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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Chocolate Salami - Salame al Ciocciolato

    Published: Dec 5, 2021 by Andrea

    Jump to Recipe

    Traditional Italian Chocolate Salami - This fun and easy no-bake Christmas dessert is made with just 5 simple ingredients.

    Chocolate salami brings back so many memories of my Christmas holidays in Sicily. I loved sneaking a few slices from the kitchen on Christmas day because I just couldn't wait.

    Little chunks of crunchy cookies wrapped into a buttery chocolatey mixture, served in a fun way to resemble a real salami - it was simply impossible to resist!

    After so many years, it's still one of my favourite chocolate desserts to make during the holiday season.

    It also makes an excellent no-bake Christmas dessert, that you can conveniently prepare and freeze in advance.

    italian chocolate salami - salame al cioccolato.

    It's loaded with chocolate flavour and it can be easily made gluten-free or vegan, by making some simple substitutions (scroll down for all the tips).

    WHAT IS CHOCOLATE SALAMI

    Chocolate salami aka salame al cioccolato is a traditional Italian dessert recipe made with chocolate, broken biscuits (cookies), butter, milk (or eggs) and sometimes alcohol such as brandy, marsala wine, or rum.

    There are many variations and names for this classic Christmas treat.

    In Piedmont, it's called "salame del papa" (salami made for the pope) and toasted hazelnuts are added in.

    In Sicily we call it "salame Turco" (Turkish salami), and sometimes toasted almonds or toasted pistachios are added in.

    Despite the name, this is not a meat product!

    The name "salami" was given because, well, it really looks like the real deal! Like real salami, the chocolate version has a log form and it's sliced for serving.

    It's a traditional grandma's dessert recipe (ricetta della nonna in Italian), and there are both versions with eggs and without eggs.

    Today I'll be sharing the classic chocolate salami without eggs recipe.

    INGREDIENTS

    All you need to make traditional chocolate salami is just 5 ingredients:

    chocolate salami ingredients: chocolate, tea cookies, butter, sugar, milk.
    • Dark chocolate: Go for high-quality dark chocolate. I like to use 70% dark chocolate, but you can pick your favorite (you can even use white chocolate!).
    • Cookies/biscuits: In Italy we use "dry biscuits" (biscotti secchi) which are typically served for breakfast or tea time. You can use digestive biscuits, tea biscuits, butter cookies, petit beurre cookies, shortbread biscuits, or simple vanilla cookies.
    • Butter: you'll need softened butter. Let it sit on the kitchen counter for at least 20 minutes before proceeding with the recipe.
    • Sugar: I use light raw cane sugar, regular sugar works just fine here.
    • Milk: makes an excellent substitute for the eggs in the traditional recipe.

    OPTIONAL

    • Cocoa powder: It's totally optional, you can sprinkle a little cocoa powder over your chocolate salami once it's ready.
    • Powdered sugar: once ready, you can roll the salami into powdered sugar.
    • Alcohol: Totally optional, but you can add a little Grand Marnier, rum, Marsala wine or brandy to enhance the flavor of your chocolate dessert.

    ADD ONS

    This chocolate Salami is simple and delicious this way, but you can have fun and play around by adding some toasted nuts and fruits:

    • chopped dried apricots
    • pistachios
    • pecan nuts
    • hazelnuts
    • almonds

    SUBSTITUTIONS

    You can easily make a vegan chocolate salami by swapping the regular ingredients with easy vegan alternatives:

    Butter: substitute with coconut butter or plant-based butter.

    Cookies: substitute with vegan digestive biscuits or tea cookies.

    Milk: simply use plant-based milk such as almond milk, oat milk or soy milk.

    HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE SALAMI

    This super easy no-bake chocolate dessert is ready in 4 simple steps and with really little effort.

    *Scroll down until the end of the post for the full printable recipe*

    chocolate salami step by step recipe collage: 1 break cookies in a ziplock bag, 2 whisk butter with sugar, 3 add melted chocolate, 4 add broken cookies and mix everything, 5 form a log and wrap it in baking paper, 6 refrigerated then serve your chocolate salami with dusted powdered sugar on top.

    STEP 1 - Break the cookies into chunks using your hands, or place them in a freezer bag and gently break them with a rolling pin. Do not crush them.

    STEP 2 - Whisk the softened butter with the sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

    STEP 3 -  Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds, give it a stir, then repeat, until the chocolate has fully melted. Allow the chocolate to cool, then whisk it with the butter mixture together with the milk.

    STEP 4 - Add the cookie chunks, then stir all the ingredients until combined.

