Chocolate board ideas

[Keepthechangefilthyanimal]

I’m hosting some friends and family on Christmas Day night but only for dessert.

I think I’ll do a big cheese board with port, grapes, figs etc and then I though I’d do a chocolate board. Basically everything out, people can help themselves rather than desserts with cream, custard or ice cream.

For the chocolate, there will be lindt balls. I have also got a tin of chocolate popcorn, pretzels and nuts from Marks and Spencer. Any other ideas?

How about some of those mini chocolate rolls you get from m and s in little tubs. They also do choc orange flavour, which are lovely.

I'm a bit of a chocolate Philistine, but my dream would be a board which also included Maltesers, Matchsticks ( mint) and a selection of chopped up chocolate bars e.g. snickers, mars, lion, whispa etc!

Picking at individual chocolates isn't actually dessert, is it?

Chocolate brownie pieces would be a bit more dessert-like.

Tesco used to do own-brand 'After Eights' with Turkish delight centres instead of mint.

I love dessert, that wouldn't cut it for me!

chocolate pies

I actually think this is a lovely idea after dinner generally, but I’m less sure as you’ve said you are inviting people over but only doing dessert.

Now I love a Lindor ball, but if you served up a bowl after promising me dessert, I’d feel a bit short changed.

I would do cheese too. So cheese - brie, cheddar, something else hard, maybe another soft cheese, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, apple, honey, chutneys, crackers. Interspersed with chunks of dark chocolate and other chocolates - bulk buy the six packs from hotel Chocolat.

So guests can eat cheese and fruit or chocolate and fruit or all!

I think just chocolate would be underwhelming and cheese is definitely an acceptable 'afters'. I'd probably actually also have something else sweet, like a couple of fruit tarts. Present like you would a whole brie.

I think Lindt balls are fine to include but you really need to make it a bit fancier

You need some proper desserts in there if that’s what you are hosting! The chocolate board sounds nice, but fairly ordinary, more like extras than the dessert. There are usually many lovely Christmassy options out there, you can’t go wrong really. But- just a cheeseboard and a few chocolates isn’t my idea of Christmas luxury dessert… sorry.

I'm getting over-invested in this now. True dessert/chocolate aficionados would prefer a dessert board with a range of desserts they could have small amounts of, and later a chocolate board with what you have in mind.

Chocolate mousse for dipping
Tony's Chocolonely
Chocolate fudge
Chocolate Philadelphia

It's not really dessert. I'd buy a couple of fancy desserts. People pick at chocolates all the time over Xmas so I don't think a plate of chocolates is going to feel v special.

Google 'dessert charcuterie board' and look at the pictures

Matchmakers
Maltesers
Chocolate mini rolls
Aldi have chocolate "Pringles" which you can gently warm and mould into flower shapes (with malteser centres and matchmaker stems)

I must be odd as think it sounds great!

I’d definitely do Maltesers, but maybe also get one of those chocolate salamis - the ones that are chocolate and biscuit? Then some interesting big slabs with different flavours broken up. I would also probably buy some mini fruit or lemon tarts or something similar and add some mini mince pies - all of which can be bought easily. Could do some fruit kebabs if you fancied as well, stuffed dates etc.

I think if you're going to do a 'chocolate board' then it should be really special, luxury chocolates rather than just a bunch of bog-standard stuff grouped together. Or some miniature chocolate desserts like chocolate pots, individual cheesecakes/tarts, chocolate-dipped fruit.

There are loads of mini desserty options around at Christmastime. Buy or make them according to your available time/skill/budget. Nothing wrong with your plans as they stand, but people invited for pudding will probably expect something more.

I think you need to at least include a chocolate yule log, as others have said, if I was providing dessert I would offer some actual desserts as well as chocolates.

I like the idea of a cheeseboard and a chocolate board in certain situations but people might have been eating chocolates all afternoon on Christmas Day. I'd like something like lemon tart with raspberries or blueberries to contrast all the richness. Could you offer something like that, with lots of fruit on the cheeseboard (satsumas, grapes, dried apricots) and a cut down version of your chocolate board?
Rocky Road would be an easy to make addition to the chocolate board, given that your OP was to ask for suggestions, not to be told not to do it!

I think if you're hosting for dessert you really need to have desserts.

Cheese & chocolate is fine for nibbles after, but really not dessert.
But I'm not sure if you were asking for opinions on the concept just what to have?!

So if I was doing a chocolate board (at Christmas) for guests (after dessert) I'd have...

A glass bowl with Quality Street - they're not as nice as they used to be, but they still look lovely under lights (or I add a small set of twinkly lights) done After Eights (originals nothing with Turkish Delight 🤮) a couple of chocolate logs (logs of soft chocolate not cake) depends whose coming, but mini foil wrapped Santa's/reindeer etc if suitable. Other individually wrapped truffles etc.

Personally I wouldn't put bowls of non wrapped chocolates out.

Oh blimey. Ok. Everyone who is coming has said no to big desserts. Sorry, that’s a misleading word!

DS and BIL just want a magnum. The DC ice cream cones to decorate. Cousins of child age want popcorn!

Cheese is an all round yes.

Chocolate Yule log is a good one. Might just do that instead.

Thanks for posting everyone. I see exactly where you are all coming from.

Ah, I see. Little ones sometimes like the Santa face cakes, Rudolf or similar too, we usually get something like that for the dc instead of choc log

Ah OK you are avoiding big desserts!

I think you can usually get mini cornetto style ice creams around Christmas time, Would that work? I like the idea of pretzels alongside the chocolate options. What about some nice shortbread too?

You could make reindeer /snowman bark if you have time. ferrero rocher, match makers and chocolate pretzels always go down well here. M&S sell tubs of mini cake bites (as do all other supermarkets I'm sure) if you did want a cakey option, but buy whatever you want it's your event 😊

christmasfood.marksandspencer.com/collection-chocolate-pine-cones-serves-6-/p/fdp60128714

How about some of these? Would make it more dessert like but not too big?

Pinterest is fab for ideas like this!