It is officially peak holiday season, and that means Christmas music, tree decorating, cookies galore, and gingerbread house decorating. Gingerbread houses, though, aren’t necessarily for everyone. Maybe you aren’t into sweets? Maybe you hate gingerbread? Or maybe you, like me, love the idea of decorating gingerbread houses, but can’t justify paying for kits with cheap candy and stale cookies. Whether you love or hate the classically sweet Christmas tradition, a savory gingerbread house might be just the thing to make this holiday season extra special.
Savory s’mores were all the rage on social media this summer, and savory gingerbread houses seem to follow suit. Savory s’mores typically include roasting a mini wheel of brie over a fire and putting it between two crackers (sometimes with a slice of meat), and the savory gingerbread house seems to be along the same line. Just like the savory s’more utilizes the basic components (carb-y cracker, toasty middle, and an extra layer of flavor), savory gingerbread houses similarly replace cookies with crackers, icing with cheese, and decorations with any and all charcuterie staples.
What does a savory gingerbread house entail?
Let us officially introduce you to the charcuterie chalet! Made with salami, prosciutto, different dips, cheeses, and breads, this treat is perfect for all charcuterie lovers who also have a soft spot for Christmas decorating. Not only is it arguably easier to build than a regular gingerbread house (no runny icing here, folks), but it will definitely impress your dinner guests, too.
Beyond the showy presentation, the best part of the savory gingerbread house is that you can truly let your imagination run wild. Most recipes simply call for “crackers” or “cheese,” so whether you love sharp cheddar over gouda or prefer Ritz crackers to Clubhouse thins, you can decide what decor will adorn your charcuterie chalet. Or, if a recipe online calls for pepperoni but you don’t like spice, replace it with salami. It all depends on your budget, your preferences, and how many guests you’re feeding.
How can I make a savory gingerbread house?
In some recipes, the walls and structure of the chalet are constructed with loaves of bread; in others, it’s made with melted fontina cheese and crispbread crackers. Some recipes use salami as roof tiles, while other architects opt for mini Ritz cracker sandwich bites.
Another tip to remember is that you can build your chalet for decoration or to eat as a cute holiday appetizer. If you are building your chalet to eat right away, creating a “savory icing” that is moist or contains water won’t matter. If you want your creation to last awhile, though, the structural integrity, unrefrigerated cheese, and stale carbs are something you need to consider as you decide what foods or decorations you are using.
How to make a successful savory gingerbread house
Different recipes may have different tips, but one of the most common tricks (which is also used in the recipe for our own Spoon University Charcuterie Chalet) is to buy a premade gingerbread house. Of course, if you are planning on eating at your house, then perhaps gingerbread and cream cheese might not be the most appealing combination for serving guests. If your savory split level is simply for show, though, a prepared kit can make the savory decorating process so much quicker and easier. You can also get creative by charcutirie-fying a unique pre-made kit outside of the typical gingerbread house. Or, World Market even has its own premade savory Charcuterie Chalet Kit.
It is also important to remember that taking on this activity may be time consuming and take a lot of trial and error. No matter what, try your best to have fun, capture the true holiday spirit and try lots of different flavor combinations and building techniques along the way.