Vegan, Raw, Gluten Free, Chocolate Salami

I have been attempting all my mom's recipes either vegan raw, gluten free, or sugar free.  Some recipes turn out with substitutes, some are major fails. The ones that work, I've posted or added alternatives to the original posts, and will continue doing so. I made a really good vegan raw chocolate salami the other day and I tell ya, my kids love it, and I'm good with that treat. 

Gosh you guys, I have such a sweet tooth! But, I'm tired of feeling the sugar lows in my day. Like an addict I needed something sweet to get me through the day. I haven't had sugar in almost a week and I cant get out of bed. My body is detoxing or something.  This was a perfect time for me to make this.  I nibble on a piece here and there, and give it to the boys as dessert. Works. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup cashews soaked over night in 2 cups of cold water
• 1/2 cup figs or dry cherries, raisins, prunes, or a mixture of dry fruit
• 1 cup dates, pitted
• 1 cup walnuts or a mix of your favorite nuts
• 6 oz vegan 100% cocao bar, melted
• 1/2 cup raw cocoa butter, melted. If you cant find cocoa butter, sub with organic coconut oil, melted
• 3 Tbs honey or raw agave syrup
• 12 cup fine coconut flakes to roll the "salami" in at the end

Drain cashews and put them in a blender or food processer. Add the dried fruit, dates, melted chocolate, melted cocoa butter and honey and blend for 4-5 min. Unless you have a Vitamix, then that will not take that long. After all that is blended, mix in walnuts with a spoon. Prep three pieces of parchment paper with coconut flakes to help shape the salami. Put a third of the mixture onto a prepped parchment paper with the coconut flakes and shape it into a salami. Then roll the parchment paper as tight as you can to wrap and finish shaping the salami. I then use a piece or aluminum foil to cover the parchment paper so it keeps in the freezer better. 

Freeze until ready to eat. When taking it out of the freezer, let it sit out for about 10 min before cutting. Unwrap, add more coconut flakes if desired, cut and enjoy. After it comes out of the freezer, I keep mine in the pantry, but it will last longer in the fridge. My kids eat it too fast, so pre-cut and in the pantry it lives. 

Comment below if you made Chocolate Salami before ? with your grandma? mom? I remember the first times trying this was in Ukraine ( not the vegan kind but the original, Click here for recipe My grandma made it and we just ate the batter with a spoon when it was still hot. best.