A Christmas buttercream board is perfect when the thought of making a cake from scratch fills you with dread, but you still want that show-stopping holiday dessert moment. This gorgeous Christmas tree is made from creamy, delicious frosting surrounded by all your favorite holiday candies and cookies.
There is no baking required, just a container of frosting and some store-bought treats. Some of us are more excited by frosting swirls and sprinkles than the actual baking process!
This recipe is all about the joy of decorating: pipe on the green frosting, arrange your favorite store-bought cookies and candies, and let your creativity run wild. And this isn’t just a Christmas treat – you can quickly adapt this concept to any holiday or occasion.
So get ready to impress your guests with this effortless and festive dessert board, and leave the holiday baking to someone else! In this post, I’ll share all the tips, tricks, and insider secrets you need to create your own stunning buttercream masterpiece.
Are you looking for more simple Christmas treats? Try air-fried Christmas cookies, decorated sugar wafers, or classic Watergate salad.
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🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Vanilla or cream cheese frosting: I like to use store-bought to keep things simple, but if you’re feeling ambitious, go ahead and make your favorite homemade recipe!
- Green gel food coloring
- Mini M&Ms: for the star and ornaments.
- Christmas sprinkles
- Hershey’s candy bar: for the tree trunk.
- Snacks for dipping into the frosting: Like graham crackers, donuts, cookies, pretzels.
- Assorted candy
🥣How to Make a Christmas Buttercream Board
- Mix your frosting and green food coloring until you’ve reached your desired green shade of Christmas tree.
- Put your frosting into a piping bag with a large star tip or any decorative tip you like. Let it chill in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up a bit.
- Start by piping the outline of a Christmas tree onto the center of a large serving tray or board. Then, fill it in with more frosting. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – that’s part of the charm!
- Use your yellow M&Ms to create a star at the top of your tree. You can also use yellow frosting if you prefer. Then, arrange your Hershey’s bar pieces to make a tree trunk.
- Arrange your donuts, cookies, pretzels, graham crackers, and other goodies around the tree on the board. I like to create a “snowy” ground with peppermints, white chocolate chips, and powdered donuts.
- Finally, fill in any gaps with M&Ms, gummy bears, or your favorite Christmas candy.
🍴Serving Ideas
This festive dessert platter is perfect for all holiday gatherings – from family movie nights to big Christmas parties. Kids will love picking out their favorite snacks and treats. Combine it with a Holiday Wreath Charcuterie Board!
And this Christmas buttercream board isn’t just for dessert! It also makes a fantastic centerpiece for your holiday brunch or afternoon tea. Imagine sipping on a cozy cup of hot cocoa while nibbling on a frosting-covered donut- it’s holiday bliss!
💭How to Store
The buttercream board itself doesn’t store. Store-bought frosting should stay fresh on the board for about 4 hours at room temperature. If you’re using homemade frosting, I recommend keeping the board in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it.
If you want to save any leftover frosting, scoop it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to a week. You can use it to make another mini buttercream board or as a fun dip for fresh fruit.
If you have any dippers that haven’t been frosted yet (like cookies or pretzels), you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- I recommend assembling the board on the day you plan to serve it. That way, everything will be fresh and look its best.
- How many people this Christmas tree board serves depends on the size of your board and how hungry your guests are. As a general rule of thumb, a large board (about 18×24 inches) can serve around 12 people.
- If you’re not confident in your piping skills, don’t stress! You can always use a spatula or butter knife to spread the frosting into a tree shape. It’ll taste just as delicious.
- Want to add some extra sparkle to your board? Try dusting your frosted tree with edible glitter or sprinkles. It’ll look like a magical winter wonderland.
- If you’re serving a crowd, consider making a few smaller buttercream boards instead of one giant one. That way, everyone can reach the snacks easily, and you won’t have to worry about the frosting getting smudged.
- Make sure you include some savory options! Pretzels and crackers are great for balancing out all the frosting sweetness.
- Finally, have fun with it! This Christmas buttercream board is all about spreading joy and getting creative. Put your unique spin on it – your family and friends will love it no matter what.
⭐Did You Make This? Leave a Star Rating!
Christmas Buttercream Board
Ingredients
- 1 tub Vanilla or cream cheese frosting
- Green gel food coloring
- Yellow mini M&Ms for the star
- Mini M&Ms for the ornaments
- Christmas sprinkles
- Hershey's chocolate bar for the tree trunk
- Snacks for dipping into the frosting such graham crackers, donuts, cookies, pretzels
- Christmas candy or snacks of choice
Instructions
- Mix frosting and green food coloring until you get a shade of green you like.Green gel food coloring
- Add frosting to a piping bag with a large star tip or decorative tip of your choice and chill in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.1 tub Vanilla or cream cheese frosting
- When ready to style your board, start by piping the outline of a Christmas tree onto the center of a large serving tray or board.
- Fill the tree in with the frosting.
- Use the yellow M&Ms to create a star. If you prefer, you can also use yellow frosting to make the star.Yellow mini M&Ms
- Create a tree trunk with the Hershey bar pieces.Hershey's chocolate bar for the tree trunk
- Arrange the donuts, cookies, pretzels, graham crackers, and other dipping items around the tree on the board. I used peppermints, white chocolate chips, and powdered donuts to create a “snowy” ground underneath the tree.Snacks for dipping into the frosting such
- Fill in any gaps with M&M’s, gummy bears, or Christmas candy.Mini M&Ms, Christmas candy or snacks of choice, Christmas sprinkles
Notes
- I recommend assembling the board on the day you plan to serve it. That way, everything will be fresh and look its best.
- How many people this Christmas tree board serves depends on the size of your board and how hungry your guests are. As a general rule of thumb, a large board (about 18×24 inches) can serve around 12 people.
- If you’re not confident in your piping skills, don’t stress! You can always use a spatula or butter knife to spread the frosting into a tree shape. It’ll taste just as delicious.
- Make sure you include some savory options! Pretzels and crackers are great for balancing out all the frosting sweetness.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.