Chocolate Salami
This Italian Chocolate Salami recipe is a fun, no-bake sweet. It’s a crunchy treat that is perfect to serve with an after-dinner coffee and the ideal chocolate dessert.
This easy, show-stopping dessert will have everyone guessing until they take their first delicious bite!
Why you’ll love this recipe
Some years ago my family hosted an Italian student. We all enjoyed sharing our food, recipes, and ideas. Our time in the kitchen will always be one of my fondest memories. She loved my Jelly Cakes and we loved this sweet “salami” recipe.
What is chocolate salami made of?
Chocolate Salami is an Italian chocolate treat shaped like salami and when sliced, appears similar. however, this isn’t a savory, meat-based recipe. This sweet, authentic Italian recipe is a combination of chocolate, butter, broken cookies, and nuts usually bound with raw eggs. But the version I make omits the raw eggs (like I do with my Italian Tiramisu) so everyone can tuck into this delicious treat!
What is another name for chocolate salami?
In Italy, chocolate salami is mostly known as “salame di cioccolato”. Some regions have their own versions and names. For example in Piedmont, it’s called “salame del papa” or “the pope’s salami”. In Sicily, it’s known as “salame Turko” or “Turkish salami”. However, the basis for all is similar – a sweet, no-meat salami!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy – This recipe is so easy to make and ideal to involve the kids.
- Make ahead dessert – You can make this now and freeze it for later. It is a great make-ahead recipe! In December I always have a couple of these in my freezer for unexpected guests.
- No bake – The bonus is that this easy recipe is also no-bake and you can vary it to your tastes. If you love chocolate, you’ll love this.
- Adaptable – You will love how adaptable this recipe is! You can use whatever little bits you have left in your pantry. Just stick to the suggested quantities and you can make this recipe your own
For complete ingredient quantities and full instructions, please scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Ingredients notes
This is a clever recipe that uses broken cookies and nuts to simulate the fat in salami. You can use almost any sweet, dry cookie and whatever nuts you prefer. All you need is-
- Cookies – Use a combination of shortbread or butter cookies and crunchy amaretti. Vanilla wafers, tea biscuits, graham crackers, or any plain cookies will work in this recipe.
- Toasted Nuts – Almonds are great and hazelnuts are delicious. However, use what you have or your favorite nuts or combination. The green of pistachios is amazing!
- Powdered Sugar – Also known as icing sugar or confectioners sugar. This will dissolve into the mixture easily without heat.
- Cocoa Powder – Use good quality cocoa that is dark and intense for the best flavor.
- Semisweet Chocolate – Use chocolate chips or chop the chocolate into small pieces. Milk chocolate would be a good substitute if you don’t like the intensity of semisweet chocolate.
- Liqueur – Something like marsala, sweet sherry, Kahlua, Amaretto, brandy or rum. For a non-alcoholic version substitute with coffee, milk, or apple juice.
- Unsalted Butter – Please use butter. Don’t substitute margarine. Unsalted butter has a superior flavor.
Instructions
This recipe comes together very quickly. Crushing the cookies will be the longest part of the recipe. Remember, it’s a no-bake recipe!
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Please note that the numbered instructions below correlate to the numbered photo collage above.
- Place the crushed cookies and remaining dry ingredients into a medium bowl and mix well.
- Whisk together the Marsala, melted, unsalted butter, and melted chocolate, and stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
- Place the chocolate mixture along the length of a double sheet of plastic wrap. Alternatively, use baking paper.
- Roll into a log, wrapping tightly and firmly in the plastic wrap (or baking paper). Pop into the fridge for at least 3 hours or overnight. It will need some time to set and become firm. If you are really in a hurry, place it in the freezer for 2 hours.
Hint: Use your hands to break the cookies or pop them into a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Avoid completely crushing the cookies. Just breaking them into smaller pieces along with some larger pieces is exactly what you want.
Variations
- Fruity – Dried golden raisins or currants are also good. If the fruit is on the large side, chop coarsely so that it blends in well. Chopped dried figs for the taste of Christmas! Dried cranberries for a pop of tartness.
- Citrus Tang – Citrus zest finely grated is fantastic. Alternatively, use finely chopped candied orange peel
- Spicy – I like to sometimes add spices like cinnamon or ginger.
