Craving something sweet? Chocolate salami is a simple, no-bake treat made with cookies and chocolate. It's the perfect dessert to make ahead and enjoy anytime.
Chocolate salami is a delicious no-bake dessert that's as fun to make as it is to eat! It's just what it sounds like - a chocolate dessert that looks like salami. Combining crunchy cookies and a rich chocolate mixture, it looks just like salami—but don't worry, it’s a sweet treat, not something savory! And the best part? It's super easy to prepare with no baking required.
This unique dessert is a classic in many Slavic homes, where it’s enjoyed alongside a nice cup of tea and made for most holidays. Drinking tea is almost like a daily ritual, and chocolate salami is the perfect snack to munch on while you sip.
This recipe is perfect for little ones, too! Crushing the cookies is the most fun part and makes for a great job for small helpers. Who wouldn’t want to whack the cookies in the bag? Kids love it! Plus, since the recipe doesn’t take long to make (and we all know children’s attention spans can be short), it’s a great choice for involving them in the kitchen. They’ll get a kick out of making a dessert that looks like salami and is wrapped up like a giant candy bar.
Want an added bonus? You can make a batch ahead of time, pop it in the freezer, and whenever you have a craving for something sweet, you’ll have your own secret stash waiting for you. It’s also a great go-to treat for spontaneous parties or get-togethers. That is why it's always on my list to make for my holiday baking - it's the easiest recipe, very convenient and always a hit with everyone.
Ingredients for Chocolate Salami
(Scroll to the bottom of the page for the printable recipe with all the measurements.)
Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious, no-bake chocolate salami:
- Cookies
Vanilla wafers or tea biscuits are your best bet for this recipe. Essentially, you need cookies that are dry and not filled, so they can hold up well in the chocolate mixture. My personal favorites are Russian/Ukrainian tea cookies like Korovka (if you can find them) or classic American vanilla wafers. These give the perfect crunch and texture to the dessert. - Melted Butter (you can use salted or unsalted butter)
This is the base of the chocolate mixture and what helps bind the cookies together. The butter also adds richness, making the chocolate salami feel indulgent and smooth. - Cocoa Powder
Make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder, not a hot cocoa mix. Unsweetened cocoa powder gives the dessert a deep, rich chocolate flavor without the extra sweetness. - Sweetened Condensed Milk
This is what brings the whole dessert together. Sweetened condensed milk is thick, creamy, and sweet, and it creates the perfect texture and flavor for your chocolate salami. It’s the secret ingredient that gives this treat its smooth, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
How To Make Chocolate Salami
- Crush the Cookies
- You can crush them with your hands, or give them a rough chop with a knife, with a mix of larger chunks and smaller pieces.
- For a less messier option, grab a rolling pin and crush them right in the cookie bag. No mess, no fuss!
- Tip: Most boxes of vanilla wafers are around 11 oz, and for this recipe, you’ll need about 1 and ½ packages.
- Prepare the Chocolate Mixture
- In a large bowl, mix the melted butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, and sweetened condensed milk together, until the mixture is cohesive and smooth.
- Combine the Cookies and Chocolate Mixture
- Combine everything in a large bowl.
- You should end up with a thick, slightly sticky mixture that will hold its shape. Don't worry if it's a bit loose - it will firm up when it chills in the refrigerator.
- Shape the Chocolate Salami
- Scoop portions of the mixture onto parchment paper or aluminum foil and shape them into logs. Don’t worry about making them perfect.
- You can decide how thick or thin you want your logs, as this will determine the thickness of your slices. If you prefer larger pieces, make thicker logs. You should have 4-5 logs, depending on the size that you prefer.
- Once shaped, tightly wrap the logs in the parchment or foil to smooth them out.
- Chill the wrapped logs in the refrigerator or freezer to firm them up. For quicker results, freeze for 1-2 hours, or refrigerate for a few hours (or overnight) if you have more time.
- Chill Your Chocolate Salami
- Chill the wrapped logs in the refrigerator or freezer to firm them up. For quicker results, freeze for 1-2 hours, or refrigerate for a few hours (or overnight) if you have more time.
Serving the Chocolate Salami
When you're ready to serve, take the chocolate salami out and sift a little powdered sugar over the top for a finishing touch.
Tip: The salami slices much easier when it’s cold, so make sure it's chilled before cutting. Slice it into rounds and enjoy! The sweet crunch of the cookies and the rich chocolate will melt in your mouth with every bite.
