Indulge in our brigadeiros recipe, featuring rich and fudgy Brazilian chocolate balls that melt in your mouth and deliver a touch of sweetness to any party.
Table of Contents
Discover the joy of making the best birthday party treat with this easy and delicious brigadeiros recipe.
These Brazilian chocolate balls, often referred to as Brazilian fudge truffles, are a beloved treat that adds a touch of sweetness and a lot of flavor to any occasion.
In this guide, you'll learn how to make brigadeiros, explore variations, and get answers to the most FAQs. Let's dive into the world of these delectable chocolate delights!
How to Make Brigadeiros
Making brigadeiros is a straightforward process. It requires only a few basic ingredients. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating these easy Brazilian chocolate balls:
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium non-stick saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and unsalted butter. Whisk well to combine.
- Cook the Mixture: Cook the mixture 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 wooden spoon (about 5-8 minutes). If you want, stir in vanilla extract for extra flavor! SEE PIC. 1
- Cool the Mixture: Transfer the mixture to a greased plate and let it cool for at least 30 minutes (or at room temperature). This makes it easier to handle when shaping the brigadeiros. SEE PIC. 2
- Shape the Brigadeiros: Once cooled, butter your hands slightly and scoop out small amounts of the mixture. Using a ½ or 1 tablespoon as measurement, roll them into balls.
- Coat the Brigadeiros: Roll each ball in chocolate sprinkles until fully coated. SEE PIC. 3
- Serve or Store: Place the brigadeiros in paper cups and enjoy them. If not serving them right away, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, in the fridge for up to 7 days, or in the freezer for up to 30 days.
Variations
These Brazilian chocolate balls are very versatile. Once you master the basic recipe, you can experiment with many flavors and coatings. Here are a few common Brazilian variations:
- Flavor: pumpkin brigadeiros, coconut kisses (beijinhos), strawberry brigadeiros (moranguinho), beer brigadeiros, prune coconut candy (olho de sogra), grape brigadeiro (uvinha), glass bom bons (bala baiana), dulce de leche brigadeiros, and many others.
- Consistency: rolled into balls, served in cups, or used as fillings and frostings for cakes and cupcakes.
- Seasonal: patriotic candy and decorated for Easter, Christmas, etc
- Gourmet: Using premium ingredients with an elegant presentation, they come in little parcels that resemble jewelry boxes, perfect for weddings. A perfect example of this is camaféu de nozes, walnut fudge balls covered with fondant.
- Use in or on other treats: brigadeiro cake, brigadeiro cupcakes, brigadeiro cookies, trifles, Brigadeirao (flan), ice cream, and brigadeiro tart.
Feel free to get creative and try different ingredients to make your brigadeiros recipe unique!
Ingredients
To make brigadeiros, you'll need:
- Sweetened condensed milk: This is the base of the brigadeiro mixture, providing the sweet and creamy texture.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: For a rich chocolate flavor!
- Unsalted butter: This helps to give them a smooth texture. TIP: If preparing this brigadeiro recipe in the summertime, use just 1 teaspoon of butter in the mixture, making it easier to roll into balls without deforming.
- Pure vanilla extract: Although it is optional, it will boost flavor!
- Chocolate sprinkles: For coating them and adding a delightful crunch. If you don’t have them in your pantry, don’t worry! You may replace it with chopped nuts.
Pronunciation
Wondering how to pronounce "brigadeiros"? It’s pronounced "bree-gah-day-ros". The name comes from the Portuguese language, reflecting the treat’s Brazilian origins.
Pro Tips for Making Brigadeiros Recipe
To ensure your brigadeiros turn out perfect every time, keep these tips in mind:
- Combine the ingredients well: Whisk the condensed milk, cocoa powder, and butter until the mixture contains no lumps.
- Stir Constantly: As you cook the mixture, make sure to stir continuously to avoid burning.
