Save My friend's holiday party was spiraling—she'd forgotten to assign someone the dessert, and there I was in her kitchen twenty minutes before guests arrived. We raided her pantry and found an explosion of red and white candies from the season past, and something clicked. Instead of baking, we built. What started as damage control became this stunning striped board that somehow stole the show more than any cake could have, and honestly, it's been my go-to move ever since.
I still think about the moment my eight-year-old cousin walked into that party and her face just lit up. She'd never seen a candy display like that before—not curated and thoughtful, but fun and touchable. She spent the whole evening arranging and rearranging pieces, and I realized this board wasn't just dessert; it was interactive, it was permission to play. That's the real magic of it.
Ingredients
- Peppermint candy canes (200g): These are your anchor and visual statement—their bold stripes are what make people stop and stare, so don't skip them even if you're tempted to use just one kind of candy.
- Red licorice twists (150g): They're flexible enough to arrange in actual lines, which is why they work better than harder candies for creating that striped pattern.
- Strawberry marshmallows (150g): They bridge the gap between pure candy and something slightly more substantial; the ones with real fruit flavor are worth hunting for.
- Raspberry jelly beans (120g): They add jewel-like detail and a burst of tartness that cuts through the sweetness of everything else.
- White chocolate-covered pretzels (100g): The salt and crunch are essential—they're what prevent this from feeling like pure sugar overload.
- Red and white striped hard candies (100g): Pick ones that actually taste good because these are the ones people will reach for last, and you want them to end the experience well.
- Red gummy bears (80g): They're small enough to fill gaps and playful enough that they make people smile.
- White chocolate truffles (80g): Look for ones that aren't too sweet on their own; they're your sophisticated touch.
- Fresh strawberries, hulled and halved (150g): They're the only thing that will oxidize, so add them last and don't slice them until right before serving if you can help it.
- Vanilla yogurt dip (small bowl, optional): It grounds the sweetness and gives people a reason to pause and taste something creamy.
Instructions
- Start with your base:
- Lay parchment paper on your board if you want easy cleanup later—I've learned the hard way that caramel and gummy residue sticks. It doesn't have to be perfect; this is background.
- Create your first stripe:
- Arrange the peppermint candy canes in a line or fan. They're sturdy and won't roll, so take your time arranging them at angles that feel right to you.
- Build the red and white pattern:
- Lay the red licorice and strawberry marshmallows in alternating lines. The licorice is flexible, so bend it to follow your design—there's something satisfying about it.
- Fill the gaps with texture:
- Group the jelly beans, gummy bears, and hard candies in small sections or scattered clusters. Don't overthink it; visual balance is forgiving here.
- Add the chocolate elements:
- Dot the pretzels and truffles across the board in the pockets between other candies. They're your anchors for color variation.
- Finish with fresh fruit:
- Scatter strawberry halves in the open spaces just before serving—they'll add moisture and a hint of tartness that wakes up the palate. If you add them too early, they'll weep juice onto everything.
- Set out the yogurt dip:
- Pour yogurt into a small bowl and nestle it somewhere guests can easily reach. It's optional, but it changes the experience—suddenly people are dipping instead of just eating.
- Sparkle if you like:
- A light dusting of edible glitter over one section catches light and feels festive, but it's genuinely optional and doesn't change the taste.
- Serve and step back:
- Put tongs or small spoons on the board and let people graze. The best part is watching them discover their favorites.
Save I made this board again for my office holiday party, and I watched a room full of stressed adults go quiet. They just started picking and chatting, and it hit me that food doesn't always have to perform or impress—sometimes it just has to give people permission to be a little bit joyful and a little bit childish. This board does that.
Arranging for Real Impact
The secret to making this look effortless is actually to plan your zones before you start. I mentally divide the board into thirds and decide which candies go where, then build from the edges inward. It's less chaotic than dumping everything and trying to organize it, and you'll finish faster too. The striped theme is your guide—lean into reds and whites, and let the marshmallows and jelly beans be your punctuation marks between bigger pieces.
Flavor Balance
This board works because it's not all the same kind of sweet. The tart jelly beans and fresh strawberries keep you from getting overwhelmed by caramel and chocolate. The salty pretzels are doing heavy lifting too—they make people go back for more because their mouth resets. If you find yourself reaching for the same candy multiple times, that's the flavor balance working. The yogurt dip amplifies this too; something creamy in the middle of all that hard candy is honestly genius.
Make It Yours
This isn't a strict recipe the way a cake is—it's a template for you to play with. I've made versions with peppermint bark broken into pieces, with white chocolate macarons instead of truffles, and once with red velvet cake bites nestled in. The rule is simple: keep the red and white color story tight, balance your textures so you've got some soft, some chewy, some hard, and always include something fresh because that's what makes people come back. The board I'm proudest of is the one that felt like me, not the one that looked like the photo.
- If you're making this for a crowd that includes kids, skip the hard candies and anything too sour—lean into marshmallows, gummy bears, and chocolate.
- A tiny bowl of crushed candy canes mixed with white chocolate makes an unexpected dipping situation that people always find first.
- The absolute best time to make this is within an hour of serving, so everything stays fresh and nothing has time to harden or soften unexpectedly.
Save This board has saved me more than once, and it's taught me that some of the best moments around food are the ones nobody planned for. Make it when you need something beautiful fast, or make it just because you want an excuse to sit around with people you like and eat candy without apology.
Recipe FAQ
- → What candies are best for a red and white board?
Peppermint candy canes, red licorice twists, strawberry marshmallows, raspberry jelly beans, white chocolate-covered pretzels, and red gummy bears work well to create vibrant stripes of color.
- → How can I add freshness to the board?
Fresh strawberries, hulled and halved, add natural brightness and balance the sweetness of the candies.
- → Is there a recommended dip to accompany this board?
A small bowl of vanilla yogurt dip pairs nicely with marshmallows and fresh strawberries to add a creamy texture.
- → Can this board be made gluten-free?
Yes, by choosing gluten-free candies and pretzels, you can create a safe and inclusive treat board.
- → What are suitable beverages to serve alongside?
Sparking cider, hot chocolate, or a glass of Prosecco complement the sweet flavors and festive atmosphere.