Storage
Store Chocolate Salami in the fridge in a sealed container where it will last for at least 2 weeks.
It can also be frozen. Wrap well in plastic and then place into a zip lock bag or seal container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Tips for Success
- For best results when you cut a slice, crush the cookies roughly with your hands. You want to have some larger and some smaller pieces. Imagine what a slice of salami looks like. There are larger and smaller pieces of fat through each slice. This is exactly what the cookies should be like.
- Combine the ingredients very well. At first, it may look a bit dry but all the dry ingredients must be moistened so that the ingredients holds together well.
- The idea of this recipe is that it should look like a salami or a chocolate sausage. That means you need to take your time to form it into the right shape. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or use parchment paper. Twist the ends well, keeping the mixture in place.
FAQ
Tie the string around the salami is just for fun and is NOT essential to enjoy this sweet treat! However, if you would like to do this first be sure to have the salami very cold and well set.
Chocolate salami will last in the fridge for at least 2 weeks. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Chocolate Salami is very popular in Italy. However, other European countries like Portugal also make it. Other versions like the Russian recipe use tea biscuits, walnuts, and sometimes condensed milk. This is a delicious chocolate sausage made with cookies, cocoa, chocolate, and nuts that’s perfect for any holiday celebration.
Serving Suggestions
This Chocolate Salami is ideal to serve with after-dinner coffee. However, why not add it to a dessert fruit platter or a treat for afternoon tea? In cool weather, you may need to allow it to sit for a few minutes before it can be sliced. However, if the room temperature is warm, serve cold from the fridge.
More recipes like this
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Chocolate Coated Strawberries from It’s Not Complicated
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Chocolate Salami Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups coarsely crushed sweet cookies (chocolate chip, graham crackers, butter cookies, plain sweet cookies, digestive biscuits, vanilla wafers)
- 1⅓ cups coarsely crushed Amaretti cookies
- ⅓ cup chopped toasted almonds
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup powdered (icing) sugar sieved
- ⅓ cup sweet marsala wine
- 10 tablespoons (1 ¼ sticks or 150 grams) butter melted
- ⅔ cup (4 oz or 100 grams) dark chocolate melted
Instructions
- Place the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well.
- In a large jug, whisk together the Marsala, melted butter and melted chocolate.
- Stir wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
- Prepare two lengths of doubled plastic wrap.
- Divide the mixture between the two sheets of plastic wrap and spread out into a line. Roll it up tightly into a log pressing to form the shape. Twist the end of the plastic to seal.
- Place on a baking tray (so they keep their shape) and refrigerate for a few hours.
- After 30 minutes, check if they are still keeping the shape. If not press into shape and retighten the twists on the ends.
- Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
- Or freeze if you are keeping it for some time.
- When you are ready to serve. Remove the wrapping. You can dust the salamis lightly with sifted powdered (icing) sugar to resemble the skin of the salami.
- Slice and serve. Keep it chilled to retain the shape.
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Notes
- dried cranberries
- dried sultanas, raisins or currants
- chopped dried figs
- citrus zest
- spices like cinnamon or ginger
Nutritional Estimate Per Serving
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.
This recipe, rating consistently 5 stars, was first published on 22 October 2010.
Marcelina
I made the Italian salami and stored it in the fridge. Want to serve fir Christmas. Well I began to panic a bit thinking it may have not worked well. So today I cut few slices and oh my goodness!!! It’s amazing. I used biscoff biscuits and it was so good.
Your recipes are just incredible. You explain every detail so well.
Thank you so much for all your wonderful well explained recipes.
Blessing to you on this special Christmas !
I wish I could post a photo because they turned out so great!! I added pistachios, candied orange peel, and a touch of cinnamon. I also swapped out the Marsala for my homemade ratafià. It’s a fantastic recipe. Grazie mille!!
Petra, I’d love to see a photo! If you’re on fb or instagram you can send it to me there or tag me in the post.
I made these years ago for gifts. Make a large sugar cookie, cover with strawberry jam “marinara sauce”, slices of “salami”, sprinkles of white chocolate “cheese”. Merry Christmas! Thank you for the great salami recipe. lyn
What fun, Lyn! An ingenious way to use the chocolate salami!