- Use the Right Pan: A heavy-bottomed saucepan works best as it distributes heat evenly. In addition, a wider pan will cook this brigadeiros recipe much faster than a deep pan.
- Cook over medium heat: Don’t hurry up the cooking process by using high heat. It will burn the mixture!
- Let the Mixture Cool: Allow the mixture to cool on a greased plate thoroughly before shaping it into balls. It will allow the mixture to be shaped easily and prevent it from sticking to your hands.
- Butter Your Hands: Lightly buttering your hands makes rolling the brigadeiros easier and less sticky.
- Alternative serving to soft brigadeiros: In Brazil, when the texture is too soft, there are a couple of common fixes: Serving in shot glasses or other little cups (brigadeiro mole or de colher), or piping onto little serving spoons.
FAQs
Brigadeiros (or Brigadiers in literal translation) are the most beloved candy in Brazil, although they are technically chocolate fudge balls. In fact, people enjoy them across the entire country, from north to south. As a result, they have become a true national favorite. They first appeared in the 1940s, most likely in São Paulo. At that time, they were named after Brigadier Eduardo Gomes, who once ran for president.
First, cook the mixture until it thickens noticeably. Then scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. If you can see the bottom of the pan for a moment as you stir, the mixture is ready. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture should be thick enough to form into balls without spreading out and getting flattened.
Yes! Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate them for up to one week. Another option is to freeze them for up to 30 days.
For a dairy-free version, you can use sweetened condensed coconut milk or other plant-based condensed milk alternatives. Keep in mind this may alter the texture and flavor slightly.
If the mixture is too soft to roll into balls, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then check the consistency. If it is still too runny, cook it a little longer until the mixture thickens and begins to pull away from the bottom of the pan.
If you undercook the mixture, it will be too soft and may not hold its shape. However, if you overcook it, the brigadeiros can become rubbery or chewy. To fix this, stir in a small amount of heavy cream—about ½ to 1 tablespoon. As a result, the mixture will soften while still remaining firm enough to roll into balls.
The key to avoiding a lumpy texture is proper mixing. First, whisk the condensed milk and cocoa powder until the mixture is smooth. Then add the butter and heat the pan.
PIN AND ENJOY!
Brigadeiros Recipe (Brazilian Chocolate Balls)
Equipment
- 1 medium non-stick, wide saucepan
- 1 whisk
- 1 plate to cool the mixture
- ½ tablespoon to use as a measurement to roll the mixture into balls
Ingredients
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk or 1 can
- 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. TIP: If preparing our brigadeiros recipe in the summertime, use just 1 teaspoon of butter in the mixture, making it easier to roll into balls without deforming.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract OPTIONAL
- Chocolate vermicelli or good quality chocolate sprinkles Enough to cover the chocolate balls
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium non-stick saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and unsalted butter. Whisk well to combine.
- Cook the Mixture: Cook the mixture 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 wooden spoon (about 5-8 minutes). If you want, stir in vanilla extract for extra flavor!
- Cool the Mixture: Transfer the mixture to a greased plate and let it cool for at least 30 minutes (or at room temperature). This makes it easier to handle when shaping the brigadeiros.
- Shape the Brigadeiros: Once cooled, butter your hands slightly and scoop out small amounts of the mixture. Using a ½ or 1 tablespoon as measurement, roll them into balls.
- Coat the Brigadeiros: Roll each ball in chocolate sprinkles until fully coated.
- Serve or Store: Place the brigadeiros in paper cups and enjoy them. If not serving them right away, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They can be also stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-7 days, or frozen in Ziploc bags for up to 30 days.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Follow the instructions above on how to mix the ingredients in a deep microwave-safe bowl.
- If your microwave is 900 watts, let the mixture 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, the mixture will be thicker).
- While it is cooking, do not leave the microwave unattended because the mixture will rise and possibly bubble over, making a mess. Every time it rises, pause until the mixture settles back down. If 1100 watts, cook at 80 % power. Double batches take more time to cook.