Storing and Freezing the Chocolate Salami
You can store the chocolate salami in the fridge for up to a week or freeze them for up to 6 months. Just pop them in a ziplock bag or airtight container if you’re storing them in the freezer.
I love keeping a stash in my freezer—it's the perfect way to have a sweet treat ready whenever the craving strikes. Plus, this recipe is a lifesaver during the busy holiday season when I'm making a ton of different treats. You can prepare it well in advance, and then when you need something quick and delicious, all you have to do is slice and serve!
Helpful Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! While vanilla wafers are the most popular choice, you can also use tea biscuits or any other dry, crunchy cookies. Just make sure they don’t have filling, as it could affect the texture.
When wrapping the logs in parchment paper or foil, make sure they’re tightly sealed to avoid any air exposure. This helps maintain the shape and keeps the salami fresh.
Absolutely! Chocolate salami stores beautifully in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze it for up to 6 months. Just wrap the logs tightly, and they’ll be ready to enjoy whenever you like.
No, the fridge works just fine! Chilling in the fridge for a few hours will firm up the salami, but if you want to speed up the process, the freezer is a great option or if you want to store it longer.
Yes! Feel free to add nuts, dried fruit, or even a little splash of vanilla extract or other extracts, like almond of mint for extra flavor. You can also add small marshmallows. Just make sure the mixture still holds together when you form the logs.
More Easy Desserts
- No Bake Graham Cracker Cake
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Shortbread Cookies with Jam (Split Second Cookies)
- Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Salami
Craving something sweet? Chocolate salami is a simple, no-bake treat made with cookies and chocolate. It's the perfect dessert to make ahead and enjoy anytime.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 salamis 1x
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
- 1 lb vanilla wafers or tea biscuits
- 2 sticks (8 oz total or 1 cup) of butter, melted
- 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookies:
Crush or roughly chop the cookies into a mix of coarse pieces and smaller bits. You can use your hands, roughly chop with a knife, or crush them in the bag using a rolling pin or mallet. - Make the Chocolate Mixture:
In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, cocoa powder, sweetened condensed milk, and a pinch of salt. Mix until smooth. - Add the Cookies:
Add the crushed cookies to the chocolate mixture and stir to combine evenly. - Shape the Salami:
Scoop portions of the mixture onto parchment paper or aluminum foil. Shape into logs and tightly wrap them in the paper or foil. You should end up with 4-5 logs. - Chill:
Place the wrapped logs in the refrigerator or freezer to chill until firm (1-2 hours in the freezer, or a few hours in the fridge). - Serve:
When ready to serve, sift powdered sugar over the chocolate salami and slice into pieces.
Notes
- Cookie Type: Use dry, crunchy cookies like vanilla wafers or tea biscuits. Avoid cookies with fillings, as they won’t work as well in this recipe.
- Crushing the Cookies: Aim for a mix of coarse and smaller cookie pieces. Don't crush them too finely, as the texture adds to the charm of the salami!
- Chilling Time: For the best results, chill the chocolate salami for at least a couple of hours. Freezing it for 1-2 hours speeds up the process and makes slicing easier. The colder the log, the cleaner the slices.
- Shape and Size: You can shape the logs as thick or thin as you like, but remember, the size of the logs will determine how thick your slices will be.
- Storage: Chocolate salami can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Just make sure the logs are tightly wrapped to maintain freshness.
- Slicing Tip: It’s easiest to slice the chocolate salami when it’s cold. A sharp knife will help you get nice, clean slices.
I've been looking for this recipe for a while. I'm excited to make this soon...I fact I just bought a bunch of cookies today:)
It's a great simple and satisfying dessert:). I hope you like it, cause we certainly do.
And i had my 13-yr old daughter make this kolbaska too! I was wondering about this no-bake desert recently, and had no idea that it was SOOOO EASY TO MAKE it! I had her use version 1, as it apears much easier for a child to put together. She enjoyed it so much and was proud to make a delish desert on her own!!! Well, all thanks to you, Olichka, and how good you describe each step, that even children can do it!!! My daughter enjoyed making other meals/salads/deserts from your blog, as she learning, and its so wonderful to teach them to cook/bake with this wonderful blog of yours, so easy to follow and such a great selection of awesome mouth-watering recepies!
Can't express enough, how much i appreciate you and what you do for us!
May God bless you and your family!!!
Awwweee! Thanks, Oksana, for such a sweet comment! You made my day! It means a lot for me to know that my blog is helpful to others:).
