Salam de Biscuiti (Romanian Salami Cookie) Recipe

By
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.
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Updated on 05/27/22
Romanian salami cookie recipe

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Refrigerate: 7 hrs
Total: 7 hrs 50 mins
Servings: 36 servings

Salam de biscuiti, or unbaked cookies made to look like slices of salami, are popular at Christmastime in Romania and elsewhere throughout Europe, especially Italy, Germany, and Hungary whose cuisines have influenced Romanian food.

It's essentially a combination of cocoa powder, butter, sugar, rum extract (or other real liquor), crumbled cookies, and usually Turkish delight. Some recipes call for whole eggs or egg yolks but, because this cookie isn't baked, make sure to use pasteurized eggs. The mixture is formed into a log shape, refrigerated, then sliced and served. There are many variations of this recipe, but this is our favorite.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup milk

  • 7 ounces (200 grams) Turkish delight, chopped

  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 14 ounces (400 grams) butter biscuits, such as Petit-Beurre, broken into very coarse crumbs

  • 10 1/2 ounces (300 grams) walnuts, toasted and chopped after cooling

  • 1 shot dark rum, or 2 teaspoons rum extract

  • 2/3 cup (5 1/3 ounces) unsalted butter, softened

  • 6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

  • 2 large eggs, separated

  • 7 ounces (200 grams) sour cherries, drained and coarsely chopped

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Romanian salami cookie
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. In a large saucepan, heat milk with Turkish delight until candy starts to melt and reduce in size. Remove from the heat.

    Heat Turkish delight
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. To the saucepan, add 1/2 of the cocoa, 1/2 of the biscuits, 1/2 of the walnuts, and half of the rum. Mix thoroughly and set aside.

    Add cocoa, biscuits, walnuts
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. In a separate bowl, mix the softened butter with 5 tablespoons confectioners' sugar and 2 egg yolks.

    Mix softened butter with sugar
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Add this to the ingredients in the saucepan and mix thoroughly.

    Add ingredients
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Add in the rest of the rum, cocoa, biscuits, walnuts, and the coarsely chopped sour cherries.

    Add rum
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.

    Whip the egg whites
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Blend into the mixture.

    Blend into mixture
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar and shredded coconut on a large piece of plastic wrap. Put the dough in the middle and roll it up in the plastic wrap, forming it into the shape of a salami.

    Roll into log
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  10. Wrap tightly and refrigerate 6 to 7 hours.

    Wrap tightly
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  11. Remove plastic wrap and cut into 1/2-inch slices when ready to serve.

    Remove plastic wrap
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk of foodborne illness.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
167 Calories
12g Fat
14g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 36
Amount per serving
Calories 167
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 32mg 11%
Sodium 67mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 18mg 1%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 73mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)