- Then follow the steps above for how to cool, roll, and serve brigadeiros.
Nutrition
** 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.
This post was published on May 21, 2019.
stacy says
They look amazing!!
Valentina Dimitrova says
Thanks a lot, Stacy! Enjoy...
Peggy says
Hello! I saw a video of Facebook about making these. I thought I remembered it right, and tried it today. But I remembered that it said to use half a stick of butter, and no vanilla. Then I rolled them in more cocoa, sort of truffle-style even though I saw in the video to use white sugar. They are a little soft, but I think it's the way they should be?
THEN I experimented with another batch, and used flavored hot chocolate instead of cocoa. They are super-soft, and after I rolled them they turned into disks instead of balls! LOL Do you know if the rest of the ingredients in the hot chocolate messed it up, or maybe I just didn't cook that batch long enough? I want to play with other hot chocolate flavors, but don't want to keep making disks...
Valentina Dimitrova says
Hi, Peggy!
About 13 years ago when I got married and came to live in the US, I tried to make mine with hot cocoa mix. It was a disaster!!! Honestly, the texture was not the same as the brigadeiros from my home country. Hot cocoa mix simply does not work for brigadeiros because contains a lot of sugar changing their fudgy texture. You have to use cocoa powder which is made from ground chocolate solids. Too much butter also makes them too soft and flat. Follow my recipe, which it is the traditional recipe for brigadeiros, and will get them right. The vanilla extract is optional. I added it to the traditional recipe because it makes them more delicious without changing the texture. Brigadeiros are traditionally rolled in chocolate sprinkles but a few folks roll them in white granulated sugar when they don't have chocolate sprinkles in their pantry. If you would like to play with flavors, you can use my recipe omitting the cocoa powder and vanilla, and adding flavoring extracts instead. This way you will have white brigadeiros with different flavors (e.g. almond flavor b/c almond extract). Another good way to play with flavors is flavored gelatins. In Brazil, there is a strawberry brigadeiro recipe. Instead of using cocoa powder, we use strawberry gelatin to give both color and flavor to the strawberry brigadeiros (in this case, if the recipe asks for 2-3 Tbsp of cocoa powder, you use 2-3 Tbsp strawberry gelatin instead). Let me know if you have any other questions. Have a great week!
Donald says
Que tal uma receita em espanhol então?
Just kidding, this is one of the better blogs I have seen for Brigadeiros. How do you say, they are pra caramba.
Valentina Dimitrova says
LOL... Thanks a lot, Donald!
Wishing you a delicious week -- as delicious as these brigadeiros!!! 😉
Nancy says
How many does this make?
Valentina Dimitrova says
Hi, Nancy!
Yield can be seen right above the ingredients in the recipe. It makes about 28 brigadeiros or chocolate "truffles".
Have a great week!
nancy abrams says
I'm sorry, did not see that. I made my first batch and they are fabulous!
Can I double the recipe without any problems or should I make two batches separately?
(I am trying to make enough to share with everyone at work)
Valentina Dimitrova says
No problem, Nancy!
Yes, you can double the recipe without problems. I do this all the time because it is a family favorite. 🙂 They disappear pretty quick at my household. My eldest daughter and I don't even wait to roll them into balls... We eat brigadeiro by spoonfuls! 🙂
But by doubling the recipe, it will take a little longer to be cooked (NOT the double of the original time). Follow the recipe guidelines and everything will be fine. I hope your co-workers enjoy these brigadeiros. Have a great week!
Farm House Academy says
My daughters and I are currently studying South America in our homeschool studies. Our first stop was Brazil! Thank you so much for the delicious recipe and fun background!
Valentina Dimitrova says
Thank you for your interest in Brazil and for trying this recipe. I am happy that you enjoyed brigadeiros, a real family favorite.
