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Chocolate Salami is one of the easiest and the most delicious desserts to prepare during the holidays. It requires no cooking at all — just a few minutes of prepping and it stays fresh for months!
Europeans are known for creating all sorts of savory homemade sausages. In fact, every year my family gathers around to make our signature Homemade Kielbasa Sausage Recipe. It’s the perfect way to save money and fill your backup freezer with a couple dozen sausages for a rainy day.
And my people’s love for sausage doesn’t just stop at the savory variety. During the holidays, my family huddles together and makes the perfect addition to any holiday tray — chocolate salami!
Yes, you read right. Chocolate salami is a meat-free log of sweet cocoa, crushed biscuits, nuts, and more. It’s dense, rich, and so delicious. In my rendition, I add in dulce de leche (cooked condensed milk) to make it that much more decadent.
Wondering where the heck this funky treat came from? Chocolate salami is a traditional Portuguese dessert that has gained popularity all around Europe. You’ll find it stocked in bakeries and sweet shops throughout the continent during the holidays.
Chocolate Salami Video
How to Make Chocolate Salami
Chocolate Salami surely looks impressive, but it’s actually super easy to make. In fact, my siblings and I used to gather around and make it ourselves since it requires no baking and is shaped easily like you’re playing with clay. Follow the steps below to create the perfect log:
- If you don’t already have butter at room temperature, place some on the counter and allow to soften. Gather the rest of your ingredients.
- Rough crush your biscuits into small pieces in a blender or food processor. Add in cacao powder and combine well.
- Add butter, dulce de leche, and condensed milk. Mix to combine well. Add rough chopped pecans into the mixture.
- Scoop a cup of the chocolate mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Shape into a log and wrap tightly.
- Refrigerate salamis for a few hours or freeze it until they harden.
- Dust with powdered sugar. Slice to serve or keep whole for your holiday tray.
Storing Chocolate Salami
Chocolate Salami is the perfect prep-ahead dessert. Here’s how to store it:
- Refrigerating: When kept wrapped tightly in plastic, chocolate salami will stay fresh for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. To keep it fresh for longer, slice of pieces as you go. This will keep the salami nice and moist.
- Freezing: Freeze your salami for up to a couple of months wrapped tightly in plastic. Only dust it with powdered sugar right before serving.
FAQ
What nuts are good in chocolate salami?
I love to use crushed pecans for this recipe. However, feel free to use your favorite nut or a combination of several. Pistachios, almonds, and cashews all work great.
What are the best cookies for chocolate salami?
Plain biscotti or any classic tea biscuit will work for this recipe. You don’t want too sweet a cookie since this chocolate salami is already packing some major sweetness.
Other Treats to Try:
Looking for other decadent sweets to add to your holiday dessert tray? Here are a couple other unique treats that will be sure to impress your friends and family:
- Sweet Cheese Cookies – These adorable cookies are filled to the brim with sweet farmer’s cheese. The perfect balance of sweet and salty.
- Dulce De Leche Sandwich Cookies – Ducle de leche sandwiched between two sweet cookies. What more is there to say?
- Kolaczki Recipe (Polish Cookies) – A classic Polish cookie filled with jam and dusted with powdered sugar.
Recipe
Chocolate Salami
Print Pin
Servings
16 Servings
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
Chocolate Salami is one of the easiest and the most delicious desserts to prepare during the holidays. It requires no cooking at all — just a few minutes of prepping and it stays fresh for months!
Ingredients
- 1 lb biscuit cookies
- 1/2 cup cacao powder
- 200 g Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup condensed milk
- 1/3 cup dulce de leche
- 1 cup pecans
US Units – Metric
Instructions
Prepare all your ingredients for the chocolate salami. Make sure that your butter is at room temperature.
Using a blender or food processor, rough chop biscuit cookies into small pieces. Don't worry if there are little chunks left over, they will add to the character of the sausages. Add cacao powder and give a couple more pulses to combine.
Add butter, dulce de leche, and condensed milk. Mix to combine. Break pecans into smaller chunks and stir in.
Scoop out one cup of mixture onto a prepared plastic wrap or parchment paper. Shape into a log and wrap tightly.
Refrigerate sausages for a few hours or freeze until they harden.
Dust with powdered sugar before slicing.
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Salami
Amount Per Serving
Calories 312 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Fat 23g35%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Cholesterol 36mg12%
Sodium 251mg10%
Potassium 133mg4%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 366IU7%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 48mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted November 18, 2020
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Lauren CanadyOct 11, 2023 Can the chocolate salami be left at room temp for 5 days?
