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 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.
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. 🙂
Cláudio Marques says
Muito legal o artigo, parabéns.
Kimberly says
I did this time by microwave to test and girl got very good. Thank you great recipe!
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.
Valentina Dimitrova 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!
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!
Valentina Dimitrova 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.
Thamires says
I cant wait try this recipe is realy yummy
Valentina Dimitrova says
Enjoy. So good!
Emily says
Wow, that sucks, these brigadier. I can not wait to do it, it seems easy and very tasty. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
mimi rippee says
I'm so excited to see these! My girlfriend has a friend from Brazil, and once she brought these over. So I know how good these are - and addicting!!!
Karly says
Yum! I can't wait to make this!
Valentina Dimitrova says
Thank you! Enjoy them, a log-time fave treat of mine.
2pots2cook says
Sweet Heavens ! Have seen these on Instagram ! Definitely will make 🙂 🙂 🙂
Valentina Dimitrova says
Thank you. It is one of my childhood's fave treats.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Such a great recipe! Glad you "made" these again. 🙂
Valentina Dimitrova says
Thank you. We refreshed the post and republished an oldie but goodie recipe.
Elder says
Oi Denise! I am Brazilian but I live in Florida and have been trying several of your recipes. Your brigadeiro recipe is the best. I can get the consistency right every single time thanks to your tips. Cooking our food makes me not miss Brazil so much. Have a great week!
Martha Jesus says
Brigadeiro. So delicious. Love it!
Valentina Dimitrova says
Thank you! Enjoy!
valdilene says
I love brigadeiro. Congratulations skin recipe I'm going to do today.
francieli says
Sou brasileira e amo seus posts! I Love Brigadeiros! BJSSSS 🙂
Valentina Dimitrova says
Obrigada Francieli! Um abraco pra voce.