Biscuit Salami – Salam de biscuiti is one of the most popular Romanian desserts, a no-bake roll with biscuits and cocoa that makes children happy.
Childhood memories...
The biscuit salami with chocolate was the first cake I had ever made on my own. I was 11, in the fifth grade, and we learned to make this cake during the “Manual Labour Classes”; that is really what they were called. During these classes, all the girls went to a special classroom equipped with a stove, a fridge, a sink, a sewing machine, and lots of sewing supplies, wool, knitting stuff, and so on.
The boys would go to another classroom or, better said, a workshop where they would work with wood and stuff like that.
And I remember vividly the first time the teacher showed us how to make one of the most popular Romanian desserts, the Biscuit Salami or Salam de biscuiti.
Ingredients
Butter:
- Unfortunately, this recipe is not the one I got when in school that got lost at some point. But it is very similar; at least, the taste is exactly how I remember it.
- I only know that the old recipe was somehow different because I remember melting a whole pack of butter as a first step when making the Romanian chocolate salami.
- This recipe uses a lot less butter, though, which is fine with me; if I can get the same taste and consistency with half the amount of fat is wonderful.
Biscuits or cookies:
- I use butter biscuits or butter cookies, like the Leibniz butter cookies or Petit Beurre. Any other similar (and cheaper) brand is fine. (Amazon affiliate link)
Cocoa powder:
- Definitely unsweetened cocoa powder, the sweetened one would make this Romanian dessert way too sweet, and I am not even sure if that would work at all; sweetened cocoa powder has a completely different consistency. (Amazon affiliate link)
Rum aroma:
- I didn't like the taste of rum aroma or essence as a child, but I love it now, and I never leave it out of this biscuit chocolate salami anymore. (Amazon affiliate link)
- However, it is optional; use it if you like it, and leave it out if you don't.
The no-bake Romanian biscuit salami or Salam de biscuiti opens a new series on Where Is My Spoon as well; the next two weeks will be dedicated to some of the most popular cakes in Romania, cakes that most Romanian people know and love.
Cakes like this Romanian Biscuit Salami, Romanian Meringue Brownies – Negresa, Romanian Lemon Cake - Lamaita or Alba ca Zapada, the Walnut Chocolate Buttercream Cake or Queen Marie – Regina Maria, and so on. I still have a few spots open, so in case you want me to try a particular Romanian cake for you, you could let me know.
More chocolate desserts
- Easy Bailey's Chocolate Cake
- Italian Chocolate Cookies
- The Ultimate Cherry Brownies (with Chocolate)
- Chocolate Tray Bake
- Chocolate Gateau
- Romanian Chocolate
Biscuit Salami - Romanian Salam de biscuiti
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz butter biscuits like Leibniz Keks or Petit-Beurre
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon rum aroma See note
Instructions
- Break the butter biscuits with your hands into smallish pieces. Place into a bowl.
- Cook: Place the milk and sugar into a small pot and bring to a boil while stirring from time to time. Boil for about 1 minute. Add the butter and stir until melted.
- Combine: Take off the heat, add the cocoa and the rum aroma and stir well. Pour this mixture over the biscuit pieces and mix well until all the biscuit pieces are coated with the cocoa mixture.
- Shape salami: Cut two pieces of plastic wrap/cling film. Divide the mixture in two and place each batch on one of the cling film pieces. Form a rough sausage (as thick as you like it) and wrap it carefully into the cling film to form a “salami.” Repeat with the second batch.
- Refrigerate until they are firm, for several hours or overnight. Slice before serving.
Maria Loranger says
Made this, following your recipe to the letter.
Mine did not turn out gooey - more's the pity!
I wonder if the quantity of biscuits is not a bit too much.
I wish I could post a photo...
Adina says
Hi Maria. I always make it like this, but if you feel there are too many biscuits, you can use a bit less next time.
Erica says
I made this but the chocolate comes out still kind of gooey even after freezing. Am I doing something wrong?
Adina says
Hi Erica. The dessert is supposed to be a bit smudgy, so it might make your fingers a bit messy while eating it . But it should not be runny or anything. Did you use good butter with a high fat percentage? Butter containing too much water might cause more smudginess.
Adelina says
My favorite salam de biscuiti recipe! I love adding walnuts and coconut flakes to this concoction. To add even more pizzazz, I love rolling the salami log in coconut? my favorite Romanian childhood treat.
grace says
though i've never eaten this, i always love the way it looks--some very creative mind came up with this beaut! nice post. 🙂