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    Home > Brazilian Recipes

    Published: May 23, 2016 · Modified: Jun 18, 2020 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." · 13 Comments

    Chocolate Fudge Cookie Bars (Palha Italiana)


    Jump to Recipe ↓

    Chocolate fudge cookie bars (Palha Italiana) easily made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and store-bought cookies.It's to die for, folks!

    Palha italiana cookie bars

    You can tell the love Brazilians have for brigadeiros by the number of treats that they make out of it.

    These Chocolate Fudge Cookie Bars, known both as Palha Italiana (Italian Straw) or Palha Brasileira (Brazilian Straw) in Brazil, is part of the wide array of sweets made from brigadeiro.

    The difference is, chopped cookies are added, resulting in one of the easiest and most delish fudgy-chewy-crunchy sweet treats. If you have never tried these, don't miss your chance.

    Despite the name "Italian Straw," these chocolate fudge cookie bars are truly a Brazilian treat made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, unsalted butter, and chopped cookies...

    ...which we use Maizena cookies in Brazil but you can use animal crackers, vanilla wafers known as Nilla cookies, Maria cookies, or any other similar cookie of your choice.

    HOW TO MAKE PALHA ITALIANA (CHOCOLATE FUDGE COOKIE BARS)

    All one needs to do is to mix sweetened condensed milk with cocoa powder and butter, and cook until it reaches a fudge consistency. Then, mix in the chopped cookies, place the fudge and cookie mixture into a baking pan, and place in the fridge until set.

    Before serving, cut into squares or rectangles, and sift powdered sugar on top-- at least that is the traditional way of finishing Palha Italiana.

    Chocolate Fudge Cookie Bars or Palha Italiana sprinkle with powdered sugar

    But because I enjoy adding my own special touch to things, I topped mine with chocolate ganache...

    ... a mixture of melted chocolate chips and heavy cream) and garnished with fresh raspberries and a drizzle of melted white chocolate instead of simply topping the bars with powdered sugar.

    Close up image showing Chocolate Fudge and Cookie Bars or Palha Italiana

    The reason why I put my own spin on this traditional treat is because of the season. I summered up my bars with fresh berries... and that made them even more yummy. The acidity of the berries goes well the richness of the fudge.

    But as you can see, you can enjoy them both ways -- the traditional way topped with powdered sugar, or the modern way with berries. My advice is to try both and see what you like best.

    ABOUT PALHA ITALIANA

    You may still be asking why these bars were name "Italian" straw since there is no such treat in Italy. To tell the truth, no one knows.

    We can only speculate that it might be because of its adaptation from a well-known Italian dessert, the salame di cioccolato (chocolate salami). Take a look at chocolate salami and you will understand their resemblance.

    Of course, this wouldn't be truly Brazilian unless we adapted the recipe to our sweet tooth... and brigadeiro, a national passion, happened to be the perfect candidate for replacing melted dark chocolate, eggs, and liquor from the chocolate salami.

    There is only one issue... Our palha Italiana are a fave of both adults and children. My husband and children could not refrain themselves... and neither could I.

    We took care of this treat too fast. We became so addicted that we argued over the last piece. I am sorry but I am not ashamed to say that I won the dispute. 🙂

    Chocolate Fudge and Cookie Bars (Palha Italiana) with a cup of milk on the side

    My advice is make them both ways, hide some, and enjoy them by yourself. Trying to contain yourself will be an act of pure bravery. 🙂

    Please, don't forget to share the outcome with us. 😉

    close up of 2 Chocolate Fudge and Cookie Bars or Palha Italiana

    Palha italiana cookie bars
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    Chocolate Fudge and Cookie Bars (Palha Italiana)

    Chocolate fudge cookie bars (palha Italiana) easily made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and store-bought cookies. It's to die for!
    Course:Breakfast
    Cuisine:Brazilian
    Keywords:palha italiana
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings 10
    Calories515 kcal
    Author Denise Browning

    Ingredients

    • For the chocolate fudge and cookie bars:
    • 2 cans sweetened condensed milk 14 oz
    • 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract optional
    • 160 g vanilla wafer cookies or other of your choice chopped, or 5.5 oz, Nilla cookies
    • For the topping : optional
    • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
    • ⅓ cup heavy cream
    • 36 fresh raspberries
    • ⅓ cup white candy melts or white chocolate melted according to the package or powdered sugar only

