Torta mattonella

The ‘torta mattonella,’ also known as chocolate salami for its resemblance to a cured sausage, is a very popular cold dessert. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 300 g of dry biscuits (like Oro Saiwa or similar)
• 150 g of soft butter
• 150 g of icing sugar
• 2 eggs
• 100 g of unsweetened cocoa powder
• A pinch of salt
• Liqueur to taste (rum, marsala, or cold coffee if you prefer a non-alcoholic version)

Preparation

1. Roughly chop the biscuits, leaving some bigger pieces to add crunchiness to the cake.
2. In a bowl, cream the soft butter with the icing sugar until smooth.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, continuing to mix.
4. Incorporate the unsweetened cocoa powder and a pinch of salt, mixing until you have a uniform mixture.
5. Add the chopped biscuits and a little of the chosen liqueur, mixing well to ensure the biscuits are amalgamated with the cocoa cream.
6. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper and pour the mixture in the center. Form it into a cylinder like a salami, rolling the paper around and tightening it well at the sides.
7. Let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours, better if overnight.
8. Before serving, remove the ‘torta mattonella’ from the refrigerator, discard the paper, and dust with icing sugar to simulate the ‘salami’ effect.

Fun Fact

The ‘torta mattonella’ is an extremely easy recipe and perfect for making with the help of children, since it doesn’t require baking (although it contains raw eggs, so make sure they are fresh and from a reliable source). Furthermore, it can be personalized with the addition of chopped dried fruit, like hazelnuts or almonds, or chocolate chips, for an extra touch of deliciousness.