Butter and sausage, but make them chocolate

There aren’t many things that can be ruined by chocolate. This, apparently, includes butter and even… sausage?

Both choco butter and sausages became very popular in the USSR around the 1960s. These desserts are actually pretty similar: the key ingredient in both is butter. No meat is fortunately involved in the making of either.

Chocolate butter (шоколадное масло) is a mass-produced treat, and you can still find it on the shelves of supermarkets. Give it a try – it’s just as delicious as chocolate spread.

Chocolate sausage (шоколадная колбаса), on the other hand, is more of a homemade dessert. Inspired by an Italian dish called chocolate salami, it includes whatever products are at hand: butter, cocoa, and sugar mixed with chunks of nuts or cookies and formed into a log. Kind of funny-looking, it’s easy to make and rich in flavor.

Healthier fruit-based delights

For those who prefer lighter desserts, there’s always pastila (пастила) and smokva (смоква). Both are made with apple puree (or other fruits/berries), but their form varies: smokva is thin and chewy like gum, while pastila is soft and fluffy like a cake.

These treats often don’t contain added sugar at all. This – not to everyone’s liking – makes them taste a bit sour. But I am personally a big fan, and recommend giving it a try, especially if you’re looking for a healthier dessert option.

Dentist’s favorite desserts

It’s not much of an exaggeration: some of the sweets made in Russia might, under some circumstances, lead to a dentist’s appointment. This is the risk you’ve got to take when trying local toffees (ириски), kozinaki (козинаки), or brittle (грильяж).

They may not be easy to chew, but make for a delicious snack, especially with tea. Maybe that’s why these two are inseparable – the hot beverage helps soften even the toughest treat?

For more culinary discoveries, check out our suggestions on local unconventional foods or browse other related stories by ITMO NEWS.