It’s time to say farewell to conventional gingerbread houses and welcome the all-new Charcuterie Chalet – an imaginative twist on the classic charcuterie board! This new holiday house transforms the once rock-hard gingerbread houses into relics of Christmases past.
Made by Canada’s only Cheesemaster, Afirm Pristine, it’s the newest holiday tradition that allows you to embrace your creativity with cheese!
Afrim built walls of Castello’s crunchy Aged Havarti, a roof made of their nutty Vintage Gouda and pepperoni slices, snowbanks of mouth-watering Castello Danish Blue Cheese, hedges of Taste Mexico cream cheese rings and Tre Stelle’s ‘fluffier than freshly fallen snow’ cream cheese to hold it all together.
As Canada’s number one authority on cheese, Afirm chose Castello’s selection of premium and affordable cheeses because of its taste, texture and high quality that supports and enhances the build.
If you’re looking to indulge into a new family tradition this season, let us show you how it’s done! (For a full step-by-step video tutorial, visit Instagram @castellocheesecanada)
STEPS:
Step 1 – Prep Your Ingredients
Ensure all your Castello cheese is well chilled for easier slicing and cut into required shapes for bricks, shingles, windows and bushes. Place your Tre Stelle Original cream cheese into a reusable freezer bag for piping.
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 will hold 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 and repeat. Place the halved pepperoni slices on the lower roof one at a time and repeat to the top.
Step 4 – Window and Bricks
Prepare your windows by piping four small dots of cream cheese on a whole wheat cracker and attaching four small squares of Castello Herbs & Spices Havarti to each. Place your Castello Havarti bricks starting at the bottom centre, and alternating as you move up to create the traditional brick pattern.
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 lines on the breadsticks and add thyme leaves.
Step 6 – Almond Window and Garland Decorations
Pipe a circle of cream cheese around the window and place almonds evenly. Pipe more cream cheese to resemble snow and decorate as shown. Finish the house by placing half of the Castello Taste Mexico ring under the windows to serve as bushes.
Step 7 – The Finishing Touches
Pipe a path for the front door and top with ground candied pecans, then have fun filling the space on the board with all your favourite charcuterie ingredients!
Final Tip: Just before serving, grate everyone’s favourite cheddar cheese, the crunchy Castello Extra Mature Tickler for the perfect snowfall effect!
Nadia Elkharadly
Latest posts by Nadia Elkharadly (see all)
- The Guadeloupe Islands – Gems of the French Caribbean - January 15, 2026
- Early Detection Saves Lives – the importance of breast self exams - January 11, 2026