-shaped line down the middle of the board.
- Shingle the chocolate-covered pretzels in two rows and line the peanut butter cups in a curve.
- Rinse the strawberries, pat them dry and set them in two groups.
- Fill every gap with gummy bears and sour gummy worms.
My tip: When I made a Christmas candy board, candy cane bites and Twizzlers went alongside cookies and mini cupcakes.
2. Chocolate-Covered Candy Board
Pin it!Everything dipped in chocolate: cherries, almonds, peanuts, caramels, raisins, espresso beans and white chocolate pretzels, with raspberries for a bright contrast. Serves 10.
What's on the board
- 1 board, about 12 x 18 inches
- 12 chocolate-covered cherries, unwrapped, in mini paper candy cups
- 8 white chocolate-covered pretzels
- 5 oz chocolate-covered almonds
- 5 oz chocolate-covered peanuts
- 4 oz chocolate-covered caramel candies
- 4 oz chocolate-covered raisins, in a small bowl
- 3 oz chocolate-covered espresso beans, in a small bowl
- 6 oz raspberries
How to make it
- Set the raisin and espresso bean bowls on the board, well apart.
- Line the chocolate-covered cherries up in two rows in their paper cups.
- Shingle the white chocolate pretzels in a row so the light color breaks up the brown.
- Pile the almonds, peanuts and caramels in tight separate clusters.
- Tuck the raspberries into the gaps.
Where to get it
Chocolate-covered cherries are usually with the boxed chocolates; chocolate-covered espresso beans are in the bulk or coffee aisle, but stock varies, so swap in more chocolate-covered almonds if you can't find them.
3. Sour Candy Board
Pin it!Sour belts rolled into spirals, sour worms, watermelon gummies, peach rings and blue raspberry gummies, with green apple slices and salty pretzels to balance the pucker. Serves 10.
What's on the board
- 1 board, about 12 x 18 inches
- 6 rainbow sour belts, each rolled into a spiral
- 5 oz sour gummy worms
- 5 oz sour watermelon gummies
- 4 oz sour peach gummy rings
- 4 oz sour blue raspberry gummies
- 3 oz sour candy-coated fruit chews, in a small bowl
- 2 green apples, sliced (about 20 slices) and tossed with 1 tsp lemon juice
- 24 mini pretzel twists
How to make it
- Roll each sour belt into a tight spiral and set them in a row.
- Set the bowl of sour fruit chews near one end.
- Slice the apples, toss them with the lemon juice so they don't brown, and fan them in two curved rows.
- Pile each sour gummy in its own cluster, alternating the colors.
- Line the pretzels along the edges.
My recommended tip: Toss cut apple or pear slices with a little lemon juice to keep them from browning, or slice them right before serving.
4. Fun-Size Candy Bar Board
Pin it!Six kinds of fun-size candy bars, unwrapped and lined up in rows, with a few cut in half to show the caramel and nougat layers inside, plus salted peanuts and pretzels. Serves 12.
What's on the board
- 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
- 8 fun-size chocolate wafer bars, unwrapped
- 9 fun-size peanut, caramel and nougat bars, unwrapped: 4 left whole, 5 cut in half to show the layers
- 9 fun-size chocolate caramel cookie bars, unwrapped: 4 left whole, 5 cut in half
- 8 fun-size crisped rice chocolate bars, unwrapped
- 8 fun-size chocolate nougat bars, unwrapped
- 8 fun-size coconut chocolate bars, unwrapped
- 3 oz salted roasted peanuts
- 10 mini pretzel twists
How to make it
- Unwrap all the candy bars.
- Cut 5 of the peanut nougat bars and 5 of the caramel cookie bars in half with a sharp knife.
- Line each kind of bar up in its own shingled row, with the cut halves cut side up.
- Fill the gaps with peanuts and pretzels.
Why it works: Chewy caramel and nougat bars need something salty and crisp, and mini pretzel twists are just the thing.
5. Caramel and Toffee Board
Pin it!Soft caramels, sea salt caramels, chocolate-covered toffee, butterscotch and caramel creams around a bowl of caramel dip, with shortbread, pecans and green grapes for dipping. Serves 10.
What's on the board
- 1 board, about 12 x 18 inches
- 1/2 cup caramel dip, in a small bowl
- 12 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
- 12 chocolate-covered sea salt caramels
- 4 chocolate-covered toffee bars (about 1.4 oz each), each cut into 3 pieces (12 pieces)
- 4 oz butterscotch hard candies, unwrapped, in a small bowl
- 4 oz caramel creams
- 9 shortbread cookies
- 2 oz pecan halves
- 12 oz green grapes
How to make it
- Set the caramel dip and the butterscotch bowl on the board, well apart.
