I know you're here for a Brazilian brigadeiro recipe, and I know how irresistible this treat is.
This Brazilian confection is made with simple ingredients and can be adapted to suit your taste preferences. It's easy to prepare (even a kitchen-dumb person like me can make it), and it goes well on any occasion — after a breakup, a big promotion, or a long week... or at birthday parties, where it is commonly found.
This blog post’ll cover everything you need to know about brigadeiro, including its history, ingredients, and preparation. Also, you'll have some tips about serving and storing your delicious brigadeiro.
To go directly to the recipe, please click here. But if you want to learn a bit more about where the brigadeiro recipe comes from (it's, after all, great for table talk too), read on.
Where does brigadeiro come from? A topic for conversation with your friends.
The history of this candy goes back to the 1940s when Brazil was going through a difficult time due to World War II (not that Brazil was in the war, though).
At that time, cocoa was scarce and expensive in the country, and fresh milk and sugar were commodities one simply couldn't find easily. It was hard to prepare any treats with those ingredients.
But then came along a group of Brazilian women who had an idea to create a new candy using only the ingredients that were available in Brazil at that time: condensed milk and cocoa powder. They mixed these two ingredients together with butter and heated it over low heat until it thickened into a smooth, velvety texture. Once cooled down, they rolled it into small balls, which were then covered in chocolate sprinkles.
It's basically what we do to this day.
These women named their creation “brigadeiro” after Brigadier Eduardo Gomes [in Portuguese], who was running for president then.
He had a fun slogan that stuck with people: "Vote no Brigadeiro que é bonito e solteiro" ("vote for the brigadier who is handsome and single"). The candy became an instant hit and quickly spread throughout Brazil as its popularity grew.
And now, on to the brigadeiro recipe: the ingredients
The traditional recipe for brigadeiro calls for condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and chocolate sprinkles.
However, you can get creative and customize your brigadeiro by adding flavors like vanilla, coconut (in which case it becomes a "beijinho"), or peanut butter.
You can also experiment with different types of toppings like nuts, sprinkles, or shredded coconut. You can even use the basic recipe to make cake icing.
Step-by-Step brigadeiro preparation: so easy even I can do
Making brigadeiro is quick and easy.
In a saucepan, pour one can of condensed milk, two tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (condensed milk is already sweet), and one tablespoon of unsalted butter.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and starts to come away from the sides of the pan.
Remove from heat, let it cool, and roll the mixture into bite-size balls with your hands. You'll want to butter your hands to make rolling the mixture easier.
Coat the balls in chocolate sprinkles or other toppings, and enjoy!
But you can try some creative variations for brigadeiro
As mentioned above, brigadeiro can be customized in many different ways. Here are a few flavor variations to try:
- Vanilla: no cocoa powder this time. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract instead.
- Peanut Butter: add a tablespoon of peanut butter to the mixture before cooking
- Nutella: stir a tablespoon of Nutella into the mixture before cooking
How to Serve Brigadeiro?
Brigadeiro can be served as a standalone dessert or as a topping for cakes, cupcakes, or ice cream.
We usually serve them on tiny paper plates at parties. But if you're doing it for your own enjoyment, don't even roll them into balls: just eat it directly from the pan!
Tips for storing Brigadeiro
If you're not eating all of it immediately (which I doubt you won't), you can store it.
Brigadeiro should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you need to store it longer, keep it in the fridge for up to a week.
However, in my experience, the longer you keep it in the fridge, the blander its taste gets.
Now that you know how to make brigadeiro, make it!
Brigadeiro is a delicious and versatile treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Whether you stick to the classic recipe or experiment with different flavors and toppings, brigadeiro is a dessert that can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Give it a try, and let me know how it turns out!
And if you'd like to learn more about Brazilian food, this article is a great start.