Brigadeiro (plural Brigadeiros) is a chocolate fudge made with condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder. It’s LOVE at first bite!
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
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 homogeneous (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 Cookies and also our Triple Brigadeiro Tart.
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.
cakespy says
So good! I made a version of these and shared them on my blog (with credit of course!). Thanks for sharing!
Denise Browning says
Thank you for trying brigadeiros and linking back to me. I am so glad that you enjoyed them!
Rosana says
Very nice! I love brigaderios.
Allison says
Finally got around to making these --- AWESOME - brought a batch into work today -- they LOVE LOVE LOVE them... making more this weekend to share with other various folks!
Denise Browning says
Hi, Allison! Your comment made my day. I am so glad you and your co-workers loved this Brazilian treat. Wishing you a delicious weekend, enjoying this childhood fave of mine.
Fernanda Marques says
Ameiiii o seu site! Amo brigadeiros, parabéns pelo trabalho! bjs
Morgan Wilson says
I'd love to make these for the Rio opening ceremonies tonight but I only have salted butter. Will it change the taste a lot?
Denise Browning says
It will change the taste only a bit but they will still be delicious. Enjoy!
Soraya Gonzalez says
Brigadeiros are a little piece of heaven on earth!!! We make them at least once a month!!! Sometimes I substitute the sprinkles for dark cocoa powder. My daugther doesn't even make the balls... she just eats it as soon as it cools!
Denise Browning says
For us too, Soraya! When I don't find good quality sprinkles, I like to roll them out in granulated sugar. Cocoa powder is also a great choice! My eldest daughter and I love to eat them by spoonfuls as soon as they cool down. 🙂
Yara says
Thank you! They're soo good! I just wanted to make a little bit, so I made half of everything in the recipe. They came out perfect! I want to use them in every single dessert!
Denise Browning says
Yara: I am so happy to hear that! I hope you have the chance to make brigadeiros many more times. Enjoy!!!
Thiago says
I Love these Brazilian Fudge Balls
Thiago says
I Love Brazilian Fudge Balls
Thiago says
I love Brazilian Chocolate Fudge balls
Thiago says
I love Brazilian Chocolate Fudge balls. They are to die for!
Kris says
Hi. Do you know where I can get those colorful little balls to cover the brigadero in?
Denise Browning says
Hi, Kris! Those ones were brought from Brazil but you can find similar ones here: https://www.google.com/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=lShXWMDLJcvM8Af3qK7YDA&gws_rd=ssl,cr&fg=1#q=colorful+sprinkles
Thank you for stopping by!
Kris says
Ok thank you
rony says
hey,
i tried to do it, but i got brigadeiro with a texture of a toffee candy what could have been the problem?
thanks
Denise Browning says
Hi, Rony! Recipe has to be followed religiously. This is a fudge so it has to be cooked slow and just enough (see time stated in the recipe) to get a thick consistency. Please watch the video as well. It contains important tips on how to achieve the right consistency.
Carol says
Brigadeiro é tudo de bom! Tem gostinho de infância... 🙂
Alice Gorbunova says
These are very good!
Alice Gorbunova says
These are so good!
Mary says
I love Brigadiers! A delight! Congratulations on the site
Cristiano says
Very cool blog, amazing recipe, I'll put it into practice here at home.
thank you
Curso Doce e Brigadeiro Gourmet says
Suas Maravilhosas receitas aumentam as possibilidade de novas empreendedoras aprenderem, ainda mais, parabenz.
Rafa says
I love brigadeiro ... hummm just thinking about mouthwatering !!!