Packed with broken biscuits, nuts, and chocolate, this egg-free version of the classic Chocolate Salami recipe is a great option for those looking for a sweet treat without eggs. This recipe's orange zest paired with chopped almond is the citrus heaven. I love these as a quick dessert or as a bite with coffee.
Inspired by the classic Italian chocolate salami dessert, I tried to make a small batch without using egg yolks or liquor. This recipe is similar to my lazy cake recipe but has a different flavour profile and shape! I love making easy bite-sized no-bake desserts like my chocolate date balls or rocky road as these can be made well ahead for any occasion.
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Ingredients
Hundreds of chocolate salami recipes exist, but no two are the same. You will also find similar desserts by different names across the globe. I like to keep it simple, halal and delicious and the only way to do that is to use ingredients you love to eat. To make chocolate salami, you will need only a few ingredients!
- biscuits/cookies: I like to keep it simple like marie or petit beurre. Avoid using cream filled, etc. I tried with digestive biscuits in one of the batches and honestly didn't favour it.
- dried fruits or nuts: Whatever you have in hand, a medley or just almonds, pistachios or hazelnuts. You may add dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, etc.
- butter: A good quality butter will make a difference. You can use salted or unsalted.
- chocolate: Use any chocolate that you love to eat. I have made many batches using plain Cadbury dairy milk chocolate or dark chocolate or just chocolate chips.
- milk: a little to bring everything together.
- vanilla extract
- orange zest: I was never a fan or orange-chocolate pairing. But I fell in love with Jaffa Cake and have been adding candied orange peels or zest in my chocolate treats.
- icing sugar to dust: The recipe does not include sugar because the chocolate is sweet enough. Icing sugar is a must for a authentic look of a chocolate salami and also adds a sweeter note.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
The process of making the chocolate biscuit mixture is similar to fridge cakes but the shaping is what makes this a 'Chocolate Salami'.
Break the biscuits into small chunks using your fingers into a large bowl. Alternatively, If making a large batch, you may place the biscuits in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to break them into small bits.
Roughly chop the almonds and add to the bowl. Stir in the candied orange peel or zest (optional but I highly recommend). Give it a mix and keep it aside until needed.
Break the chocolate bar and the butter into small chunks and add them to a medium bowl along with milk. Melt this over a pan of barely simmering water while stirring occasionally. Switch off and remove from heat when the chocolate is completely melted and some butter is still visible.
Pour this smooth silky chocolate into the prepared biscuit mixture and mix until combined. Make sure to use a rubber spatula to get every bit of the melted chocolate.
Place the mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper large enough to wrap. Use the paper to shape the mixture into a log, resembling a salami.
Roll the parchment paper around the log, twisting the ends to secure it. Try to aim for a diameter of about 3-4 cm and a length of 15-20 cm. Refrigerate the chocolate salami for at least 2 hours, or until it becomes firm.
Once chilled and firm, remove the parchment paper and dust the log with icing sugar.
You may leave the powdered sugar as is to resemble snow if making it for holidays. Usually, people dust it off, leaving a film of white patch.
Slice them into thin rounds and serve.
Enjoy your delicious egg-free Chocolate Salami!
Substitutions
- chocolate - You can use dark or milk chocolate bars or chips. You can also use unsweetened cocoa powder with some heavy cream and more butter.
- nuts - skip for a nut-free version and maybe use dried fruits or seeds like sunflower or pumpkin.
- milk - use oat or nut milk for a dairy-free option. But then you will have to find a suitable substitute for butter too. I have not tested any but Sophie and Paul at Vegan Board can help with a vegan chocolate salami recipe.
- orange zest - You can skip adding orange zest as it is optional.
Variations
The sky is the limit when it comes to a chocolate salami recipe variations. Here are a few variations of Chocolate Salami that you can try:
- White Chocolate and Pistachio: Though I am not a white chocolate fan, this would look like nougat. Replace dark chocolate with white chocolate and substitute the almonds with crushed pistachios for a sweet, nutty, creamy twist.
- Mint Chocolate: Add a teaspoon of mint extract or finely chopped mint leaves into the dry mixture. It will give your Chocolate Salami a cool and vibrant flavor.
