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5 from 94 votes

Brigadeiro -- Brazilian chocolate fudge balls

Brigadeiro (or Brigadeiros) is a chocolate fudge made with condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder. Our brigadeiro recipe is love at first bite! It comes with a video and step by step photos. 
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:Brazilian
Keywords:brigadeiro, brigadeiro recipe
Prep Time 22 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 28
Calories49 kcal
Cost $ 0.10 per person

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

Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 59mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Calcium: 41mg

** 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.

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