- Set the soft caramels in a neat block and the sea salt caramels beside them.
- Cut each toffee bar into 3 pieces and pile them in two spots.
- Shingle the shortbread in a row near the dip.
- Fill the gaps with caramel creams, pecans and grapes.
Where to get it
Caramel dip is usually in the produce section near the apples.
Candy board ideas for parties
6. Birthday Candy Board
Pin it!Rock candy, swirl lollipops, sprinkle pretzels, rainbow chocolates and gummies, as bright as a birthday party should be. Serves 12.
What's on the board
- 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
- 6 rock candy sticks in mixed colors, laid flat
- 6 rainbow swirl lollipops (about 2 inches across), laid flat
- 28 white chocolate-covered pretzels with rainbow sprinkles
- 6 oz candy-coated chocolate pieces in rainbow colors, in a small bowl
- 4 oz rainbow nonpareil chocolate drops, in a small bowl
- 5 oz gummy bears
- 4 oz fruit chews, unwrapped
- 12 strawberries
How to make it
- Set the two bowls on the board and fill them.
- Fan the rock candy sticks out from one corner and lay the lollipops flat with their sticks pointing out.
- Shingle the sprinkle pretzels in three rows.
- Add the strawberries in two groups, then fill the gaps with gummy bears and fruit chews.
Pro tip: For a long party, set out a smaller board and keep backups in the fridge. Swap in fresh trays and clean bowls instead of topping off food that's been sitting out.
Where to get it
Rock candy sticks and swirl lollipops are often in the party supply aisle or with the bulk candy; stock varies, and online is a reliable fallback.
7. Movie Night Candy Board
Pin it!A bowl of popcorn in the middle with the movie theater candy around it: chocolate-covered peanuts, mints and caramels, red gummy fish and licorice. Serves 6.
What's on the board
- 1 board, about 12 x 16 inches
- 1 bag microwave popcorn (about 3 oz), popped, in a medium bowl
- 10 red licorice twists
- 3 oz chocolate-covered peanuts
- 3 oz chocolate-covered mints
- 3 oz chocolate-covered caramel candies
- 3 oz red gummy fish
- 16 mini pretzel twists
How to make it
- Pop the popcorn following the package directions, let it cool, and pile it into the bowl in the middle of the board.
- Lay the licorice twists side by side in a neat row.
- Pile each candy in its own tight cluster around the bowl.
- Fill the gaps with pretzels.
8. Kids' Candy Board
Pin it!Soft, small candies with bear-shaped graham crackers, mini sandwich cookies, strawberries and grapes, made for school-age kids. Serves 8.
What's on the board
- 1 board, about 12 x 18 inches
- 4 oz candy-coated chocolate pieces, in a small bowl
- 3 oz mini marshmallows, in a small bowl
- 24 bear-shaped graham crackers
- 8 mini chocolate sandwich cookies
- 5 oz gummy worms
- 4 oz gummy fish in mixed colors
- 12 strawberries
- 8 oz green grapes, cut in half
How to make it
- Set the two bowls on the board and fill them.
- Line the graham crackers in a row and shingle the sandwich cookies beside them.
- Pile the gummy worms and gummy fish in clusters.
- Add the strawberries in two groups and fill the gaps with the halved grapes.
- Keep this board for school-age kids: the CDC lists gummy candies, marshmallows and uncut grapes among choking hazards for young children.
9. Team Colors Candy Board
Pin it!Candy in just your team's two colors (shown here in blue and white) for game day or a graduation party: chocolates, gummies, rock candy, yogurt pretzels and blueberries. Serves 12.
What's on the board
- 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
- 6 oz blue candy-coated chocolate pieces, in a small bowl
- 3 oz yogurt-covered raisins, in a small bowl
- 28 yogurt-covered pretzels
- 4 blue rock candy sticks, laid flat
- 5 oz blue raspberry gummy bears
- 3 1/2 oz white chocolate (1 bar), broken into about 20 pieces
- 6 oz blueberries
How to make it
- Set the two bowls on the board, well apart.
- Shingle the yogurt pretzels in two groups and lay the rock candy sticks side by side.
- Pile the gummy bears and white chocolate pieces in clusters.
- Fill the gaps with blueberries.
Where to get it
Candy-coated chocolate in a single color is in the party supply or bulk candy section or online; stock varies, so sorting a mixed bag by hand works too.
10. Candy Grazing Board for a Crowd
Pin it!One extra-large board with three bowls, two rivers of licorice, chocolate pretzels, peanut butter cups, gummies and fresh fruit for a big party. Serves 25.
