Chocolate Biscuit Salami

This delightful no-bake dessert is perfect for chocolate lovers who appreciate a mix of textures and flavors. It combines the crunch of biscuits with the chewiness of marshmallows and dried fruits, all enveloped in a rich chocolate coating. Perfect for a quick treat or a party, this dessert looks impressive with its unique "salami" shape. You don’t need special equipment or advanced skills, making it ideal for baking beginners. The preparation process is simple and fun, allowing a lot of room for personal creativity with ingredients. It's a great way to use up any leftover cookies or nuts in your pantry. You can experiment with different fruits and nuts to create a variety of flavor profiles. This chocolate biscuit salami can also be a wonderful homemade gift during festive seasons. The dessert can be stored for a long time, which enhances its flavors and makes it even more enjoyable over time.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

200 g unsalted butter
2 large eggs
400 g tea biscuits (around 2 packs)
100 g raisins
100 g candied fruits (such as pineapple, or your choice)
100 g peanuts
300 g marmalade
1/2 cup cocoa powder (50-80 g)
1/2 cup sugar

Preparation Time

Total Time: Approximately 200 minutes (including chilling time)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare Ingredients: Start by rinsing the raisins and soaking them in water to soften. Leave them aside.
Crumble Biscuits: Break the tea biscuits into small pieces, ensuring a mix of fine crumbs and larger chunks.
Roast Peanuts: Lightly roast the peanuts in a pan to enhance their aroma, then place them in a dish to cool. Avoid leaving them in the pan as they may continue roasting.
Dice Candied Fruits: As the nuts cool, chop the candied fruits finely and add them to the bowl of crumbled biscuits.
Slice Marmalade: Sprinkle some sugar on a cutting board to prevent sticking and slice the marmalade into small pieces. Add these to the biscuit mixture.
Drain Raisins: Once the raisins have soaked enough, drain them and add them to the bowl with the biscuits and fruits.
Crush Peanuts: Once cooled, crush the peanuts. You can place them in a bag and crush them with a hammer or use a mortar and pestle. Avoid grinding them too finely.
Combine Ingredients: Add the crushed peanuts to the biscuit mixture, mixing well to combine all elements evenly.
Melt Butter: In a small pan, melt the butter until liquid but not boiling. Mix in the sugar and stir until it dissolves completely.
Beat Eggs: In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Gradually add them to the melted butter and sugar, stirring constantly to avoid curdling.
Add Cocoa: Sift the cocoa powder into the egg mixture, stirring continuously to form a smooth, thick chocolate paste.
Mix Chocolate Paste: Pour the chocolate mixture over the biscuit mixture, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly coated in chocolate.
Form the Salami: On a large sheet of foil lightly greased with butter, sprinkle a mixture of cocoa and sugar (equal parts). Spoon the chocolate-coated mixture onto the foil and shape it into a log.
Finish With Cocoa: Sprinkle extra cocoa and sugar mixture over the log to prevent sticking and enhance flavor.
Wrap and Shape: Wrap the log tightly in the foil, correcting the shape with your hands to ensure a rounded form.
Chill the Salami: Place the wrapped log in the refrigerator for a minimum of 3-4 hours until firm. For quicker results, use the freezer.
Serve: Once set, unwrap the chocolate salami and slice it to serve. Store any leftovers in the fridge or freezer.

Tips

Substitutions: Feel free to substitute peanuts with other nuts such as almonds or hazelnuts.
Dietary Choices: Use gluten-free biscuits for a gluten-free version.
Avoid Boiling: When melting the butter, make sure not to overheat as this can cook the eggs prematurely.

Nutrition (Approximate per serving)

Calories: 150 kcal
Protein: 2 g
Fats: 9 g
Carbohydrates: 18 g

Variations

Nut-Free: Replace nuts with seeds for those with nut allergies.
Vegan Option: Substitute the butter with a plant-based alternative and use vegan cookies.
Additional Flavor: Add a dash of vanilla or coffee essence to enhance flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Pair With: Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Beverage Pairing: Perfect with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa.

Best Places

Café Central - Known for its classic Viennese pastries. Location: Herrengasse 14, Vienna, Austria.
Pâtisserie Sadaharu Aoki - Offers elegant patisserie with a Japanese twist. Location: 35 Rue de Vaugirard, Paris, France.
Carlos Bakery - Famous for its custom cakes and pastries. Location: 95 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ, USA.
Tartine Bakery - Renowned for its rustic loaves and pastries. Location: 600 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Konditori La Glace - Oldest patisserie in Copenhagen. Location: Skoubogade 3, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Conditori Schober - Traditional Swiss pastries in a historic setting. Location: Napfgasse 4, Zurich, Switzerland.
Du Pain et des Idées - Celebrated for hand-crafted bread and pastries. Location: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, Paris, France.
Ottolenghi - Offers a vibrant selection of Mediterranean baked goods. Location: 287 Upper St, London, UK.
Pasticceria Marchesi - Famed for its luxurious Milanese pastries. Location: Via Santa Maria alla Porta 11/a, Milan, Italy.
Zakopane Bakery - Offers authentic Polish and European treats. Location: Krupówki 63, Zakopane, Poland.