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.
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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, literal translation) is the most beloved ‘candy’ of Brazil – although they are technically chocolate fudge balls. From north to south, it is a national passion! They were created in the 1940s, probably in São Paulo, and got the name from Brigadier Eduardo Gomes, who once ran for president.
The brigadeiro mixture is ready when it thickens and starts to peel away/show the bottom of the pan when you scrape it with your wood spoon. 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. You can also 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. If it remains too runny, cook it a bit longer until the mixture thickens and starts to show the bottom of the pan when you scrape it with your wooden spoon.
If you undercook it, it will be too soft and may not hold its shape, while overcooking will result in a rubbery or chewy texture. To fix overcooked brigadeiros, stir in just enough heavy cream into the mixture (about ½ to 1 tablespoon) to soften the texture a little but still roll it into balls.
As a professional chef and native Brazilian, I can state that the secret to avoiding a lumpy texture is to whisk the condensed milk and cocoa powder well until no more lumps are found before adding the butter and heating 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.
Rafael says
I love brigadeiros with nust!
Riley says
What is "chocolate vermicelli"? Can I just subsitute sprinkles?
Riley says
Disregard earlier comment- My only question is can I subsitute the chocolate vermicelli for generic sprinkles?
Denise Browning says
Yes, absolutely! My suggestion is to buy good quality chocolate sprinkles.
www.comofazerdocesfinos.com says
Maravilhosa receita e decoração muito inspiradora! Parabéns pelo seu trabalho!!
Nicole Markman says
Obrigado por suas maravilhosas receitas.
Nicole Markman says
Thanks for your wonderful recipes. The Brazilian Brigadeiros are undeniable
Robert says
It sounds very delicious, brazilian food is so fucking good! Thanks for sharing this =)
Marcia says
Olha estou apaixonada por este site Receitas deliciosa estou preparando minhas receitas que peguei deste site Esta de parabéns o site muito bem explicado Obrigado por compartilhar estas delicias....
dentista asa norte says
Brigadeiro is a lovely recipe
Cheryl says
Very easy to make and are absolutely delicious. I recommend having enough ingredients on hand to make a double batch .....I made them for dessert for a dinner party but had to make another batch because I could not keep MY family away from them!!
Denise Browning says
So glad to hear it, Cheryl!!!! It is a true family favorite -- my hubby and kids go crazy every time I make these.
Enjoy and have a marvelous day!!!
Gabriel says
So great! I want to make of course
Camille says
Very good tip!! 🙂
Camille says
I love brigadeiros, very good.
Adriana says
Amo muito essa página!
Me ajuda demais. Obrigada
Curso Batateiro Empreendor 3.0 says
I love Brigadeiros too <3<3
Curso Os Pilares do Canto says
Brigadeiros: From Brazil to the world. I love them!
Camila Maia says
As a brigadier can commit to help both mental health ... rs. I Love!
Paula Soares says
Very nice! I love brigaderios.
Brigadeiro says
Adoro as dicas de brigadeiro...sigo todas!!!
Jeannie says
Hi,
Thank you so much for the recipe. I made them tonight I'm not sure I got the right consistency. Are they suppose to be soft and creamy like a truffle or a little chewy? Mine are a little chewy.
Regardless, they taste great!
Denise Browning says
Hi, Jeannie!
They have more a consistency of a truffle yet fudgy. If yours were a bit chewy it is because the "dough" was overcooked. The secret is to have it cooked on medium to medium low heat, stirring constantly. As soon as you see the mixture was thickened and the bottom of the pan shows up for a couple of seconds before levels out, it is ready. Please, take a look at our video that it is above the recipe. Thank you for trying though! I am so happy that you enjoyed them despite of their chewy consistency. You will see! You will get right on the second time. Brigadeiros are a simple recipe although getting the consistency right can be a little tricky. It takes a bit of practice. Have a wonderful week!
Paula Maria says
Brigadier is my passion my favorite candy was worth the tips and recipes
carlos alberto says
Sou do Brasil e adoro suas receitas.