Okay, so the other day I decided to get a jump start on the holidays and try my hand at making some Christmas treat platters. I’ve seen those fancy ones all over social media, and thought, “How hard could it be?” Turns out, it’s a bit more involved than just throwing some cookies on a plate!
Brainstorming and Gathering
First, I brainstormed what I wanted on my platters. I knew I wanted a mix of sweet and savory, and definitely some classic Christmas flavors. I made a list:
- Sugar cookies (duh!)
- Gingerbread men
- Chocolate-covered pretzels
- Peppermint bark
- Cheese and crackers
- Some fruit for color (grapes and maybe some cranberries)
- Nuts for a bit of crunch
Then, I hit the grocery store. I grabbed all the ingredients, plus some cute little bowls and a couple of nice serving platters. I figured I’d make one big platter and a few smaller ones for variety.
Baking and Prepping
The baking was the most time-consuming part. I started with the sugar cookies, using my grandma’s recipe. I rolled out the dough, used cookie cutters to make Christmas shapes (trees, stars, bells), and baked them until they were golden brown. While those were cooling, I whipped up a batch of gingerbread dough. Same deal – rolled, cut, and baked.
The chocolate-covered pretzels were super easy. I just melted some chocolate chips, dipped the pretzels in, and laid them out on wax paper to harden. For the peppermint bark, I melted white chocolate, stirred in some crushed candy canes, and spread it out on a baking sheet. Once it was cool, I broke it into pieces.
I am so happy with the baking results.
Assembling the Platters
This is where the “artistic” part came in. I started by arranging the cheese and crackers on one side of the big platter. Then, I filled in the gaps with the cookies, pretzels, and peppermint bark. I used the small bowls for the nuts and grapes, and scattered some cranberries around for a pop of red.
The smaller platters were basically mini versions of the big one. I tried to make them look balanced and visually appealing, with a mix of colors and textures. I added small tongs and spoons that were nearby so people could grab things easily.
The Final Result!
Honestly, they turned out pretty good! Not quite as perfect as the ones I saw online, but definitely festive and delicious. And most importantly, everyone who tried them loved them! It was a fun project, and I’m already thinking about what I’ll make next year. Maybe I’ll try adding some homemade fudge or caramel corn… the possibilities are endless!
