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Brigadeiro (plural Brigadeiros) is a chocolate fudge made with condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder. It’s LOVE at first bite!
Table of Contents
- 1 WHAT IS BRIGADEIRO?
- 2 HOW TO MAKE BRIGADEIRO
- 3 WHAT OTHER TREATS CAN YOU MAKE WITH BRIGADEIRO?
- 4 USEFUL TIPS TO GET BRIGADEIRO RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
- 5 HOW DO YOU STORE AND FOR HOW LONG?
- 6 Brigadeiro -- Brazilian chocolate fudge balls
WHAT IS BRIGADEIRO?
Brigadeiro (Portuguese for Brigadier) is the most beloved ‘candy’ of Brazil. From north to south, it is a national passion!
It came into being in the 1940s and gets its name from Brigadier Eduardo Gomes,who once ran for president.
According to this brigadeiros article, it’s also know as ‘negrinho’. Some compare it to truffles or tootsie rolls, but it is different from both.
It’s usually rolled into balls which are then covered in chocolate sprinkles. However, you can also enjoy it unrolled with a spoon.
Plus, use it as a topping or filling for cakes and cupcakes. In Brazil, no kid’s party is complete without it!
So satisfy your sweet tooth with these rich chocolate candy cups.
HOW TO MAKE BRIGADEIRO
For this traditional brigadeiro recipe, whisk the condensed milk and cocoa together until uniform. Then, stir in the butter.
(SEE FULL RECIPE BELOW – FOR BOTH STOVETOP AND MICROWAVE)
WHAT OTHER TREATS CAN YOU MAKE WITH BRIGADEIRO?
You can make cake, cupcakes, brigadeiro cookies, and this triple brigadeiro cheesecake tart.
Also, patriotic brigadeiros or those with other flavors such as pumpkin, strawberry, coconut, and beer.
If the cooked mixture is too soft to roll into fudge balls, the alternative is to serve brigadeiro piped onto spoons.
Moreover, you can serve it as fudge cups, to eat with small spoons, almost like a shot of dense pudding.
USEFUL TIPS TO GET BRIGADEIRO RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
1. Use a wider, no stick pan — those with aluminum bottoms work best. This will let it cook faster, saving you time. Take a look at the RECIPE VIDEO!
2. Cook over medium heat, avoiding burnt bits.
3. Whisk condensed milk with cocoa powder before starting to cook-- for a mixture without lumps.
4. If making brigadeiro recipe in the summer time, use only 1 tablespoon of butter; otherwise it’ll make harder to achieve the correct consistency. In the cold months, though, you can use 2 tablespoon of butter and still roll it into balls with no problem. They will be tastier too!
5. If making a double batch at once, use a large, wider pan rather than a pot; otherwise it will take much longer to get it right.
HOW DO YOU STORE AND FOR HOW LONG?
Store brigadeiro in an airtight container at room temp for up to 2 days. Either store covered in the fridge for up to 4-7 days, or freeze in plastic bags for up to 30 days.
If frozen, bring them to room temp before serving them.
PIN & ENJOY
Brigadeiro -- Brazilian chocolate fudge balls
Brigadeiro (orBrigadeiros) is achocolate fudgemade with condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder. Our brigadeiro recipe is love at first bite! It comes with a video and step by step photos.
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:Brazilian
Keywords:brigadeiro, brigadeiro recipe
Prep Time 22 minutes minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Servings 28
Calories49 kcal
Author Denise Browning
Cost $ 0.10 per person
Ingredients
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk or 1 can (396 grams)
- 2 tablespoon baking cocoa powder unsweetened ( you may use ¼ cup instead for a richer treat)
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter (softened) plus extra to grease plate and hands
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract OPTIONAL
- Chocolate vermicelli or good quality chocolate sprinkles
Instructions
Whisk the condensed milk and cocoa powder together until hom*ogeneous (no lumps). Then, stir in the butter.
Stovetop: Cook in a medium non-stick saucepan over medium heat (large burner), stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and starts to peel away/show the bottom of the pan when you scrape it with your wood spoon (about 5-8 minutes).
Microwave: Pour mixture into a deep microwaveable bowl. If 900 watts, let cook on full power for about 6 minutes -- removing and stirring at least every 2 minutes, or until thick enough to be rolled (when it cools down, mixture will be thicker).
While it is cooking, do not leave the microwave unattended because mixture will rise and possibly bubble over, making a mess. Every time it rises, pause until mixture settles back down. If 1100 watts, cook at 80 % power. Double batches take more time to cook
When brigadeiro is ready, remove either from the stove top or microwave, mix in the vanilla extract and spread mixture onto a greased plate.
