DIY Charcuterie Chalet: Build Your Own Cheese Board House For the Holidays!

What’s Up, Hungry People

Have you ever had one of those moments where you see something and think:

“I MUST MAKE THIS.”

Because that’s how I felt the first time the charcuterie chalet graced my screen. I’ve never been big on gingerbread houses—but a cheese board house?? Now that’s definitely more my style.

It’s the Queso Condo;

the Fromage Cottage;

the MEAT MANSION.

It’s by far the weirdest thing to arise from 2020—and that’s saying a lot considering it’s still 2020 as I write this.

Made with all the usual fixings of a standard meat and cheese board, the assembly is what makes this cheddar cabin stand out from all the other run-of-the-mill boards out there. The entire chalet is 100% edible (the wooden base and hot tub excluded—though I suppose anything is edible if you try hard enough).

How to Assemble the Charcuterie House:

First, I used matzo (affiliate link) to make the four walls, roof, and gables of my house. These are held together with room temperature cream cheese.

The easiest way to make the gables of the house is to crack a matzo in half to have two triangle shapes, then use the cream cheese to ‘glue’ the gables to the inside of the house and place the roof on top.

Another important step to remember is to chill your chalet every 15-30 minutes or so while you work on it. I’m confident you can assemble the entire thing in under an hour or two, but letting the house chill for a few minutes between assembly stages will help tremendously when it comes to the structural integrity of the house.

Every charcuterie board should have a variety of tastes and textures so that every bite can be a different flavor combination. A great way to add some sweet flavors to the board is to use jams or jellies—I used a variety of sampler jellies that came in mini jars and placed them around the back of the chalet to fill in the empty space along the back wall.

I also included a tiny ‘shovel’ that can be used to scoop up and spread jelly on meats, crackers, or cheese.

The sky is the only limit when it comes to the flavor combinations you can make with charcuterie!

The best part about this recipe is getting to decorate the house with whatever festive snacks you want. I used sliced cheese for the windows and doors, rosemary stuck in mushrooms for the trees, and mozzarella pearls for my snowman army!

Making Mozzarella Snowmen:

• Mozzarella pearls
• Whole cloves – for the eyes, these aren’t edible!
• Peppadew peppers – for the hats!
• Block of cheese cut into rectangle slices – for the bases
• 4-5 inch bamboo skewers

Simply skewer three mozzarella pearls and pop a pepper upside down on top. Use the pointy end of the skewer to stab into a foundation (like a thick cut cube of cheese or a petit toast).

I mean, just look at how cute these snowmen are!

What Else To Include:

You can put your favorite snack items and finger foods on the board to fill up extra space. For my board, I filled up the open areas with pepperoni, pinwheel bites, and shredded mozzarella and cotija cheese as the “snow.”

I also included little bites like stuffed olives, sweet pickles, crackers, and corn nuts on my board. I used wasabi peas and cranberries as “lights” along the edges of the matzo crackers and used my extra cream cheese to create “icicles” that dangle from the roof.

My pine trees are simply sprigs of rosemary poked into the top of a stuffed mushroom. One easy way to get lots of variety on your board is to buy pre-assembled elements like a cheeseball, stuffed mushrooms, or meat and cheese pinwheels. To fill in around the house, I used fresh broccoli as bushes and made a little “fence” from chopped-up meat sticks.

The more, the merrier when it comes to adding elements to your charcuterie chalet. Build your dream home from cheddar or create a havarti hovel. No matter how you build and design your cheese board house, it’ll prove to be a fun way to flex your creativity in the kitchen.

Gingerbread houses are so two-thousand-and-late. If you make your own charcuterie chalet, don’t forget to give The Starving Chef a shout on all the socials! I want to see your cheese houses!

I definitely plan to make this again—perhaps, BIGGER?

Here’s What You Need:

For the House:

• Matzo crackers: walls, roof, and gables
• Cream cheese: glue to hold the structure together
• Mini salami (sopressata) or pepperoni: shingles for the roof
• Block cheeses (mozzarella, pepper jack, cheddar, etc.): doors and windows
• Thin breadsticks: framing
• Sfogliatine (glazed puff pastry sticks): chimney

For Snowmen:

• Mini mozzarella pearls: snowmen bodies
• Peppadew peppers: hats
• Whole cloves: eyes (not edible)
• Block cheese: bases

For Decorations:

• Wasabi peas: decoration
• Mini/snack brie wheels: variety
• Whole pecans: garnish
• Rosemary sprigs: trees
• Stuffed mushrooms: decoration
• Cheese ball: variety
• Corn nuts: filler
• Fondue cheese: variety
• Crackers: serving
• Jams and jellies: serving
• Shredded mozzarella: snow
• Cotija cheese: snow
• Stuffed olives: decoration
• Sweet pickles: filler
• Your favorite snack items: variety

Let’s Cook

Step 1: Build the Base

Bring your cream cheese to room temperature and transfer it to a baggie or piping bag with the tip snipped off. Use it like glue to create a box from four matzo crackers, forming the walls. Use two more matzos for the gables and roof. Apply cream cheese along all the edges to ensure the house is sturdy. Trim thin breadsticks to the height of the matzos and use cream cheese to press them onto the corners for extra stability. Chill for 15 minutes to set the cream cheese.

Step 2: Decorate the House

Dab tiny bits of cream cheese onto the mini salamis to create shingles. Lightly press cheese cut into shapes of windows and doors onto your desired positions on the house. Arrange filler around the sides, like broccoli bushes, jerky fences, or jelly “crocks” on the backside. Use brie and pecans for additional decorations. Press wasabi peas and cranberries onto the edges of the house to look like Christmas lights. Chill for at least 10 minutes every 30 minutes to ensure the cream cheese firms up and holds everything in place.

Step 3: Make the Snowmen

Fill in the empty space around the house by making mozzarella snowmen. Skewer three mozzarella pearls and place a red peppadew pepper on top as a hat. Press two cloves into the top mozzarella pearl to look like eyes and use a tiny bit of cheddar cheese as the nose.

Step 4: Add the Final Touches

Fill in the empty spaces with crackers, a bowl for the fondue, mini toasts, and other snack pieces. Other foods that aren’t part of the house can be placed around to fill space, like sweet pickles, olives, or corn nuts. Use your creativity when it comes to making your charcuterie chalet! This recipe is merely for your inspiration.

Extra Tips for a Perfect Charcuterie Chalet:

• Chill Time: Chilling the house every 30 minutes is crucial for maintaining structure. It helps the cream cheese set and keeps everything in place.
• Creative Decorations: Use colorful and festive snacks for decorating. Wasabi peas and cranberries make excellent “lights” for a festive touch.
• Variety is Key: Include a mix of textures and flavors. Sweet jams and jellies complement savory meats and cheeses perfectly.
• Foundation Matters: Make sure your base is sturdy. Use thicker crackers or additional cream cheese if needed to reinforce the structure.
• Personal Touch: Customize with your favorite snacks and decorations. The more personalized, the more fun and impressive your chalet will be!

Making the charcuterie chalet was a blast and turned out to be as delicious as it is fun to create. This cheese board house is perfect for any gathering, adding a whimsical touch to your spread. Whether you’re building your own meat mansion or just looking for an excuse to play with your food, this is the project for you. So, gather your favorite snacks and let your imagination run wild. I can’t wait to see your creations, so don’t forget to share them with me!

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