"This traditional Tuscan recipe is called Sweet Salami because it's made to look like a salami. It's actually a delicate, refined, chocolate candy that is embarrassingly simple to make. It looks wonderful served on a special occasion."

No cooking involved.

Easy to make.

Refined, delicate flavor.

Make it with or without alcohol.

What Is It?

This traditional Tuscan recipe is called Sweet Salami because it's made to look like a salami. It's actually a delicate, refined, chocolate candy. It's embarrassingly simple to make (much easier than rum-balls, which it resembles). It looks wonderful served on a special occasion.

It tastes great with a cup of coffee or tea, in place of a cookie/biscuit or piece of cake.

The Ingredients:

• 3 cups (300 grams) crushed cookies/biscuits, leave some chunks if you want a rough 'salami' look (as in the picture), use dry cookies such as Marie Biscuits, Vanilla Wafers, or Amaretti
• 1/2 cup (50 grams) cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup liquid (100 dl) such as orange juice for a non-alcoholic candy, or a liquor or sweet wine like Marsala, or a hard liquor like whiskey, rum or brandy
• 1 cup (150 grams) powdered sugar
• 2/3 cup (150 grams) butter, melted

How to Make It

• Mix the dry ingredients (crushed cookies, cocoa powder, powdered sugar)
• Add the wet ingredients (liquid, melted butter).
• Cut two lengths of waxed paper, one for each 'salami', and have four ties ready for the ends.
• Sprinkle each paper with white flour.
• Roll each 'salami': Put half the dough on each paper, spread out into a line. Roll it up into a log, making sure the sides and end are lightly covered with the flour. Tie each end.
• Set the logs in the refrigerator for a few hours. You can keep it in the fridge longer, of course. But it needs at least a few hours to set well.
• Remove the wrapping, slice and serve. Slice it diagonally to make it look even more like a real salami.

Candida Martinelli - Candida Martinelli grew up in San Francisco, California, but lived many years in Florence, Italy. As an outlet for her love of Italian culture, she set up Candida Martinelli’s Italophile Site a few years ago. It’s grown since then into a site that celebrates Italian culture for both children and adults. Candida offers up Italian culture in a fun way, with lots of pictures, and links for those who want to learn more after her introduction to a subject. She covers everything from Italian home decorating to gardening, fashion, music and movies.   Website: Candida Martinelli’s Italophile Site To review the Reprint Rights for this article, please go to the authors page by clicking the button below.