    Instructions

    • In a large non-stick skillet, whisk the condensed milk and cocoa powder together until obtaining a homogeneous mixture (without lumps of cocoa powder). Then, stir in the melted butter.
    • Cook mixture over medium-low to medium heat (large burner), stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and starts to peel away or show the bottom of the pan when you scrape it with your wood spoon (about 10-15 minutes).
    • The chocolate fudge mixture should be thick enough to show you the bottom of the pan for a couple of seconds before the mixture levels out again. Mix in the vanilla extract if desired.
      chocolate fudge mixture being stirred in a pan with a wooden spoon
    • Remove pan from the heat, add the chopped cookies, and mix them together with a wooden spoon until cookies are completely mixed in the chocolate fudge mixture.
    • Line a 8 x 8-inch pan with a greased sheet of heavy duty aluminum or with plastic wrap, allowing it to overlap 2 opposite sides.
    • Place mixture into the lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula, making sure mixture is level. Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or until set. Right before serving, lift the foil or plastic, place on a flat surface, cut into squares or rectangles, and sift powdered sugar on top of each bar. This is the traditional treat.
    • If you would like to top them with chocolate ganache and berries instead of powdered sugar, place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwavable bowl and microwave on medium power for about 1 minute.
    • Stir together well and microwave again until chocolate has melted. Whisk well until obtaining a smooth mixture/ganache. Spread chocolate ganache on top of the fudge and cookie bars (without the powdered sugar), place raspberries on top, drizzle melted white chocolate, and refrigerate until ganache is set.

    Recipe Notes

    Serve chilled and enjoy! YIELD: 10 or more depending of the size of each bar.
    STORAGE: Store in a clean airtight container in  the fridge for up to 3 days. Freezing is not recommended because cookie can become mushy once treat is thawed. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 515kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 484mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 405IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 256mg | Iron: 1.7mg

    ** 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.

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

     

     

    « Flatbread Ham and Cheese Brazilian Enchiladas
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    Filed Under: Brazilian Recipes, Easy And Delish, Quick & Easy Recipes Tagged With: Brigadeiro, Chocolate, fudge, Rio Grande do Sul

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nusrat Azim says

      May 24, 2016 at 11:38 am

      The name sounds so much fun! and the instructions of your recipe sound quite complicated. But actually its easy to execute. A must-try, inspiring recipe indeed.
      Oh those pictures! Insanely inviting <3

      Reply
    2. Deb|EastofEdenCooking says

      May 24, 2016 at 1:33 pm

      What a scrumptious recipe for the first holiday of summer, Memorial Day weekend! A perfect make ahead treat that everyone will enjoy!

      Reply
    3. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

      May 25, 2016 at 12:36 am

      These look amazing and I am sure would not last long in my house either 🙂

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        May 25, 2016 at 7:42 am

        Thank you, Tandy! In my household it disappear quite quickly. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Fran @ G'day Souffle' says

      May 25, 2016 at 12:48 am

      Wow, both cookies and fudge together in one recipe (not to mention 'salami'). I'll be making this for sure!

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        May 25, 2016 at 7:43 am

        I hope you do -- because you won't regret it. 😉

        Reply
    5. Sugar et al. says

      May 25, 2016 at 6:03 am

      Oh so decadent and delicious! They have all my favourite things in them. I am so bookmarking this!

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        May 25, 2016 at 7:43 am

        Thank you, Sonali! We all loved this snack/dessert.

        Reply
    6. John/Kitchen Riffs says

      May 25, 2016 at 11:05 am

      Why have I never had these? Or even heard of them? They sound wonderful! Loads of flavor in these beauties. Really nice recipe -- thanks so much.

      Reply
    7. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      May 29, 2016 at 10:04 am

      How very enticingly delicious…and they seem so easy to make.

      Reply
    8. Raymund says

      May 31, 2016 at 12:37 pm

      Wow o Wow! this is my kind of fudge.
      Love this

      Reply

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