by Cherry Amaretto Chocolate Salami is a perfect no bake treat to offset the craziness that holiday baking can sometimes add to our long “to do list” during this busy time of the year!
This chocolate salami is made with 70% dark chocolate. It’s also studded with pistachios, crushed amaretti cookies and some plump amaretto soaked cherries. There is so much to love about this special dessert!
The long cylinder shape of this popular sweet treat has only a physical resemblance to an actual salami, I assure you!
When you slice it through you’re given a sneak peak inside this no bake dessert. Each chocolaty disk beautifully showcasing bright pieces of pistachios and crispy bits of crushed amaretto cookies with flecks of boozy soaked dried cherries.
You’ll find many variations to this delightful treat and you can just as easily adapt it to suit your very own tastes.
Ingredients for Chocolate Salami
- 70% dark chocolate
- Pistachios
- Amaretti cookies
- dried charries
- Amaretto Liqueur
- Butter
- Powdered sugar
If you’re not a fan of dark chocolate then no worries! This is your playing field so simply substitute the dark chocolate with semi-sweet chocolate and add any nut or a combination of nuts that you prefer.
The amaretto cookies can also be substituted with any dry crunchy cookie of your choice.
Choose one that would retain its crispiness when stirred into the melted chocolate. Having said that, I’m not sure how those soft spongier cookies would hold up in this dessert due to their high absorption capacity.
I had always made this type of dessert using mini multi coloured marshmallows when my kids were much younger but of course with no liqueur! Those were much easier to slice due to its different texture from the soft marshmallows.
I find that roughly chopping the nuts and the dried soaked cherries yields cleaner disc shaped slices.
A better tip would be when rolling the chocolate mixture into logs. As you’re rolling and shaping the logs you’ll also want to compress them in order to release any air bubbles. This will avoid much breakage when slicing.
These yummy slices make a delightful no bake treat to add to any holiday cookie platter!
If making these Cherry Amaretto Chocolate Salami, remember to tag @marisasitaliankitchen on Instagram so I can see your creation!
Cherry Amaretto Chocolate Salami
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Amaretto liqueur (or substitute with orange juice)
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 340 grams 70% dark chocolate (you can also use semi-sweet chocolate)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup pistachios (roughly chopped)
- 100 grams amaretto cookies (crushed into small pieces (roughly 1 cup, crushed))
- 1/3 cup of icing sugar (for rolling the salami)
Instructions
- Heat the amaretto liquor in a small microwave safe bowl for about 15 seconds.
- Remove from the microwave and stir in the dried cherries then set aside to allow the cherries to plump and soften for about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, fill a saucepan with about an inch of water and bring to a low simmer.
- Roughly chop the chocolate and place the chocolate alongside the butter in a heat proof bowl and place the bowl over the saucepan. (make sure to use a bowl slightly bigger then the saucepan so that it does not touch the simmering water)
- Stir occasionally while the chocolate and butter melt.
- As the chocolate melts, drain the cherries and chop into small pieces.
- Once the chocolate and butter has melted remove the bowl from the heat.
- Stir in the pistachios, crushed cookies and chopped cherries into the chocolate mixture.
- Divide the mixture evenly onto 2 sheets of waxed paper.
- Fold one end of the waxed paper over while rolling and shaping into logs of about 2 inches in diameter.
- Twist ends like a candy wrapper.
- Wrap the rolls in aluminum foil and chill for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the fridge and keeping the salami in the foil, roll and shape the logs while compressing it slightly to release any air bubbles.
- Return the logs to the fridge and chill for 2 hours.
- Unwrap the logs and roll them in the icing sugar, rolling to coat all over.
- String up the salami with kitchen twine if you wish or simply slice into 1/4 slices and serve.
- Store in an airtight container, in a cool and dry place.
Wow ! These look absolutely delicious !! Love the chocolate & pista pair !!!
Hi Megala! There are lots of wonderful flavours and textures in this no bake dessert and very easy to put together! Thanks for your lovely comment!
WOW! I have always wanted to make this but have felt a bit too intimidated…. You have convinced me that I need to try! Absolutely gorgeous, my friend!
Annie, do try it and you’ll see that it’s really quite easy and you can adapt it to which ever flavours and textures you prefer! Thank you and enjoy!!
Wow Marisa, you’ve really upgraded these tasty “salami” to a new level. Love the use of liqueur along with the cherries and pistachios. Beautiful. 🙂
Thanks Ronit….I love cherries with the dark chocolate combo and the addition of some green pistachios makes this dessert very festive!
These look amazing Marisa… I think the tricky part for me would be keeping some amaretto cookies aside for making them.
Those cookies are yummy little morsels aren’t they! You may just have to buy extra…some for the Chocolate Salami and some for nibbling on ? thanks Annika!
I have never made this but it’s totally me I try! And I definitely would use the dark chocolate as well. Love the presentation!
You can’t go wrong with dark chocolate and cherries…one of my favourite combos! Hope you get to try it Nadia and thank-you!
I have all of the ingredients in the pantry and thinking of making this tomorrow morning. Actually, I needed to add something to my collection of cookies and this is straightforward, seasonal, and I am certain delicious. Grazie Marisa.
This dessert would flatter any cookie platter Paula and as a bonus it’s quite easy to put together. Some days a no bake sweet is exactly what’s needed! Enjoy Bella!
Your version with Amaretto soaked cherries sound amazing! I haven’t made chocolate salami in a few years. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’ve always made this chocolate Salami with marshmallows and decided to give it more of a grown up feel and it’s just perfect for the holidays! Thanks for dropping by Marcellina!
Wow ! I love it but I have a question please
im a bit confused between number 10 and 12?
Would you please explained ?
Thank you
Hi Rosa, I’m happy to clarify this and hope I can explain somewhat better! The chocolate mixture makes enough to make 2 logs. Divide the mixture in two portions and place each on a sheet of wax paper or cling wrap paper what ever works better for you. Make sure your wax paper is long enough (about 16 inches long).
I use a rubber spatula to spread out the mixture a little and then place one end of the wax paper over the log and start rolling tightly. As you start rolling and compress it down a little your squeezing out any air pockets and it will also stretch out to about 10 inches long.
Once your finished rolling it out crimp the ends like a candy wrapper then simply re-roll in aluminum paper and refrigerate!
I hope this helps and don’t hesitate if you have any more questions, I’ll be more then happy to reply!
I’m excited to try this. How long do you think the log will keep food safe?
Susan, it’s at its best consumed within 5 days.