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.
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:
- 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:
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*
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.
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.
MORE ITALIAN DESSERT RECIPES TO TRY
Looking for more holiday dessert recipes? Try these Christmas-perfect Italian desserts:
DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?
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Italian Chocolate Salami
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 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp rum or marsala optional
- 2 tbsp 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.
Nutrition
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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