What's on the board
- 1 extra-large board, about 18 x 30 inches
- 10 oz candy-coated chocolate pieces, in a small bowl
- 8 oz jelly beans, in a small bowl
- 8 oz malted milk balls, in a small bowl
- 12 red licorice twists, left whole
- 60 chocolate-covered mini pretzels
- 28 mini peanut butter cups, unwrapped
- 10 oz gummy bears
- 8 oz sour gummy worms
- 12 strawberries
- 1 lb green grapes
How to make it
- Set the three bowls across the board in a loose triangle and fill them.
- Lay the licorice twists in two long diagonal lines between the bowls.
- Shingle the chocolate pretzels in rows and line the peanut butter cups in curves.
- Add the strawberries and grape bunches in three or four spots.
- Fill every gap with gummy bears and sour worms.
Candy charcuterie with cheese, fruit and chocolate
11. Candy and Cheese Pairing Board
Pin it!Sweet and savory in three pairings: brie with dark chocolate and raspberries, aged cheddar with caramels and peanut butter cups, and aged gouda with chocolate-covered toffee, plus salami and crackers. Serves 8.
What's on the board
- 1 board, about 12 x 18 inches
- 8 oz brie (a small round), left whole
- 8 oz aged white cheddar (a block), sliced (about 16 slices)
- 7 oz aged gouda (a wedge), cut into about 12 thin triangles
- 6 oz sliced hard salami (about 24 slices), folded
- 3 1/2 oz dark chocolate (1 bar), broken into about 12 pieces
- 12 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
- 2 chocolate-covered toffee bars (about 1.4 oz each), each cut into 3 pieces (6 pieces)
- 10 mini peanut butter cups, unwrapped
- 4 oz raspberries
- 18 round crackers
How to make it
- Set the brie in one corner and pile the dark chocolate and raspberries beside it.
- Shingle the cheddar slices in a row with the caramels and peanut butter cups next to them.
- Shingle the gouda triangles in a row beside the toffee pieces.
- Fold the salami into two gentle winding lines between the sections and line the crackers along the edges.
- Serve the board within 2 hours of setting it out, since brie and other soft cheeses are perishable (USDA FSIS).
12. Candy and Fruit Board
Pin it!Fresh and dried fruit matched by color with candy in rainbow order: strawberries with red gummy fish, apricots with orange chews, blueberries with blue gummies and more. Serves 10.
What's on the board
- 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
- 8 strawberries
- 4 oz red gummy fish
- 12 dried apricots
- 4 oz orange fruit chews, unwrapped
- 3 oz dried pineapple chunks
- 4 oz lemon gummy fruit slices
- 8 oz green grapes
- 4 oz sour green apple gummy rings
- 6 oz blueberries
- 4 oz blue raspberry gummies
- 6 oz blackberries
- 4 oz grape gummy bears
How to make it
- Rinse the strawberries, grapes, blueberries and blackberries and pat them dry.
- Work across the board in rainbow order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
- Set each fruit right beside the candy of the same color, in tight clusters.
- Fill any gaps with more of the small berries and gummies.
13. Chocolate Bar Sampler Board
Pin it!Five chocolate bars broken into squares and lined up from white to dark, so everyone can taste their way across, with strawberries, raspberries, shortbread and almonds. Serves 8.
What's on the board
- 1 board, about 12 x 16 inches
- 3 1/2 oz white chocolate (1 bar), broken into squares
- 3 1/2 oz milk chocolate (1 bar), broken into squares
- 3 1/2 oz caramel-filled milk chocolate (1 bar), broken into squares
- 3 1/2 oz dark chocolate with almonds and sea salt (1 bar), broken into squares
- 3 1/2 oz dark chocolate, 70 to 72 percent cacao (1 bar), broken into squares
- 9 strawberries
- 4 oz raspberries
- 8 round shortbread cookies
- 2 oz roasted almonds
How to make it
- Break each bar along its lines into squares.
- Lay the chocolate in five rows across the board, from white to milk, caramel, sea salt dark and plain dark.
- Set the strawberries, raspberries and shortbread between the rows.
- Tuck the almonds into the small gaps.
More candy board ideas
14. Retro Candy Board
Pin it!Old-fashioned candy store favorites: saltwater taffy, candy necklaces, candy buttons, root beer barrels, malted milk balls, black licorice and circus peanuts, with peanuts in the shell. Serves 10.
What's on the board
- 1 board, about 12 x 18 inches
- 28 pieces saltwater taffy, in plain wax paper twists
- 4 candy necklaces, laid flat in loops
- 7 strips of candy buttons on paper
- 4 oz root beer barrel hard candies, in clear wrappers, in a small bowl
- 4 oz malted milk balls
- 5 black licorice twists
- 6 orange marshmallow circus peanuts
- 4 oz roasted peanuts in the shell
How to make it
- Set the root beer barrel bowl on the board.