Carole from Carole's Chatter says
Hi Denise, great treat! How about adding it to the Food on Friday: Holiday Treats collection over at Carole's Chatter? Cheers
Valentina Dimitrova says
Sure, Carole! I'd love to... How can this recipe be added your Food on Friday? Do you submit its link or do I have to submit it? Please, let me know.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog says
I made brigadeiro during the world cup... they're SO addicting!
Denise Browning says
Hi, Sharon!!! I know... Every single time that I make them, my family and I eat them like there is no tomorrow. We love brigadeiros so much that we make not only the fudge balls (which many times we don't even roll -- we eat by spoonfuls), but also roll cake, frosting, mousses, etc. 🙂
Sandra Moore says
My mom and I used to make these together when I was a kid. I helped roll them, but we used granulated sugar. After decades, I had forgotten how to make them. Thanks so much for the recipe. It all came back to me just reading the ingredients.
I was also looking for a sweet potato candy recipe - docs de batata. Do you have one? I'll continue to look on your site. Is another candy mom and I used to make together. So you can see why I absolutely need it 🙂
Valentina Dimitrova says
Hi, Sandra! Thanks for stopping by and welcome to FBTY...
I am glad that you found this brigadeiro recipe. I hope you make these and enjoy... This is the traditional recipe! Chocolate sprinkle are usually used to roll brigadeiros although colorful sprinkles, granulated sugar, and others can also be used to top them. It's really up to one' s taste.
Unfortunately, I don't have any recipe for sweet potato candy (docinho de batata). What I do have is a pumpkin candy recipe or pumpkin brigadeiro which you can use it to make the sweet potato candy. You only have to use peeled, boiled, and mashed sweet potatoes instead of mashed or canned pumpkin. It is an easy substitution. Here is the link:
https://www.frombraziltoyou.org/pumpkin-brigadeiros-brigadeiro-abobora/
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking says
Oh my! Oh my! I think my heart just skipped a beat! I love everything about these fudge balls. I have never been to Brazil but I'm sure I could fly over just so I can stuff my face with a few dozens of these!
they look amazing! Love the colorful sprinkles!
Thanks for bringing them to this month's #chocolateparty
Valentina Dimitrova says
Thanks, Roxana! The great think about these fudge balls is you can make them at home -- not tickets necessary... They are ridiculously simple and quick.
It is a pleasure to participate in your chocolate party. Congrats on its second anniversary and success!
Ava says
I'm so glad to see this recipe. A friend tried to teach me how to make them but it's all wrong for me without measurements.
Valentina Dimitrova says
Ava:
My fave way to make brigadeiro is on the stove top because one can have better control of its cooking point. Follow the recipe and let it cool before rolling into balls. If necessary, refrigerate the "dough" for about 20 minutes before rolling into balls. Always grease your hands with unsalted butter before rolling. It helps a lot! You can use this same recipe to make brigadeiro served into mini cups or brigadeiro frosting to fill and top cakes and cupcakes.For this, you only have to add a bit of heavy cream after the brigadeiro dough has cooked to make it much softer. Enjoy!
Margie says
Hi, Denise! I love your recipes because they remind me of Brasil!
I have a question. When I lived there, a special treat was bolo de brigadeiro (I think!). It was a delicious chocolate cake with brigadeiro frosting. Do you know what I'm remembering? I hope you can tell me what it was and how to make it. Abracos!
Valentina Dimitrova says
Hi, Margie! Thanks a lot. Yes!!! The brigadeiro cake is a simple two to three-layer chocolate cake with both brigadeiro filling and topping. Although I haven't published a brigadeiro cake recipe on my blog, I have a recipe for brigadeiro cupcakes. Make a simple chocolate cake and use the homemade brigadeiro frosting that is in the post (link) below to fill and top your cake. Then, sprinkle chocolate sprinkles or vermicelli on top. If you will be making the cake using a cake mix, please double the amount of eggs stated in the box so your cake can be heavy enough to support the weight of the brigadeiro frosting without collapsing. I would also add more sugar (1/2 to 3/4 cup) to make it more similar to the traditional Brazilian cake. Of course, for a cake, you will have to double or triple the frosting recipe depending on the the amount of layers and size of the cake. Here is the link:
https://www.frombraziltoyou.org/brigadeiro-cupcakes/
Wishing you a great week! Thanks for stopping by.
denise says
Mine came out too soft, what did I do wrong?
