MAKE THIS CHARCUTERIE CHALET IN 7 EASY STEPS!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Your favourite cheese:
- Castello® Aged Havarti
- Castello® TicklerTM Extra Mature Cheddar
- Castello® Herbs & Spices Havarti
- Castello® Danish Blue
- Castello® Gouda Slices
- Castello® Taste Mexico Cream Cheese Ring
- Tre Stelle® Original Cream Cheese
CHEESE COMPLEMENTS:
- Pepperoni (shingles)
- Whole wheat crackers (windows)
- Whole grain cracker (door)
- Bread sticks (pillars)
- Fresh rosemary (garland)
- Fresh thyme (garland for pillars)
- Almonds (window frame/wreath)
- Crushed candied pecans (path)
- Pomegranate seeds (holiday lights)
- Dried cranberries (decoration)
STEP 1: PREP YOUR INGREDIENTS
Ensure all cheese is well chilled for easier slicing.
- Cut Castello® Aged Havarti into small horizontal rectangles to serve as bricks.
- Cut Castello® Sliced Gouda into even vertical rectangles for thatched roof.
- Cut small pepperoni slices in half for roof shingles.
- Cut eight tiny squares of Castello® Herbs & Spices Havarti for windows on crackers.
- Cut Castello® Taste Mexico Cream Cheese Ring in half for bushes under windows.
- Add Tre Stelle® Original Cream Cheese to reusable freezer bag for piping.
- Wrap and refrigerate everything until ready to assemble.
- Lay out your fruit, nuts, crackers and favourite charcuterie ingredients.
STEP 2: THE STRUCTURE
- Slather a good amount of Tre Stelle® Cream Cheese evenly onto your structure and smooth it out with a spatula – the cream cheese holds the ingredients to the house.
STEP 3: THE ROOF
- Place the first row of Castello® Sliced Gouda shingles evenly on the roof, add the second row so that it slightly overlaps the first row. Repeat to the top. Uniformity is key!
- Place the halved pepperoni slices on the lower roof one at a time and repeat to the top. Adjust as you go to ensure a straight line.
STEP 4: DOOR, WINDOW AND BRICKS
- Place your whole grain cracker for the door.
- Prepare your windows by attaching four small squares of Castello® Herbs & Spices Havarti to a square cracker using dots of Tre Stelle® Cream Cheese. Repeat for each window.
- Place your Castello® Aged Havarti bricks starting at the bottom centre of the house. Alternate them as you make your way up to create a traditional brick pattern. Cut slices as necessary to fit.
STEP 5: GARLAND PILLARS
- Pipe a thick line of Tre Stelle® Cream Cheese on all four corners of the house and attach a bread stick to each.
- Pipe thin diagonal cream cheese lines to bread sticks and delicately place thyme leaves as decorations.
STEP 6: ALMOND WINDOW AND GARLAND DECORATIONS
- Pipe a circle of cream cheese around the window and place almonds starting at 12, 6, 9 and 3 o’clock. Then, fill in the remaining gaps to ensure even placement.
- Pipe a small amount inside the circular window and add cranberries.
- Pipe cream cheese to the upper roof ledge, under cracker windows, and around the door. Decorate with rosemary and pomegranate seeds.
- Pipe thick fluffy lines across the roof, chimney and any gaps to resemble snow.
- Finish by placing half of the Castello® Taste Mexico Cream Cheese Ring under cracker windows to serve as bushes.
STEP 7: THE FINISHING TOUCHES
Now that your house is complete, fill space on the board with your favourite charcuterie ingredients. Here’s what we recommend:
- Pipe a path to the front door and spread evenly, shaping as needed. Then, top with crushed candied pecans.
- Place two mounds of grapes on either side of the house.
- Pile three pepperettes to represent fire logs (wrap in thyme, optional).
- Crumble Castello® Danish Blue Cheese to replicate mounds of snow.
- Use other Castello® cheeses to create additional snow mounds around the house.
- Add your favourite pickles, meats, fresh and dried fruits to finish the board.
- Grate Castello® TicklerTM Extra Mature Cheddar to create a snow falling effect.
- HAVE FUN!!