If you choose to make the treats from scratch, you can prepare them in advance and freeze them. Later, you can use these frozen treats when assembling your board. All the recipes mentioned earlier can be made in advance and stored in the freezer. You will need a large rectangular platter or a board with a Christmas tree shape.
Christmas Tree-shaped Board: If you're using a board with the shape of a Christmas tree, the idea is the same. You won't need to outline the tree, since it's already done for you, but you can also start with the bigger items, using the straight edges for the edge of your tree, and filling throughout with medium-sized treats. Fill the gaps with the smallest treats, and finish up by placing your chocolate tree trunk.
Rectangular board: 1. Begin by sketching the outline of your tree. Start at the top with the star, then work your way down. I added some golden sprinkles to the star for a pop of color and highlights. 2. Start placing the larger treats first, using those with straight lines to outline the tree, and gradually expanding to form a triangular shape. Circular treats can be used to fill in the tree. Variety and change of color create interest in your board, so look for a variety of sizes and colors when choosing your treats.
3. Move on to medium-sized items like cookies or caramel turtles, continuing to outline and fill the tree shape. 4. Fill any gaps with smaller treats like truffles, marshmallows, nuts, or sliced fruits. If they're not flat, you can pack them up in small heaps throughout the board. For fruits, you can slice some in half, this helps break the pattern and create different sizes 5. Lastly, position the tree trunk using chocolate squares or pretzel sticks.