Creating An Easter Candy Dessert Board
- Dawn McConnell
- Mar 18
- 4 min read
As the beautiful promise of Spring arrives, the gentle warmth of the sun replaces the frigid chill of winter, and we begin to anticipate all the gifts spring offers us. Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth, the animals come out of their slumber, plants and flowers slowly awaken as the warm sun urges them to grow new and bountiful leaves and flowers. I have always loved the energy of Spring, you can feels it’s promise to us of the explosion of colour and scents that will soon emerge. Fragrant bulbs like Hyacinth and Tulips spring up from the recently frozen ground, a visual promise that winter has crept away and the time for gardening is near.
Spring also naturally turns our thoughts to the Easter holiday, a time we celebrate the renewal of life. I have developed a passion for using seasonal decor in my home, transforming my living spaces into rooms that reflect the spirit of Easter. Mantles in my main rooms are decorated with florals and greenery, bunnies and eggs in various shapes and sizes are lovingly placed throughout my home to welcome visitors into a warm and joyful space. As the designated host in my family for many of the Easter celebrations, I take great pride in creating an inviting and festive atmosphere for our gatherings. From planning the menu, which includes traditional dishes and seasonal treats, to setting the table with beautiful linens and my favourite dinnerware, every detail is carefully considered. I strive to ensure that our home feels like a warm and welcoming hug, a place where memories are made, laughter is shared, and love is celebrated. The joy of hosting allows me to express my creativity and passion for this beautiful holiday, making it a truly special time for my family and me.
At many family events, I serve traditional charcuterie boards to my guests as we await the main dinner of the evening. The joy of the charcuterie board is grounded in your guests' experience as you invite them to graze on an array of foods that are not only delicious but also thoughtfully curated to stimulate conversation and connection. A charcuterie board is more than just a selection of meats and cheeses; it is a vibrant tapestry of flavours, textures, and colours that engages all the senses. My guests enjoy sampling a bite of food here and there, chatting and sharing stories and memories while nibbling at the board.
While deciding what I wanted to do for Easter dinner, I thought that a similar idea to a charcuterie board may work for Easter but with a simple twist. I decided I wanted to create an Easter Candy Board, I was certain that all the kids in my family would love it and I had a feeling that the adults may love it too. I began by buying the candy, I found bulk stores to be the best source for a good variety of Easter themed candy. I also found dollar stores to be a great place to pick up little things that add a bit of holiday flair! I wanted to fill the platter with the soft pastel colours that many of us associate with the easter holiday. I bought a wide variety of candy but some of the highlights are jelly beans, chocolate covered candies like M and M’s, fuzzy peaches, little Peeps chicks, chocolate carrots, sour ropes, and of course a large amount of the much beloved foil covered chocolate egg. There are so many options to choose from that I had too many candies and actually created additional displays from them all which featured the dessert board.
To help my guests graze on the candy board easily, I purchased decorative paper muffin cups from a home decor store, they are meant to be used to make cupcakes in but they were the perfect size for people to grab and fill as they walked by the dessert board. My candy dessert board became an instant success, a tradition I have repeated now for several years. My favourite observation has been how much the adults love it! Many memories are shared as we stand together, picking out our favourite candy, laughing as we remember and share the joyful memories of the past.
Making the board is very simple, simply pick a favourite board or platter that feels right for your decor and seasonal decorations. For Easter, I chose to use a basic white platter, I wanted to keep the look bright and fresh. I have since done other dessert platters using chocolate and cookies for Christmas and workshops where I use wooden boards more like a traditional charcuterie board would. Dollar Stores often have a great variety of fun and easy platters and chargers that work wonderfully for this application as well. Place your candy on the platter in groupings, I used bowls to contain some of the smaller candies while creatively styling the sour ropes and peeps to add interest and movement. Finish your board off by placing it in a beautiful, easily accessible location of you home. If you like, place little cups or jars beside the board for your guests to set their candy into. Be sure to place spoons and tongs out so guests do not have to use their fingers to get the candy although my father seemed to ignore the utensil request and was often caught snitching candy with his hands as he walked by so; beware of the candy thief’s in your own family.
I hope this post inspires you to get creative with candy this Easter. The ideas are limitless, the candy delicious, and the fun immeasurable!
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