You are sooooo welcome! 😀
By the way, i've added walnuts too (like other folks, that commented) and its my personal preference to add nuts to most of my deserts... but yeah, for ppl that like walnuts - feel free to add 'em, it tastes delish!
p.s. my daughter is still 12, not 13 yet, not untill winter.(when i read my comment again, i was like, oopsie! wrong info here, got too excited).
So the point of my correction here, is that she is still a child, not a teen, yet is cooking w/confidence from this very blog, BIG THANKS FROM TO YOU FROM HER AS WELL!! 🙂
You are sooooo welcome! 😀
By the way, i've added walnuts too (like other folks, that commented) and its my personal preference to add nuts to most of my deserts... but yeah, for ppl that like walnuts - feel free to add 'em, it tastes delish!
p.s. my daughter is still 12, not 13 yet, not untill winter.(when i read my comment again, i was like, oopsie! wrong info here, got too excited).
So the point of my correction here, is that she is still a child, not a teen, yet is cooking w/confidence from this very blog, BIG THANKS FROM TO YOU FROM HER AS WELL!! 🙂
Let me add too, i brought one kolbaska to work, and tons of ppl asked for recipes, so i printed and shared this recipe with them.
And my family says: from now on this desert needs to be done at our home, like, at least monthly!!!
Made the first version this morning- super easy and very tasty!! The kids loved it!
That's awesome, Elena! Pleasing the little ones is such a great accomplishment too:).
First time commenting, but I've made several of your recipes now for my Russian husband and they've all been keepers (plov, lazy cabbage rolls, simple bread, rassolnik)! When I told him I was making this (last night) he was excited because he hadn't eaten it since childhood. He loved it and took one to work to share today, too!
Olga, thank you for your blog and the time you put into presenting your delicious recipes in such easy to follow format.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, Jessica. It is a lot of work, but hearing feedback from readers is such a great payoff.
Hello Olichka thank you for this wonderful recipe. I did the 1st version and I love it.
You're welcome, HannaAnna! I'm glad you enjoyed the chocolate salami:).
omg...wow! I never realized they were that easy to make! WHOOHOO! gona go get the ingredients and make them tonight ;);)
I made first version. Very good. I like it so much. It's gone in three days, two people. Making another batch. I made it with Russian tea biscuits . Мням.. мням... Мнямм...
So excited to see this posted:) I love how easy it is to have something sweet for tea in minutes.
So excited to see this posted:) I made it before and love how easy it is to have something sweet for tea in minutes.
Looks amazing. We also add walnuts to the mixture. I can't wait for you oreshki recipe. Hopefully they will be posted soon.
For some reason, I don't like nuts in my chocolate salami:). I know a lot of people add it, but it personally prefer not too. I'm sure it will work great in the recipe, Tanya.
Can you store them in the freezer for long periods of time and then just thaw them out when your ready to use them?
As I wrote in the post, you can freeze the chocolate salami, Viktoria.
I actually don't thaw it; it's easier to cut, especially if you have a sharp knife. It thaws much more quickly when it's sliced and the slices are really neat.
How long does it need to thaw for from the freezer? Also if they are in the fridge is it safe to cut them and lay them out on a plate 2 hrs before serving? Or will they get soft really fast? Trying to make these for a big crowd 🙂
Not too long, I don't remember exactly how much time. Maybe 30 minutes? It might still be cold in the center, but you will be able to cut it.
As long as you cut it when it's cold, they won't get too soft, so you can put it on a plate, no problem.
Thank you for a quick response!
Olga, this is great , I just bought the kedem cookies hahaha at my Publix( im also in FL). Thank you for the recipe !
That's great, Sashaa! Enjoy the chocolate salami:).
What an amazing recipe!!!! Thank you so much! Could you tell me which version you prefer? I will make both but want to hear your opinion first.
I like them both equally well, Oksana. As you can see, I had such a hard time deciding, I posted both versions.
Thanks for the recipe! What is the difference between the two versions?
Hi Katy,
There's isn't a very noticeable difference. I think the second version is slightly creamier.
I got a little excited when I saw this recipe! I love chocolate salami, or as we call it "chocolate kobasa". We made it a lot back in Ukraine when I was a child. Thanks for the recipe, now I will know how to make it myself 😉
You're welcome, Oksana!
I'm glad this recipe caught your eye. It's definitely a Russian classic.
i am so excited to try this!!! What is the difference in the two recipes - besides the egg?? Which do you prefer and why???? Thanks so much!!!!!!!
There is a slightly different texture and flavor between the two. I prefer the second one, but they are both great, Laura.