TikTok's Charcuterie Chalets Are Here to Sleigh the Holidays
Butter board who?
If you thought 2022 couldn't throw any more surprises at us, think again. I'm here to introduce you to the latest holiday food trend that should be on everyone's to-do list this year: the charcuterie chalet. This creation has been sweeping the internet, and it's definitely an upgrade from the gingerbread houses you're used to building at grandma's house.
Related: 10 of the Most Epic Charcuterie Board Recipes
From salumi walkways and breadstick foundations, to snowmen made out of cheese, check out how people have been putting a twist on these savory gingerbread houses, like this TikToker @Sweetportfolio:
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What is a Charcuterie Chalet?
A charcuterie chalet, or a cheese house, is essentially a gingerbread house made from ingredients you would normally include on a cheese board. You can use a variety of nuts, cheeses, crackers, pretzels, appetizer meats and even vegetables. The best part about building a charcuterie chalet is that there are no rules or directions, so you can get creative and let your imagination do all of the work. To note: it's best to use sturdier elements for the foundation, like breadsticks, pretzel rods or thicker crackers, and decorate with more fragile elements, like shredded cheeses, cured meats, veggies and smaller crackers.
Related: 28 Last-Minute Christmas Finger Foods
Charcuterie Chalet Ingredients
First, you'll need to gather ingredients. Feel free to use any other ingredients you think would be great for your house. Remember: creativity is key! Here's what you'll need:
Pretzel rods or breadsticks and pretzel squares
Almonds
Salumi (think Prosciutto, Bresaola, Capocollo, Mortadella, Soppressata, etc)
Mozzarella balls
Grated Parmesan cheese
Small and big crackers
Cheese squares
A few sprigs of rosemary
Raw broccoli or carrots
Toothpicks
How To Make a Charcuterie Chalet
Once you have your ingredients, it's time to get to work!
You want to start with your foundation by using pretzel rods or breadsticks. You'll build this in a log formation, stacking the rods on top of each other and using cream cheese to stick everything together.
Once a firm base is in place, add a sturdy roof, using a slice of matzoh. Break it in half, and mold the two halves together into a roof-life shape. Solidify in place with cream cheese, covering any creases.
Use more matzoh to form the front of the house, ensuring you cannot see the inside of the structure.
Cover the sides of the roof with more cream cheese, which will act as cement for your shingles. Take salumi pieces and arrange them onto the cream cheese in a shingle formation.
Use the remaining ingredients to add details to your house. You can use Parmigiano-Reggiano for snow, crackers for step stones, cheese or mozzarella balls for snowmen, or even broccoli and rosemary for trees.
Best Charcuterie Chalet Recipes
Fancy chalet: This chalet is on the fancier side and definitely requires more hands on deck. You can take this project as an opportunity to have a fun family or roommate night. Once you've finished your masterpiece, you'll be glad you decided to put in the effort!
Low-carb, keto chalet: This recipe is for all of those looking to skip the sweets and opt for a more low-calorie and keto option. A guilt-free and tasty recipe? Sign me up!
Decorative and dainty chalet: This house is one of the more creative constructions. This recipe uses out-of-the-box ingredients and pulls together a simple, yet elegant house.
Homestyle chalet: This chalet will bring a homier, comforting feel into the room. This version has a more DIY rustic vibe, and we are here for it.
Tiny chalet: This cheese house is as minimalistic as it gets. If you don't have a ton of ingredients on hand, you can work with what you've got!