- Lay the candy necklaces flat in loops and the candy button strips in a neat row.
- Pile the taffy in two groups and line up the licorice and circus peanuts.
- Fill the gaps with malted milk balls and peanuts in the shell.
Where to get it
Candy buttons, candy necklaces and circus peanuts are in the candy aisle or a retro candy section in some stores, or online; stock varies, so swap in any old-fashioned candy you find.
15. Pastel Candy Board
Pin it!Soft pinks, lavenders and mint greens for a baby shower, bridal shower or tea party: sugar-coated almonds, butter mints, strawberry wafers and white chocolate. Serves 12.
What's on the board
- 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
- 6 oz pastel candy-coated chocolate pieces, in a small bowl
- 4 oz pastel butter mints, in a small bowl
- 6 oz pastel sugar-coated almonds (Jordan almonds)
- 14 strawberry wafer cookies
- 3 oz pastel mini marshmallows
- 3 1/2 oz white chocolate (1 bar), broken into about 14 pieces
- 6 oz raspberries
- 8 oz green grapes
How to make it
- Set the two bowls on the board and fill them.
- Shingle the strawberry wafers in a row.
- Pile the sugar-coated almonds, marshmallows and white chocolate in clusters, mixing the soft colors.
- Fill the gaps with raspberries and grapes.
16. Candy Salad Board
Pin it!A bowl of tossed "candy salad" in the middle, with the same gummies and sour belts grouped around it for refills and pretzels along the edges. Serves 10.
What's on the board
- 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
- 1 medium glass bowl, for the candy salad
- 6 oz gummy bears
- 6 oz sour gummy worms
- 5 oz peach gummy rings
- 5 oz red gummy fish
- 4 oz gumdrops
- 4 oz sour belts, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 20 mini pretzel twists
How to make it
- Set the bowl in the middle of the board.
- Toss about half of each candy together in the bowl.
- Group the rest of each candy in its own section around the bowl.
- Set the pretzels in the four corners.
17. Small Candy Board for Two
Pin it!Chocolate truffles, peanut butter cups, chocolate almonds, sour worms, strawberries and pretzels on a little board for a night in. Serves 2.
What's on the board
- 1 small board, about 9 x 12 inches
- 6 chocolate truffles
- 11 mini peanut butter cups, unwrapped
- 1 1/2 oz chocolate-covered almonds
- 1 1/2 oz sour gummy worms
- 6 strawberries
- 10 mini pretzel twists
How to make it
- Line the truffles in a short row.
- Set the peanut butter cups and strawberries beside them.
- Pile the chocolate almonds and sour worms in small clusters.
- Tuck the pretzels into the gaps.
Why it works: Between chocolate truffles, mini pretzel twists and sour gummy worms, you get sweet, salty and sour.
How to make a candy charcuterie board
- Set the bowls first. Put 2 or 3 small bowls on the board for round candies that roll, such as candy-coated chocolates, malted milk balls or jelly beans.
- Add the biggest pieces. Peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered pretzels, candy bars and licorice go down next, in rows or a winding line.
- Group by color and type. Keep each candy in its own tight cluster and set contrasting colors side by side.
- Add something salty or fresh. Pretzels, nuts, cookies or berries break up the sweetness and make it read as a real board.
- Fill every gap. Finish with small gummies and loose candy until almost no board shows.
Want cookies and brownies too? See our dessert charcuterie board ideas. Planning for the holidays? Our Thanksgiving dessert boards include a fall candy board.
Candy charcuterie board FAQ
What candy is good for a charcuterie board?
Mix textures and colors: something chocolate (peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered pretzels or candy-coated chocolates), something chewy (gummy bears, licorice or taffy), something sour (sour gummy worms or sour belts) and something salty or crunchy (pretzels or nuts) to break up the sweetness. A few strawberries or grapes add fresh color.
How much candy do I need per person?
For a party where the candy board sits beside other food, about 2 to 3 ounces of candy per person is plenty, which is how the boards on this page are planned. If the board is the main dessert, plan a little more.
How far ahead can I make a candy charcuterie board?
Shelf-stable candy can be arranged a few hours ahead and covered tightly with plastic wrap. Add fresh fruit, cheese and anything else perishable right before serving, and don't leave those out more than 2 hours.
How do I keep chocolate from melting on a candy board?
Set the board out of direct sun and away from the stove or other heat. Chocolate can start to melt above about 75°F, so for a hot day or an outdoor party, lean on gummies, licorice and hard candy, which have no chocolate in them.
What kind of board do I need for a candy board?
Any large cutting board, serving tray or rimmed sheet pan works. Small bowls for round candies like malted milk balls and candy-coated chocolates keep them from rolling off, and a board with a raised edge helps too.
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