Albany-based food writer Danny Freeman delivers a delicious take on salami that’s entirely sweet and perfect for eating or gifting.

Charcuterie takes on a sweet, new meaning with this recipe from Albany-based food writer Danny Freeman. The follow-up to 2023’s Danny Loves Pasta, Freeman’s latest release, Italianish, features over 100 modern takes on classic recipes, covering everything from lasagna soup to chicken parm calzones.

Chocolate “Salami”
Recipe by Danny FreemanCourse: Recipes, desertCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy6-8
servings15
minutes15
minutes4
minutes30
minutesIt’s a no-bake chocolate dessert that’s speckled with toasted hazelnuts, marshmallows, and cookies, and then rolled in powdered sugar, giving it the look of a piece of salami when it’s sliced.
Ingredients
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½ cup hazelnuts
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½ cup unshelled pistachios
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½ cup mini marshmallows
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5 oz Golden Oreos, Biscoff, or similar vanilla cookies (about 12 cookies)
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24 oz semisweet chocolate chips (about 3 ½ cups)
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5 Tbsp butter
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2 Tbsp heavy cream
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¼ cup powdered sugar
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the hazelnuts and pistachios on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for about 10 minutes, until brown and fragrant.
- Let the nuts cool to the touch, and then loosely chop them and place them in a large bowl. Add the marshmallows.
- Place the cookies in a Ziplock bag and roll them over with a rolling pin until they’re broken into coarse pieces. Then, combine them with the nuts and marshmallows.
- Place the chocolate chips and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir before returning to the microwave for another 30 seconds. Repeat until the chocolate is fully melted when stirred. Add the heavy cream and stir until well mixed.
- Add the chocolate mixture to the cookies and nuts and stir until combined.
- Place a large sheet of plastic wrap on a flat surface and pour the mixture into the middle. Wrap the plastic around the mixture until it forms a roughly 16-inch-long log and twist the ends so it resembles a salami. Cool in the refrigerator for about 4 hours, or until firm.
- Remove the plastic wrap, place the powdered sugar on a plate, and roll the log in the sugar to coat. Slice the log into ¾-inch pieces and serve. If the log is too firm to cut, let sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- I promise you that this recipe does not actually combine chocolate and salami! Instead, it’s a no-bake chocolate dessert that’s speckled with toasted hazelnuts, marshmallows, and cookies, and then rolled in powdered sugar, giving it the look of a piece of salami when it’s sliced. It’s also easily customizable, and you can find it made with almonds, cranberries, and more (although the marshmallows I use are a little less traditional). It’s typically served around holidays, but there’s no reason it can’t be a year-round treat!


