Brigadeiros
Brazil's favourite party sweet. Brigadeiros are Brazilian chocolate fudge balls made from condensed milk, cocoa and butter, rolled in sprinkles. Their story and our easy recipe.
Brigadeiros: User Mayra (Maych) on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
A party essential
No Brazilian birthday party is complete without brigadeiros, small chocolate fudge balls rolled in sprinkles and served in paper cases. They became popular in the 1940s, when sweetened condensed milk was widely available and fresh milk and eggs were harder to come by, and they spread across the country.
Why condensed milk works
Sweetened condensed milk is milk with much of its water removed and sugar added. Cooking it with cocoa and butter evaporates more water and caramelises the sugar slightly, giving a thick, fudgy mixture that sets enough to roll when cool. The key moment is when the mixture pulls away from the bottom of the pan as you stir.
Variations
Brigadeiro gourmet uses good dark chocolate and creative coatings. Beijinho, meaning little kiss, uses coconut instead of cocoa. Brigadeiro de colher is a softer version eaten with a spoon. Some cooks add a spoon of cream for silkiness or a pinch of salt.
Tips
Use a heavy non-stick pan and keep stirring, especially near the end, so the bottom does not burn. Butter your hands lightly before rolling. Brigadeiros keep for a few days covered at room temperature in cool climates, or in the fridge for longer.
Did you know?
Brigadeiros are so loved in Brazil that some shops sell nothing else, with dozens of flavours from pistachio to passion fruit. A party table usually holds hundreds of them, arranged with beijinhos and other little sweets called docinhos. They are also one of the first recipes many Brazilian children learn to make with their parents.
Make Brigadeiros at home
Ingredients
- 395 g can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, plus a little for rolling
- Pinch of salt
- Chocolate sprinkles for coating
Method
- Put the condensed milk, cocoa, butter and salt in a non-stick pan over medium-low heat.
- Stir constantly for 10 to 15 minutes, until thick and it pulls away from the base of the pan as you stir.
- Tip onto a buttered plate and cool completely.
- With lightly buttered hands, roll teaspoon-sized balls.
- Roll in chocolate sprinkles and place in small paper cases.
- Brigadeiros: User Mayra (Maych) on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Text written by Chocolate Era.
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