Brick Cake

The brick cake, also known as chocolate salami for its shape that resembles a sausage, is a very popular cold dessert. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 300 g dry biscuits (such as Oro Saiwa or similar)
• 150 g softened butter
• 150 g icing sugar
• 2 eggs
• 100 g unsweetened cocoa powder
• A pinch of salt
• Liqueur to taste (rum, marsala, or cold coffee if you prefer an alcohol-free version)

Preparation

1. Roughly chop the biscuits, leaving some larger pieces to give the cake crunch.
2. In a bowl, cream the softened 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, stirring until the mixture is homogeneous.
5. Add the chopped biscuits and a little of the chosen liqueur, mixing well so that the biscuits blend with the cocoa cream.
6. Lay out a sheet of baking paper and place the mixture in the center. Shape it into a cylinder like a salami, rolling the paper around it and tightening well at the sides.
7. Let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours, preferably overnight.
8. Before serving, remove the brick cake from the refrigerator, discard the paper and dust with icing sugar to simulate the ‘salami’ effect.

Trivia

The brick cake is a very easy recipe and perfect to make even with the help of children, since it requires no cooking (although it contains raw eggs, so ensure their freshness and origin). It can also be customized by adding chopped dried fruit, such as hazelnuts or almonds, or chocolate chips for an extra touch of indulgence.