Chocolate salami recipe is a festive, simple, easy and quick dessert, perfect to serve at holiday parties or just as an every day treat! There’s no baking involved and in spite its name, it contains no meat!
One of my childhood’s greatest deserts, this chocolate salami or “chocolate salame” is not a chocolate-filled sausage, as you might think! It is, instead, a delicious mix of cookies or butter biscuits, dark chocolate or cocoa, raisins, walnuts and a bit of rum or rum extract. You can make it in no-time and doesn’t need cooking.
This chocolate salami recipe is a crunchy dessert very popular in Italy and Portugal, but also in Eastern Europe. It is usually shaped like a salami, hence its name. The ingredients are pretty flexible, as you can use any kind of cookies or crackers you have at hand, as well as decide whether to include or not nuts, raisins or dried fruits. Once you find your own favorite mix, that’s it, you’ll be sticking with it forever!
Some people call it “Slacker”, as it only takes 20 minutes to make it, so you can’t just be too lazy to make one. It’s mostly error-free, so even the most beginner cooks can make this yummy dessert.
How to make Chocolate salami recipe
Ingredients
This dessert is pretty versatile! The traditional Italian recipe includes raw eggs, like the Tiramisu but I am not a fan of this version so I never use eggs. You can try and see if you like it best with or without them. Many people omit them and say their Italian chocolate salami still tastes amazing.
Also, the original recipe calls for rum but I advise you be careful with the rum. It’s better not to use it when you know children are also going to eat the salami. And they will, it’s too good to resist! So I always use rum extract instead of rum for the nonalcoholic but equally delicious version.
Here’s what you need:
- Milk: You can use any type of milk you prefer, from whole to skimmed. This will add a bit of moisture and help bind the ingredients together.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is preferred for this recipe, but if you only have salted butter on hand, just reduce the amount of added salt in the recipe.
- Sugar: Use granulated white or brown sugar, whatever you have available or prefer.
- Cocoa powder: Make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder as the other ingredients contain enough sweetness.
- Rum extract: As mentioned earlier, this is an alternative to using actual rum in the recipe.
- Raisins: You can use whichever type of raisins you prefer, or even substitute them with other dried fruits like cranberries or cherries.
- Walnuts: Walnuts add a nice crunch and nutty flavor to the dessert. If you have allergies, feel free to omit them or substitute with your favorite nuts.
- Turkish delight: This is an optional ingredient but adds a fun twist and some sweetness to the chocolate salami. You can find it at specialty European stores or online.
- Tea biscuits: These are the base of the dessert, providing texture and structure. Any type of tea biscuit or cookie will work, but make sure they are not too soft or crumbly.
- Coconut flakes: Another optional ingredient but adds a nice touch of tropical flavor to the dessert. You can toast them beforehand for an extra layer of crunch and nuttiness.
Instructions
1. Melt butter in hot milk.
2. Add sugar and melt.
3. Add cocoa powder and mix to combine.
4. Add Turkish delight, rum extract, raisins and walnuts and mix to combine.
5. Break social tea biscuits into 1/2″ to 1″ pieces.
6. Pour the chocolate mixture over biscuits and mix until evenly covered.
7. Shape into a log, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until hard.
Recipe variations
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free tea biscuits or cookies.
- For a vegan version, substitute butter with vegan butter and milk with plant-based milk. You can also omit the Turkish delight if it contains gelatin.
- Add some extra flavor by using different types of nuts such as almonds, pistachios or hazelnuts.
What to serve with Chocolate salami
- Fresh fruit: Serve some sliced fresh fruits like strawberries, bananas or pineapple on the side for a refreshing contrast to the rich chocolate.
- Whipped cream: A dollop of whipped cream on top of each slice adds a creamy and airy element to the dessert.
- Ice cream: Serve slices of chocolate salami with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent treat.
- Coffee or tea: The perfect accompaniment to this dessert is a hot cup of coffee or tea. The bitterness pairs well with the sweetness of the chocolate salami.
Frequently asked questions
How do you shape the chocolate salami?
I like to place the mixture in plastic wrap, roll the wrap, grab the ends of the wrap, twist them while keeping rolling the log until perfectly shaped and compact.
This is not the only shape it can come in, but it sure is the most popular. Some people use a bread pan to give it a loaf shape, and you can also find it shaped as a cake. It’s all about your personal preference but the taste stays the same.
Can you freeze chocolate salami?
While it doesn’t taste as great as the fresh cookies, if you do feel a bit lazy or are usually busy, you can make a larger batch and freeze smaller salamis, so that you don’t have to make them every time. Just keep them at room temperature before serving until the log becomes easy to cut.
When do you serve Italian chocolate salami?
Italians always have this chocolate salami on important holidays like Christmas or Easter. It saves the effort of baking complicated cakes and is still full of flavor. The only “cooking” involved in making it is rolling it and refrigerating for a few hours before serving.
More chocolate recipes you will love:
- Easy chocolate buttercream
- Double chocolate cake
- Dairy and egg free chocolate cake
- Chocolate fudge cupcakes
- Chocolate mousse dessert
- No bake chocolate lasagna
- Brazilian chocolate balls
- Air fryer chocolate zucchini muffins
I hope you give this Italian chocolate salami recipe a try! It’s a unique and delicious dessert that is easy to make and perfect for any occasion. Experiment with different variations and ingredients to find your favorite combination. And don’t forget to share this recipe with your friends and family, because everyone deserves to taste the goodness of Italian chocolate salami.
Chocolate salami recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 1/2 stick butter
- 6 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp rum extract
- 6 tbsp raisins
- 1 cup crushed walnuts
- 1 cup Turkish delight diced - in a variety of flavors
- 2 1/2 cups tea biscuits
- coconut to decorate
Instructions
- Add milk to a sauce pan and heat.
- Add butter and mix until melted.
- Add sugar and mix to dissolve.
- Add cocoa powder and mix to combine. Whisk continuously to break the lumps.
- Add Turkish delight and mix until the Turkish delight is half melted. Add rum extract.
- Add raisins and walnuts and mix to combine.
- Into a large bowl, break social tea biscuits into 1/2" to 1" pieces.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over biscuits and mix until the biscuits are evenly covered.
- Spread plastic wrap on the table and with the help of a spoon or spatula, add half the mixture in the middle of the wrap. Shape into a log and fold the bottom half of the wrap over the top half.
- Grab the ends of the plastic wrap and twist to seal.
- Roll the log on the table while lightly pressing and pushing the salami mixture, until the plastic wrap is tight and the mixture is compact.
- Refrigerate for a few hours (or overnight) until the log is hard.
- Unwrap the salami and cover in coconut flakes.
- Cut into slices and serve cold.
- Keep refrigerated.
mian bilal says
That looks awesome.