- Espresso and Hazelnut: I have included an image of this version. Add a teaspoon of instant espresso powder or strong brewed coffee with crushed hazelnuts for a mocha-inspired treat.
See my Tahini flavoured lazy cake that uses heavy cream! In that post, I have also shared a guide on how to make chocolate using cocoa powder.
Did you know?
While drafting this post, I learnt that there is a Russian chocolate salami recipe! The difference between the Italian vs Russian chocolate salami is that the latter does not include ingredients such as eggs, condensed milk, liquor or dried fruits. So, my recipe falls under the Russian style!
Equipment
- a heat-proof bowl to melt the butter and chocolate over a bain-marie aka double boiler.
- a medium bowl for broken biscuits
- a rubber spatula
- a parchment paper aka baking paper or cling wrap
Storage
Chocolate salami needs to be refrigerated. Take out only close to serving time and store the remaining in the fridge for several days.
Top tip
Though it is tempting to use a microwave to melt chocolate and butter, I recommend doing it over the bain-marie method for the best results.
FAQ
Chocolate Salami is typically made of a combination of biscuits, chocolate, butter and nuts or dried fruits. Some recipes call for sweeteners and cocoa powder to enhance the taste. These can be made with a variety of flavouring like vanilla, citrus, mint, coffee, cinnamon, etc. All the ingredients are mixed to form a semi-thick dough that is shaped into a log, resembling a salami. It is then chilled until firm sliced into rounds, and served.
Chocolate Salami is believed to have originated in Italy or Portugal and by the 20th century became a beloved treat across countries. The name "Chocolate Salami" comes from its resemblance to a salami sausage giving it a visual similarity to cured meat. Chocolate Salami became popular due to its simplicity and the fact that it does not require baking. The recipe has evolved, with different variations and additions to suit different tastes and preferences.
Related
Looking for other bite-sized treat recipes like this? Try these:
📖 Recipe Card
Chocolate Salami without Eggs
Ingredients
- 90-100 grams tea biscuits (cookies)
- 50 grams almonds, (approx. ⅓ cup)
- 50 grams butter
- 100-150 grams dairy milk chocolate, see notes
- 2-3 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- icing sugar, for dusting
Instructions
Prep biscuits and Nuts
- Break the biscuits into small chunks using your fingers into a large bowl. Alternatively, If making a large batch, you may place the biscuits in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to break them into small bits.90-100 grams tea biscuits (cookies)
- Roughly chop the almonds and add to the bowl. Stir in the candied orange peel or zest (optional but I highly recommend). Give it a mix and keep it aside until needed.50 grams almonds½ teaspoon orange zest
Melt Chocolate
- Roughly break the chocolate bars. Cut the butter into small chunks. Add them to a medium-sized bowl along with milk. Melt this over a pan of barely simmering water while stirring (bain-marie). Stir until all the chocolate and butter are melted. Switch off and remove from heat using mittens. Lastly, stir in the vanilla extract.50 grams butter100-150 grams dairy milk chocolate2-3 tablespoon milk½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Shape
- Pour the silky chocolate into the prepared biscuit mixture. Use a rubber spatula to get every bit of the melted chocolate. Mix until all the biscuit pieces are coated with chocolate.
- Place the mixture onto the middle of parchment paper (baking paper). Use a rubber spatula to shape it into a log like a sausage. Start wrapping the parchment paper around the chocolate log and smoothen the surface as you roll to the end. Close both ends by twisting the wrap. Aim for a diameter of about 1 to 2 inches and a length of 6-8 inches.
Chill and Serve
- Refrigerate the chocolate salami for 2 to 4 hours or until it becomes firm. Once chilled and firm, remove the parchment paper and dust the log with icing sugar. Use a brush or hands to rub the dusted icing sugar all over the chocolate log.icing sugar
- Slice them into thin rounds only close to serving time. Refrigerate any remaining slices for up to a week. Enjoy your delicious egg-free Chocolate Salami!
Notes
- chocolate - I have used Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate. You can use any dark or milk chocolate bars or chips. You can also use unsweetened cocoa powder with some heavy cream and more butter.
- dried fruits and nuts - You can stir in a handful of dried fruits like raisins or cranberries etc for a festive treat.
- orange zest - You can skip this or see the Variations section in the post for other options.
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