Introduction

This Charcuterie Chalet is a fun and festive way to enjoy a savory snack. Using a gingerbread house as a base, it’s adorned with fresh vegetables, pretzels, herbs, and creamy spreads to create a charming edible display. It’s perfect for holiday gatherings or as a creative centerpiece for any party.

This image shows a small house made entirely of food on a white marbled surface. The house walls are covered with a smooth beige spread. The roof is made of pretzel sticks forming a triangular shape, with thin red vegetable slices and round red onion slices layered on top. The chimney is made of a dark brown square piece with white spots. The front of the house has a small green wreath, orange round slices above the windows and door, and windows made of small pretzel squares. The door is crafted from pretzel sticks with green herb decorations. The walkway is created with green pumpkin seeds arranged in a path leading to the door, bordered with small round pretzel stacks topped with leafy greens and herbs. Two rosemary sprigs form bushes by the sides of the house. White powder is falling from above, resembling snow. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 store-bought gingerbread house (for your base)
16 oz hummus or vegan cream cheese
1 bunch radishes (sliced into thin coins)
1 small cucumber (sliced into thin coins)
1 thin bar of nut nougat (sliced on a diagonal)
1/2 of a red bell pepper (sliced thinly)
1 cup skinny stick pretzels
1 cup quadrant pretzels
1/2 carrot (sliced into half coins)
1 cup mini circular pretzels
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1/4 head of broccoli (cut into tiny florets)
4 sprigs rosemary
1 leaf curly kale
1/2 cup pepitas
1/4 cup cashew parmesan

Instructions

Step 1: Prep all ingredients needed and set them aside to streamline the assembly process.
Step 2: Spread a thin layer of hummus or vegan cream cheese across the entire gingerbread house to act as your stucco and adhesive base.
Step 3: Create the roof by laying overlapping shingles of radish and cucumber slices across each side’s surface. Leave space to press on your nut nougat chimney.
Step 4: Outline the house walls creatively using slices of red bell pepper and skinny stick pretzels.
Step 5: Use quadrant pretzels to form windows and place carrot half coins above them as decorative awnings. Press firmly to ensure they stick well.
Step 6: Stack mini circular pretzels to build little pots, then fill them with fresh thyme sprigs and broccoli florets for greenery.
Step 7: Dab some hummus on the serving surface and plant rosemary sprigs upright to mimic trees. Arrange a curly kale leaf nearby for additional foliage.
Step 8: Shape a curved walkway from pepitas leading to the chalet. Finally, sprinkle cashew parmesan over the entire display to resemble fresh snow, and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

Substitute vegan cream cheese with flavored cream cheese or whipped ricotta for different taste profiles.
Try adding other colorful vegetables like cherry tomatoes or bell pepper strips to enhance the visual appeal.
For a nut-free version, omit the nut nougat and cashew parmesan and replace with seed-based snacks and nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
Use fresh herbs available in your kitchen; parsley or dill can also add a lovely green touch.

Storage

This Charcuterie Chalet is best served fresh to maintain crispness and vivid colors. If needed, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Avoid assembling too far in advance as the gingerbread may become soggy. Reheat is not recommended, as this is a cold appetizer setup.

How to Serve

The image shows a creative snack house made with five layers of square pretzels stacked for the walls, topped with round pretzels as flower pots in front, each holding fresh green herbs. The base layer inside the house is a smooth, creamy beige spread, likely hummus. Two thin vertical pretzel sticks form the door frame, with half-moon slices of bright orange carrot acting as a sun and window shades. Small square mini pretzels build the windows on the house, while thin red strips, probably bell pepper, form the roof's triangular section. A circle of green herbs decorates the hummus wall as a wreath. All of this is set against a white marbled background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, simply swap out the store-bought gingerbread house with a gluten-free version or use a sturdy gluten-free cracker base. Check that all pretzels and other packaged ingredients are labeled gluten-free.

Is it possible to use other spreads besides hummus or vegan cream cheese?

