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Growing up, nobody in my family enjoyed cooking or baking. That’s actually why I became interested in spending more time in the kitchen, because no one else did!
But there was one thing I could always count on as a kid: Dad’s Sunday morning French toast. It was the one thing he made better than Mom. One day he finally told me his secret… lots of butter and extra vanilla! You can’t go wrong with that.
My dad is an extremely hard worker. I think that’s where I get much of my work ethic and drive. Since before I was born, my dad has dedicated his life to the service of others, first in the United States Navy then as a police officer and detective.
His commitment to helping others often meant we didn’t always get as much time with him as we wanted. It wasn’t easy, but it was a sacrifice we made knowing other people truly needed his help. His work always reminded me to be grateful for all the good we had in our lives.
You may remember that earlier this year my dad survived the surgical removal of a tumor in his pituitary gland, at the base of the brain, for the second time in his life. Needless to say, Father’s Day is extra special for my family this year. I’m so proud to call him my dad, and can’t wait to celebrate him.
If you know me at all then you know my all-time favorite food in the world is CHOCOLATE.
Well, I got it from my dad.
He’s a total chocolate lover, which is why I’m so thrilled to be partnering with Ghirardelli to bring you this Ultimate Father’s Day Snack Board. For both of us, no dessert and certainly no celebration are complete without chocolate.
So, this Father’s Day Snack Board has all of my dad’s favorite foods (including chocolate, bacon, and cheese!) on one platter perfect for sharing. It’s beautiful and inviting, but I doubt it will last longer than ten minutes at any Father’s Day get together!
The real star of the snack board is the variety of premium Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate bars.
Although the velvety smooth bars and the variety of flavors in the Intense Dark line make them perfect treats all on their own, it was so much fun to source other ingredients and foods to pair them with. That’s why you’ll notice that all other elements on the board were carefully selected to complement the variety of dark chocolate.
We were also lucky enough to incorporate the brand new Intense Dark Cashew Crescendo bar, which is absolutely my new favorite! I just love the nutty crunch and salty bite it adds to the chocolate.
It was a blast experimenting with different flavor combinations, and I think what we landed on is absolutely delicious and easy to recreate for the special fathers in your life.
How to Make the Ultimate Father’s Day Snack Board
I think it’s easy to become overwhelmed at the thought of creating a perfect snack board. That’s why I’ve listed every single thing we included below.
As you arrange yours, just be mindful of placing contrasting textures and colors across different areas of the board, and to place complementary flavors together. That will offer the most beautiful and delicious experience.
It certainly shouldn’t be perfect; it should look like anyone can stop by and grab an assortment of treats to munch on!
Cheeses
The Twilight Delight bar is extremely rich with fruity berry hints, which is why it pairs perfectly with these cheeses, as well as the cherries on the board. Try it with Spanish Manchego or a dry Jack Cheese!
The Sea Salt Soiree bar is neck and neck with the new Cashew Crescendo as one of my favorites to snack on mid-afternoon (I’m literally snacking on it as I write this). It actually has slow roasted almonds and sea salt, for a caramelized taste that I always crave. Since salty-sweet is a powerful flavor profile, I think this bar pairs perfectly with a rich full-bodied yet smooth creamy cheese. Pair it alongside an Irish Cheddar or Aged Gruyere.
Cured Meats
We just had to include bacon on this board, because what dad doesn’t love the stuff?! I enjoyed it best alongside the bold and richness found in the 86% Cacao Midnight Reverie bar. Below are a few other meat options to consider adding.
- Crisp cooked bacon
- Prosciutto
- Soppressata
- Salami
Nuts
This is a natural addition to any snack board, but especially here since we’re serving the brand-new Cashew Crescendo bar that is the epitome of sweet and salty perfection, combining the roasted cashews and coarse crystals of sea salt. It’s so delightful on its own, but even more substantial with a handful of mixed nuts.
- Almonds (if you have time, try toasting the almonds beforehand!)
- Pistachios
- Cashews
Fruits
When it comes to the 86% Cacao Midnight Reverie bar, I wanted to pair it with a bold flavor that can stand up to the intensity of such a full-bodied and deep premium chocolate – similar to the cured meat options above. My favorite? Cherries! Feel free to use a couple of fresh varieties (like we did), or even dried cherries.
- Cherries
- Raisins
- Dried mango
- Dried passion fruit (find at Whole Foods!)
Snack Foods
It’s always important to include a few elements that can be easily munched on by anyone passing by. The BBQ chips are not only a common dad favorite, but they complement the Sea Salt Soiree bars perfectly! Also, the baguette balances out the velvetiness of the 72% Twilight Delight.
Snack Board Boosters
We can’t forget the Hazelnut Heaven bar in this snack board. It truly is heavenly, especially when paired with the almonds above for even more nuttiness, and with a drizzle of honey below. The combination is incredible.
- Himalayan Salt Block (then Dad can keep it after the party for grilling on!)
- Honey
- Flaky Salt (we used Pinot Noir flavored salt, but feel free to use any quality sea salt or simply ground Himalayan!)
Father’s Day Gift Basket / Kit
If you’re not hosting or attending a Father’s Day celebration, or if your celebration will be intimate or even at a restaurant, then I’d recommend packaging up elements of the snack board alongside some beautiful items dad will love as you see in the photo below.
Wrap up some of the cheese, flavored salt, gourmet hard salami, preserves from the farmer’s market, a set of beautiful steak or cheese knives, and of course a healthy supply of Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate bars.
I think this is so much more fun than the traditional and sometimes overdone Father’s Day gifts. Feel free to get creative based on what the men in your life love! Use the flavor pairings listed above from the snack board to guide your selections.
Whatever you do, you can’t go wrong with chocolate for Father’s Day. If you make your own snack board or gift basket, be sure to snap a picture and tag me @handletheheat and @ghirardelli on Instagram so we can see your creations.
Happy Father’s Day!
Photos by Constance Higley.
It’s well past Fathers day but I think this would make a great tray for my Hubby’s Birthday which is coming up!!
Tell your Dad “Thank You For His Service” for me. My Dad was a Cop too and I know all they give and what little they get in return.
This is amazing! Such a great idea!
Thank you, Gina!
What a great idea! Perfect way to celebrate Dad!
Thanks, Katrina xo
What a great idea! That looks absolutely scrumptious and I would have never come up with those flavor combinations. My Dad is too far away to celebrate with but my husband and loving father of our son wants anything with bacon so this is perfect to celebrate him! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Thank you, Franziska! xo
Love love love this post, Tessa! I think my dad would go bonkers over this snack board. He’s a chocoholic as well. That cashew bar sounds amazing. I hope I kind find it in our town! 🙂
Haha! I hope you can find it, it’s soooo good 🙂