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 12, 2023 Hi Lauren, Since it's a butter based dessert, I store it in the freezer or fridge. I wouldn't recommend storing it at room temperature for too long, because it will soften. Enjoy!
KristinaFeb 16, 2023 Great recipe and so easy🙌🏼
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 16, 2023 Hi Kristina, I am thrilled that you love this recipe! Enjoy!
EileenDec 19, 2022 Hi Natalya! Thank you for another great recipe. Turned out amazing!!!
Natalya DrozhzhinDec 19, 2022 Hi Eileen, I am so delighted to hear that you love the recipe! Enjoy!
Sheila MunozNov 19, 2021 What is the texture like? Are they supposed to be hard or chewy or soft? Can they be baked at all? Sorry about all the questions.
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 20, 2021 Not at all, Sheila! Thanks for reaching out. We always appreciate the questions. The texture is similar to fudge, but a bit firmer. I wouldn't recommend baking the log, as it will simply melt. Hope this helps!
AtenaFeb 13, 2021 Looks yummy but what can I replace the dolce de leche with ?
EvaNov 19, 2021 In our Portuguese recipe we use egg yolk instead of the condensed milk. I have tried with the condensed milk and found it abit too sweet. Your Salami looks delicious.
LaurieSep 22, 2022 We just returned from Portugal and we fell in love with the salamé. Out of curiosity how do you substitute with egg yolks and is it OK that it not cooked?
Natalya DrozhzhinSep 22, 2022 Hi Laurie- I don't normally add eggs or egg yolk to chocolate salami, so I don't have specific tips. I think you would have to use a double-boiler method for the butter and eggs though, and since the egg is warmed up it would be safe to eat. I hope you give my (non-egg) version a try though and love it! 😀
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 19, 2021 Hi Eva, thank you for sharing that tip!
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 14, 2021 Hey, you can try Nutella or caramel but really there is no great replacement for dulce de leche.
Ashwini SayanakarDec 7, 2020 Are these biscoff cookies? If not, Can I use biscoff for this? Thanks
Natalya DrozhzhinDec 8, 2020 Hi, yes, I used biscoff and it works great!
KimberlyNov 19, 2020 I've always wanted to try this and never have - it's time, this looks so delicious!
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 19, 2020 I am so excited for you! You will love it!
BethNov 19, 2020 This looks so delicious and right up my husband's ally! I can't wait to give this a try!
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 19, 2020 Circle back and let me know how it goes!
StephanieNov 19, 2020 Such a fun recipe! My family loved it!!
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 19, 2020 Yes, it's a great dessert for kids adults.
TinaNov 19, 2020 Hi, just wondering how long can this dessert stay out of the fridge? Thanks
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 19, 2020 Hey Tina, see our "Storing Chocolate Salami" section. Enjoy
NataliaNov 18, 2020 Hallo!
Can you tell me some name of cookies? I don’t know any like the picture.Violet RDec 24, 2022 In Canada, we have "Social Tea" brand and "Rich Tea" brand (the latter by Peek Freans).
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 18, 2020 Hey Natalia, plain biscotti or any classic tea biscuit will work for this recipe.
OlgaAug 27, 2019 I was just looking to make this! Glad you shared this recipe!??
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 28, 2019 Oh yum! Awesome! How did you like it?
NataJul 5, 2014 Hi, Looks amazing but where do I get those cookies?
Natalya DrozhzhinJul 6, 2014 I purchased them at a local European market. You can use any sweet biscuit cookies from your local grocery store.
MilalilaApr 27, 2014 Belive me. This isn't a common european dessert!
DanielaApr 13, 2021 It is in Romania 🇷🇴 we love it with a little bit of rum essence 😊 yum yum 🤤😋
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 27, 2014 Hey Milalila, I guess it depends on the part of Europe. If it's not very common, it should be because it's pretty darn good 😉
Lea's CookingMar 4, 2014 Love this sweet kolbaska 🙂
Natalya DrozhzhinMar 4, 2014 Lea, This dessert its easy to love because its so easy. 🙂
Olga GMar 2, 2014 This is the first time I've heard of this dessert. Chocolate salami sounded interesting. I will have to give it a try. I'm sure it will give my kids a kick out of the look of it. I bet it's delicious. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Natalya DrozhzhinMar 2, 2014 Olga, my kids were confused 🙂 I think you would like it. Keep me posted how it goes for you!