Absolutely! Cream cheese, labneh, or any thick spreadable dip can work well to hold the decorations and add flavor. Choose one that complements the other ingredients and suits your dietary preferences.

Charcuterie Chalet Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 88 reviews

This Charcuterie Chalet offers a whimsical and visually stunning edible gingerbread house centerpiece made with a variety of fresh vegetables, pretzels, and vegan spreads. It combines a fun assembling experience with healthy ingredients like hummus, radishes, cucumbers, and herbs, perfect for holiday gatherings or themed parties. The vegan cream cheese or hummus acts as a stucco base to hold decorative layers in place, while nut nougat adds a sweet chimney touch, making it both festive and delicious.

Author: Cleo
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Category: Appetizer
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: Modern American
Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

Base

1 store-bought gingerbread house
16 oz hummus or vegan cream cheese

Vegetables & Herbs

1 bunch radishes (sliced into thin coins)
1 small cucumber (sliced into thin coins)
1/2 of a red bell pepper (sliced thinly)
1/2 carrot (sliced into half coins)
1/4 head of broccoli (cut into tiny florets)
4 sprigs fresh thyme
4 sprigs rosemary
1 leaf curly kale

Snacks & Garnishes

1 thin bar of nut nougat (sliced on a diagonal)
1 cup skinny stick pretzels
1 cup quadrant pretzels
1 cup mini circular pretzels
1/2 cup pepitas
1/4 cup cashew parmesan

Instructions

Prep Ingredients: Gather and prepare all ingredients by slicing radishes, cucumbers, red bell pepper, carrot, and nut nougat as specified. Also, cut broccoli into tiny florets and set aside all herbs and pretzels. Having everything ready will make assembly smoother.
Spread Base Layer: Spread a thin, even layer of hummus or vegan cream cheese across the entire surface of the gingerbread house. This will act as a sticky ‘stucco’ base that helps all decorative elements adhere firmly.
Create Roof Shingles: Arrange overlapping thin slices of radish and/or cucumber on each side of the roof like shingles, covering the surface fully but leaving a gap for the chimney placement.
Add Nut Nougat Chimney: Press the sliced nut nougat piece into the roof gap created to form the chimney, ensuring it is firmly attached to the hummus base.
Outline the House: Use thin slices of red bell pepper and skinny stick pretzels to make decorative outlines on the walls of the gingerbread house in any pattern you prefer, pressing firmly for adhesion.
Assemble Windows and Awnings: Build windows on the walls using quadrant pretzels arranged creatively. Add half-circle carrot slices as awnings above these windows, pressing all pieces firmly so they stick well.
Make Floral Pots: Stack mini circular pretzels to form small pots and fill them by inserting sprigs of fresh thyme and tiny broccoli florets inside for greenery detail.
Create a Rosemary Tree: Place a small dab of hummus on the serving surface near the house and plant a rosemary sprig upright as a tree. Surround the base with pieces of curly kale to simulate surrounding plants.
Form Walkway and Snow: Shape a curved walkway leading up to the house using pepitas. Finally, sprinkle cashew parmesan over the entire chalet and surrounding decorations to mimic freshly fallen snow.
Serve Immediately: Present your beautifully assembled Charcuterie Chalet right away to preserve the freshness and crispness of the vegetables and pretzels.

Notes

This recipe is entirely no-cook and relies on fresh, raw ingredients assembled artfully.
Use vegan cream cheese as a dairy-free alternative to hummus if preferred.
Feel free to customize the vegetables and pretzels based on availability or personal taste.
The gingerbread house used as a base is store-bought; homemade versions can add a unique touch.
Assemble just prior to serving to maintain crisp textures and prevent sogginess.
Cashew parmesan provides a nutty, snowy effect and adds extra flavor, but it can be omitted or substituted with vegan grated cheese.

Keywords: charcuterie house, vegan appetizer, no-cook recipe, holiday centerpiece, gingerbread house appetizer, veggie platter, party food