Valentina Dimitrova says
Hi, Denise! I am so sorry. The brigadeiro " dough" is ready (fully cooked) when it has thickened enough to see the bottom of the pan while pulled aside with a wood spoon and also is running slow. When it cools down it will be even thicker.
But since yours is already soft, what you can do is using this trick: Let it cool down into a greased plate at room temperature and then, place in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes. Then, grease your hands with unsalted butter, and try to shape into small balls, roll with sprinkles, and place into bonbon cups. You can serve them slightly chilled. In Brazil, we also serve brigadeiro in cups. I mean, we make soft brigadeiro and pour into mini to small cups/glasses, decorate with sprinkles on the top, and serve with spoons. We call "brigadeiro de copo" (brigadeiro in cups).
So do not worry! In general, it takes about 2 to 3 times to get brigadeiro ' dough" right. I hope this helps!
Essa Adams says
Perfect - I do not have chocolate vermicellis. Will use hot chocolate powder, instant type. Or ground toasted nuts. But now I see the cups with a spoon, perfect. If they do not firm up, will be shamlessly perfect candy anyway. Love the flavor, very mild and creamy.
Valentina Dimitrova says
I am so glad you enjoy these brigadeiros, Essa! Absolutely!!! If you don't have vermicelli, you can use chopped nuts, chopped candy cane, shredded coconut, another type of sprinkles, etc instead. If necessary, you can refrigerate the "dough" before rolling them. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous New Year!
Amy smith says
I had the same problem. I followed a different recipe using only 1 tablespoon of butter and I had no problems.
Valentina Dimitrova says
Amy, the problem is not the amount of butter in my recipe but rather getting the right consistency for the brigadeiros. If the amount of butter was a problem, why have mine always come out right (not soft)? I always use this same recipe and roll them without any problem. Please, watch my video and you can see several of the factors that can affect the doneness for brigadeiros.
Ana Paula says
Denise! Achei seu blog hoje e estou pinning como louca! Menina, quanta receita boa! Que saudade me da'!
Sou do Ceara e moro na California faz onze anos. Seus brigadeiros de Natal sao lindos. Ontem mesmo estava falando que esse ano vou fazer brigadeiro para todo mundo no Natal.
Parabens pelo maravilhoso blog. Um abraco
Valentina Dimitrova says
Obrigada por suas palavras e por compartilhar as minhas receitas, Ana Paula! Bem-vinda a FBTY!!!! Espero que você nos visite com frequência. Um abraço.
Jessica says
I love these!!!!
Valentina Dimitrova says
Thanks, Jessica! Enjoy!
Sofia Newton says
Ah, Denise! Reading your article about Brigadeiros made my mouth water and my mind travel in time as I remembered many birthdays parties and lots and lots of "docinhos" and especially Brigadeiros. You are so correct: it is not a birthday party if you do not have a lots of Brigadeiros present, ready make every mouth happy! Thank you for the thoughts.
Sofia Newton
Valentina Dimitrova says
Thanks so much, Sofia! I am happy to know that brought you good memories...
Roberta says
I am brazilian too, and Brigadeiro it's my favorite desert!
Becky says
Made these for a school auction! They went for $250 and the buyers loved them! They are unbelievably delicious!
Valentina Dimitrova says
Becky: I am so glad that the buyers loved them and you too. They are my childhood's favorite candy. Wishing you a marvelous week!