Making gingerbread houses is one of the most beloved and time-honored Christmas traditions. Many people even turn the activity into a competition, with family members battling it out to see who can construct the most elaborate and jaw-dropping gingerbread mansions.
So, accomplishing the feat requires you to bake some perfectly textured cookies (firm but not too hard), show off your engineering skills, and practice your icing piping like a seasoned cake decorator.
Interestingly, the idea of creating houses made from the sweet cookie actually originated in Germany in the sixteenth century– with the tradition’s popularity rising following the writing of the story Hansel and Gretel.
But even though gingerbread houses have earned their place as a holiday staple, many people wanted to switch it up this Christmas and try something new.
And what better way to do that than by swapping the sugary ingredients out for something rich and savory?
Hence TikTok’s latest holiday hours d’oeuvre: the charcuterie chalet. This trend pulls inspiration from traditional gingerbread house building, which we all know and love, but uses ingredients normally found on charcuterie boards to construct beautiful and salty appetizers.
And if you don’t believe me, simply look up the #CharcuterieChalet on the video platform. Countless creators have taken to trying out the latest fad, using everything from salami and prosciutto to cured fruits and herbs.
Now, with all of the different crackers, breads, cured meats, and cheeses out there, creating your very own charcuterie chalet might sound intimidating. I mean, it’s definitely not a one-ingredient build like gingerbread houses are.
azurita – stock.adobe.com – pictured above is a Christmas charcuterie chalet
TikTok; pictured above is the adorable charcuterie chalet that @ThatCheesePlate created
Thankfully, though, Marissa Mullen– the charcuterie aficionado behind the TikTok account @ThatCheesePlate, broke down how she created her adorable charcuterie chalet that resembles a quaint cabin in the brush.
However, at the beginning of her video, Marissa did issue a disclaimer about the true functionality behind these eccentric eateries.
“Charcuterie chalets are making a comeback, and I have some mixed feelings about this trend. Although they are fun to build and interesting to look at, they are not the most convenient creation to eat, and you definitely don’t want this sitting out on the counter for too long,” Marrisa said.
So, if you just wanted to eat some cheese and cracker pairings without the fuss, sticking to gingerbread houses might be for you. But if you are looking to create a shocking Christmas dinner centerpiece or have a charcuterie chalet competition with friends, then this salty alternative is definitely the way to go.
Charcuterie Chalet
Ingredients:
-Norwegian Crispbread
-Large Pretzel Rods
-Whipped Cream Cheese
-Proscuitto-Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks
-Salami
-Sliced Cucumber, Halved
-Cheddar Cheese Slices
-Olives
-Basil Leaves
-Dill Sprigs
To construct the base of the chalet, Marissa began by laying down one Norwegian crispbread. Then, along the edges of the crispbread, you should stack pretzel rods to create the walls.
But, in between each layer of rods, add some whipped cream cheese to act as glue. You will end up with a log cabin-resembling formation.
The next step is to add one more piece of Norwegian crispbread on top of the pretzel rods– again, gluing it down with the whipped cream cheese. And afterward, you can start to focus on your walls.
For her walls, Marissa added four slices of cheddar cheese– one slice for each wall. But you can really use any kind of cheese that you like best. Plus, she added four prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella sticks in a line on top of the structure before working on her roof.
To make the roof, you can use two more pieces of Norweigan crispbread angled in a triangle shape. And don’t forget to use the whipped cream cheese to secure it in place!
Marrisa opted to decorate her roof using layered and overlapping salami slices. She also used sliced and halved cucumbers on top to act as shingles. How inventive!
Finally, the rest of Marrissa’s TikTok consisted of her exterior chalet decor– which you can get totally creative with and make your own.
She specifically opted to use more Norweigan crisps and salami slices to create windows. Then, Marrisa used olives to line the top of the roof and also used herbs to add some greenery to the scene.
She used basil leaves as mistletoe– hanging it from the top of the roof– and dill sprigs to create “potted plants” that rested by the front door.
You can also spice up your own charcuterie creation using dried fruits, mushrooms, jams, nuts, and more! The possibilities are completely endless, and this somewhat whacky trend will surely be a conversation starter at your next holiday party.
To watch Marrisa’s original TikTok and learn more about how she created her charcuterie chalet, you can visit the link here.
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