Brigadeiro; sumptuously sweet and chewy cocoa fudge balls generously coated in crunchy chocolate sprinkles.
Brazil. A country so big it covers pretty much half of the very large continent it sits upon. This nation has just about every type of natural phenomenon, animal, and landscape the human eye has yet encountered. It appears to be missing perhaps only ice caps and penguins …
As with any land so mind-bogglingly large, its cuisine is every bit as diverse and regional as its people, religion, and culture. You’ll see vast use of beloved South American ingredients such as coffee, beans, rice, cassava, and banana. However you’ll also see centuries-old influence from European colonisation and immigration, and from the large population of African heritage.
The treat we are making in today’s instalment of the Desserts of the World series (found here on the blog and on YouTube) seems like a blend of many edible influences in one. Let’s talk about Brigadeiro. Something that seems to unite this vast country over one delicious little mouthful!
Prefer a recipe video for these Brigadeiro? Click here to watch the recipe on YouTube.
Containing world-renowned South American cocoa, but prepared with distinctive European-influenced ingredients, Brigadeiro is a treat that walks the line of chocolate fudge and chocolate truffle.
A bite-sized bomb of sweet, chewy, cocoa fudge, dressed in crisp and sweet chocolate sprinkles. These tasty little treats appeal to all ages and are undeniably addictive at any time of year, not just on special occasions.
Brigadeiro, like many other beloved Latin American desserts, mainly consist of sticky-sweet condensed milk. Though not caramelised as we’ve seen in treats from other nations, such as Argentina, this dreamy dairy product makes for a delectable texture in these little snacks.
With just a few minutes of melting and stirring, you’ll very quickly have a gorgeous fudge mixture ready to pour, set, roll, coat, and eat!
While you’ll need a bit of patience while the sticky stuff cools and firms up slightly, as soon as you have the Brigadeiro rolled and ready, you can throw patience to the wind. These keep really well for a few days in the fridge if you want sweet snacks to hand, to take them to a dinner party, or to give them as a gift. If you have little ones to keep busy on cold weekend days, this are also a really fun recipe to make as well as eat! Let them get their hands messy as you roll up the fudge balls in delicious chocolate sprinkles.
They are every bit as rich in the winter as they are refreshing in the summer, making them a really great recipe to have to hand in a pinch. I hope you love these little chocolatey delights as much as we have.
Want to save these Brigadeiro for later? You can pin the image below:
To make the Brigadeiro for yourself, simply follow the recipe below:
Ingredients
- 1 (397g) tin condensed milk
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp salted butter, plus extra for greasing
- Pinch of salt (optional)
- 100g chocolate sprinkles
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and salt (if using).
- Place the pan over a medium heat and allow everything to melt together, whisking or stirring occasionally.
- Once melted, continue to cook the mixture for a further 10-12 minutes, whisking or stirring every minute or so. By this point it should be thick and sticky.
- Meanwhile, grease a plate lightly with some butter and set aside.
- Once thickened, pour the cocoa fudge mixture onto your prepared plate and allow to cool for 30 minutes, before placing in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour. I allow mine to chill overnight.
- When the fudge has become firm and is cold to the touch, get ready to roll!
- Prepare the sprinkles by pouring them out onto a wide plate.
- With slightly wet hands, use a teaspoon to scoop up a small amount of the fudge, then roll into a tight ball. Repeat this process until you have used all of the fudge.
- Once rolled, toss your cocoa fudge balls in the sprinkles until well-coated.
- Set onto a separate plate or sheet of greaseproof paper to be eaten immediately, or chilled until ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
BE A MAVERICK: why not add some grated orange, lime, or lemon zest to add a citrussy spin on the flavour?
These Brigadeiro will keep well in the fridge for up to 1 week but are best enjoyed fresh!
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