    STEP 5 - Place the mixture on a sheet of parchment paper, and using your hands, shape it into a log. Once you have given the right shape, roll it in the baking paper and twist the ends to form a large candy.

    STEP 6- Refrigerate for at least 2- 3 hours, then unwrap the salami and dust with powdered sugar.

    You can serve it sliced accompanied by a dollop of pastry cream, or you can serve it whole on a wooden board for the WOW factor.

    italian chocolate salami.

    STORAGE TIPS

    Store the egg-free chocolate salami in the refrigerator for 5-6 days.

    It freezes beautifully, so it's a great make-ahead dessert for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

    You can freeze the chocolate salami for up to one month in advance.

    To defrost, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, then leave it at room temperature for an hour before slicing.

    RECIPE TIPS

    • Don't crush the cookies to much or blend them, as it will result in a hard chocolate salami that it wil crumble as you slice it.
    • Cut the butter into chunks and allow them to soften for at least 30 minutes before making the cookie dough. The butter must be soft but not melted.
    • Make sure let the melted chocolate cool down slightly before use.
    • You can roll the chocolate log into powdered sugar, then wrap it in baking paper and refrigerate it, or dust the powdered sugar just before serving it.
    • Let it rest 10 minutes on the kitchen counter before serving, it will make it easier to slice it.
    italian chocolate salami - salame di cioccolato.

    MORE ITALIAN DESSERT RECIPES TO TRY

    Looking for more holiday dessert recipes? Try these Christmas-perfect Italian desserts:

    • Amaretti Cookies - Italian Almond Cookies
    • Italian Butter Cookies
    • Easy Clementine Cake
    • Classic Tiramisu Without Eggs - Authentic Italian Recipe
    • Torta di Mele - Italian Apple Cake
    • Ricotta Cheesecake - Just 3 Ingredients
    • Caprese Cake (Gluten-free Chocolate Cake)
    • Crostata - Italian Jam Tart

    DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

    Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook!

    Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

    italian chocolate salami recipe.
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    5 from 4 votes

    Italian Chocolate Salami

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Traditional italian Chocolate Salami - This fun and easy no-bake Christmas dessert is made with just 5 simple ingredients.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Resting time2 hrs
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Serving: 12
    Calories: 339kcal
    Author: Andrea Soranidis

    Ingredients

    • 300 g dry cookies (or tea biscuits), digestive, petite, shortbread, butter cookies,
    • 200 g 60% or 70% dark chocolate, chopped
    • 150 g butter, or coconut butter, room temperature
    • 110 g sugar
    • 4 tablespoon milk
    • 1 tablespoon rum or marsala, optional
    • 2 tablespoon powdered sugar , to decorate

    Instructions

    • Break the cookies into chunks using your hands, or place them in a freezer bag and gently break them with a rolling pin. Do not crush them.
    • Whisk the softened butter with the sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
    • Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds, give it a stir, then repeat, until the chocolate has fully melted. Allow the chocolate to cool, then whisk it with the butter mixture together with the milk ( and rum if using).
    • Add the cookie chunks, then stir all the ingredients until combined.
    • Place the mixture on a sheet of parchment paper, and using your hands, shape it into a log. Once you have given the right shape, roll it in the baking paper and twist the ends to form a large candy.
    • Refrigerate for at least 2- 3 hours, then unwrap the salami and dust with powdered sugar.
    • You can serve it sliced accompanied by a dollop of pastry cream, or you can serve it whole on a wooden board.

    Notes

    • Don't crush the cookies to much or blend them, as it will result in a hard chocolate salami that it wil crumble as you slice it.
    • Cut the butter into chunks and allow them to soften for at least 30 minutes before making the cookie dough. The butter must be soft but not melted.
    • Make sure let the melted chocolate cool down slightly before use.
    • You can roll the chocolate log into powdered sugar, then wrap it in baking paper and refrigerate it, or dust the powdered sugar just before serving it.
    • Let it rest 10 minutes on the kitchen counter before serving, it will make it easier to slice it.
    STORAGE TIPS
    Store the chocolate salami without eggs wrapped in plastic wrap or parchment paper, in the refrigerator for 5-6 days.
    It freezes beautifully, so it's a great make-ahead dessert for the Christmas holidays.
    You can freeze the chocolate salami for up to one month in advance.
    To defrost, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, then leave it at room temperature for an hour before slicing.
    Did you try this recipe? Tag @thepetitecook or use the hashtag #thepetitecook - Looking at your pictures makes my day!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2slices | Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 163mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 327IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 3mg

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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    Comments

    1. Allison says

      August 28, 2022 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      Easy and delicious

      Reply

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    Andrea Soranidis, founder of The Petite Cook.


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