Let cool to room temp before starting to roll them into balls with greased hands. Use a ½ ( or 1 ) tablespoon as measurement.
Then, dredge gently in the chocolate sprinkles until totally covered, and place into paper bonbon cups.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Store brigadeiro/brigadeiros (Brazilian chocolate fudge balls) in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They can be also stored, covered well, in the refrigerator for up to 4-7 days,or frozen in ziploc bags for up to 30 days.
- If making brigadeiro recipe in the summer time, use only 1 tablespoon of butter; otherwise it’ll make harder to achieve the correct consistency. In the cold months, though, you can use 2 tablespoon of butter and still roll it into balls with no problem. They will be tastier too!
- ALTERNATIVE: If you don't get the right consistency and the cooked mixture is so soft that cannot be rolled into balls, the alternative is to serve brigadeiros piped on spoons or into shot glasses/cups to be eaten with small spoons almost like a shot of pudding-- like we do in Brazil.
- Love brigadeiro(s)? Try also our Brigadeiro Cookiesand also our Triple Brigadeiro Tart.
Nutrition
Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 59mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Calcium: 41mg
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.
More Brazilian Recipes
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- Best Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe
- Doughnut Holes
About Denise Browning
Hi! I'm Denise Browning, a professional chef and cookbook author. My mission is to help you cook budget-friendly, healthy global meals for your family with some occasional splurges. They are sure to bring a lot of excitement to your table! More About Me.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Chelsea N. says
Muito obrigada, Denise!! Bem delicioso!
My husband is Brazilian and I, being American, have been trying to preserve and share what I can of his Brazilian heritage for our kids. This (as well as several of your other recipes like Pao de Mel) has been a wonderful addition to our household birthday celebrations (and they come out PERFECT every time!) and I hope our kids can continue to enjoy and pass on these recipes someday in their own families. <3Denise Browning says
Hi, Chelsea! You made my day! I am so glad to find out this brigadeiro recipe (among some other Brazilian recipes) is cherished by your family. I feel the same way about my kids! I posted as many Brazilian recipes as I could hoping my daughters will cook them by themselves one day and pass them to their children. It feels my heart with joy that my recipes are part of your table and that you are trying to preserve your children's Brazilian heritage. Have a blessed week and thanks for stopping by!
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Ana Clara says
The recipe is very good, the brigadeiros are wonderful sweets. Thank you for sharing with us.
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Denise Browning says
It is so good to hear that! Yes this brigadeiro recipe is full proof.
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Amanda says
Amei tudoooo! Brigadeiro é vida!!!
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Matheus says
Brigadeiros é minha paixão, como eu amo isso <3
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Matheus says
Nossa eu amo brigadeiros, obrigado pelas dicas <3
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Georgianna Tupacyupanqui says
Brigadeiros are my new favorite dessert. Thanks for the tips, Denise. I got these right at the very first time.Reply
Mercedez Diedricks says
It was my first time trying these brigadeiros. I saw on You Tube and could not resist. Making again soon.Reply
Ethel Dominy says
the best brigadeiro recipe on the internet, Denise! The tips really helped me. I have tried other blogs recipe for brigadeiros but they were a complete failure. Thanks for helping me get the right consistency. My kids have been begging me to make these again.Reply
Cinthia Lauritzen says
these brigadeiros are addictive. I made them for my daughter's b-day party and they disappeared quickly. She has been asking me to make them again for no special occasion. 🙂Reply
Cláudio Marques says
Muito legal o artigo, parabéns.Reply
Kimberly says
I did this time by microwave to test and girl got very good. Thank you great recipe!Reply
Kelly says
Made these today and they were a hit with my boys. I had been passively looking for some quality jimmies and came across some last weekend.Reply
Denise Browning says
Hi Kelly! I am so happy to find out your boys enjoyed our brigadeiros. Depending on how you decorate them, they make also a great treat for Halloween and other occasions. Thanks for the review! Have a great week!
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Sapphires says
I'm going to try making these around the holidays when my diet ends! These look delicious!
I do have one question though; will using half tablespoons to roll balls make 28 servings, or will using full tablespoons make 28 servings?
Thanks in advanced! I'm excited to make them!Reply
Denise Browning says
To make around 28 balls, please use the 1/2 TBSP. If you would like to, you can also use 1 teaspoon to make them smaller. It depends on the size of your bonbon cups. Enjoy! These are a family favorite.
Reply
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