Before we get any further, let’s get this straight: chocolate kielbasa does not have any actual kielbasa in it. Rather, this beloved Russian/Ukrainian confection gets its funny name from its resemblance to the popular smoked meat product.
Chocolate kielbasa (sometimes called “chocolate salami”) is made out of crushed Marie biscuits, walnuts, cocoa powder, butter, and a bit of alcohol, like vodka or rum. Chocolate kielbasa is the perfect dessert for lazy people as it requires no baking and is truly easy to make. It is a great party dessert since it’s a finger food and can be made up to two weeks in advance. It’s also fun to observe the confusion on people’s faces when they realize they’re eating sweets instead of sausage.
Chocolate Kielbasa
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Two 10" logs 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Ukrainian
Description
Chocolate kielbasa – sometimes called salami – is a popular Russian/Ukrainian confection.
Ingredients
- 1 package (7 oz/200 g) Marie biscuits (See Note)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- A pinch of salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 shot (1 1/2 oz) vodka, rum, whiskey or cognac
Instructions
- Begin by crushing the cookies. Stack 4-5 cookies overlapping each other on a cutting board and crush them using a rolling pin, rolling back and forth until the cookies are evenly crumbled and have the texture of sand.
- Transfer the ground cookies to a large bowl and repeat with the remaining cookies.
- Add the walnuts, cocoa, sugar and salt to the bowl and stir to combine. Then add the melted butter, milk and liquor. Stir really well until the mixture begins to stick together. If it seems too dry, add another splash of milk.
- Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on a work surface and transfer half of the mixture to the center of the plastic. Begin pressing the mixture together to form a log. Once formed, fold the plastic over the log and continue shaping until it is round and the mixture is tightly packed. Wrap the ‘kielbasa’ in the plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Repeat with the second half of the mixture. Freeze for at least one hour before slicing. Store leftover kielbasa in the freezer.
Notes
These are typically found in the international foods aisle of the grocery store.
RaNea Rich says
Can I use imitation rum flavoring instead of real rum? If so, how much?
Alexandra Shytsman says
Hi there. I’ve never used imitation rum flavoring instead of real rum, so unfortunately, I can’t say. If you’re avoiding alcohol, you can certainly just leave that element out of the recipe 🙂
Samatha says
Is it safe fOr Kids? Thanks
Alexandra says
Well, I used to eat this as a kid so I say yes! The amount of vodka per slice is really negligible. But if it bothers you, you can leave it out – the texture just might be a little softer than pictured.
Eva says
Nice format. I wIll be back!
Eva
Ksenia @ At the Immigrant's Table says
I absolutely love this, Sasha. And that cup – it truly is darling!
Alexandra says
Thank you, Ksenia! That teacup rocked my world.
Nicole - Champagne and Chips says
Such a lovely recipe. I’ve just stumbled across your blog and am looking forward to spending more time sifting through all your gorgeous and really beautifully different recipes
Alexandra says
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for the kind words! So glad you found my blog. Hope you enjoy your time here 🙂
Bec says
It really is the cutest cup and very worthy of inspiring a recipe like this! Lovely, Bec x
lidiya says
looks very nice and tasty,