Mary Beth Johnson is a writer based in Atlanta, GA. She is currently writing her first book in between school drop off and laundry piles.

She can be found every day on Instagram and at the local coffee shop.

Now that the days are shorter and the nights cozier it’s the perfect time to gather some friends, crank up the fireplace, serve hot chocolate, and make a Christmas Dessert Board. Make it a full winter wonderland moment with the Hallmark channel or this list of iconic Christmas movies. Guests can snuggle up in fuzzy socks, a steaming mug in hand, with the dessert board setting center stage.

Gather Seasonal Treats for the Christmas Dessert Board

Most of the work of putting together a Christmas dessert board is in the prep, not the putting together. I got just about everything I needed for this Christmas dessert board there, excluding the marshmallow snowmen, which is a tutorial you can find HERE. I love Trader Joe’s for many things (like, these quick and easy dinners) but they really shine when it comes to their revolving door of seasonal items. Some of my favorite holiday items include their peppermint stuffed “Joe’s Joe’s”, white chocolate peppermint covered pretzels, and their pine garland. If you’re not lucky enough to live near one these stores, you can stock up at your local super markets. Stores like TJ Maxx or World Market also carry some of the seasonal items you’ll need to put this Christmas dessert board together.

What You’ll Need:

• Maple Glazed Pecans
• Frosted Gingerbread Men Cookies
• Cocoa Baton Wafer Cookies
• White Chocolate Peppermint Covered Pretzels
• Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Oreos
• Dar Chocolate Mint Star Cookies
• Italian Waffle Cookies
• Biscotti
• Peppermint Candy Melts
• Thumbprint Jam Cookies
• Hot Chocolate Mix
• Marshmallow Snowmen

Create a Cozy Atmosphere

Have you heard of hygge? It’s a Danish and Norwegian word to describe creating a cozy atmosphere in one’s home during the colder months. There is an entire philosophy behind the benefits of adopting this seasonal lifestyle, but in short, hygge encourages us to embrace the colder weather, gather closer to our loved ones, and slow our pace of living. The Danish people have all sorts of advice on how to accomplish this, including this book The Little Book of Hygge, The Danish Secrets to Living a Happy Life. A few takeaways on how to hygge are below:

• Keep a basket of cozy blankets in the living room
• Cook comfort food and hot drinks (we love this steaming apple pie recipe from Anna, In Honor of Design)
• Dress up the fireplace mantel with fresh greenery and twinkle lights (Casey does this so well)
• Run essential oil diffusers with wintry blends
• Wear cozy socks and slippers
• Splurge on a few cute sweatshirts and sweatpants (you’re allowed to wear this to carpool!)

Gather Around the Christmas Dessert Board with Your Loved Ones

The wintry months provide the perfect opportunity to throw a party and gather your loved ones. There’s no need to stress out, just keep things simple with some fresh greenery, a holiday movie for the kiddos, hot chocolate, and a Christmas dessert board. Practice your hygge and throw out cozy blankets, some twinkle lights, and a festive fireplace, if you have one. The adults can sip something sweet, munch on the holiday goodies, and play this festive conversation-starter game.