Traditional Brazilian Chocolate Brigadeiro Recipe, the no-bake bite-size sweets with only 4 ingredients. Call them truffles, fudge balls or just brigadeiros, they are sure to make you fall in love with them. So rich, dense and chocolatey, perfect for every celebration!
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What are brigadeiros?
Brigadeiros are a traditional Brazilian dessert made with condensed milk, cocoa powder and butter, then shaped into small balls and covered with sprinkles. You can decorate them with anything you like though, from desiccated coconut, to cocoa powder or grated chocolate.
Ingredients needed
Unlike the coconut balls, these brigadeiros are cooked, but that doesn't mean they are not easy to make. It just takes a big longer though, plus you need to leave them to cool down before shaping into balls.
What we need:
- condensed milk - use sweetened condensed milk for best results
- butter - salted or unsalted
- cocoa powder - a good quality one makes all the difference
- sprinkles - any kind, or just omit
Step-by-step instructions
Add the condensed milk, butter and sifted cocoa powder in a pan set over a low heat. Mix well with a spatula to get a smooth paste, and continue to stir until it thickens, that might take up to 15 minutes or so.
You know the paste is cooked well when this coats the back of the spatula and you can see the bottom of the pan for at least 3-4 seconds when you drag the spatula through it . Remove it from the heat, and leave to cool completely. You can then shape it into balls, then coat with sprinkles or desiccated coconut.
A dessert for every celebration
Yes, they are not quite the healthiest treat, but a treat is a treat, it's not quite meant to be healthy, right? They make an excellent choice for any party.
Or, why not, just enjoy them all by yourself, you do deserve a treat from time to time. I could not have enough of them, exactly what I needed for my sweet tooth.
Valentine's Day might be the day when chocolates or anything chocolate desserts are the norm, but hey, chocolate is amazing every single day. Especially after a long day with demanding kids who leave you completely worn out.
They also make a nice homemade present, just wrap them nicely, and you've got the perfect solution to your search of a fantastic present no matter the occasion. So delicious!
If you’ve liked my CHOCOLATE BRIGADEIROS RECIPE or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.
Brigadeiro Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can condensed milk (400 g, 13 oz)
- 3 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 20 g butter
- sprinkles to decorate
Instructions
- Combine the condensed milk, cocoa powder (sifted) and butter and add them to a non-stick pan.
- Set the pan over a low heat and keep stirring with a silicone spatula until it thickens into a smooth cream, this could take between 10 and 15 minutes.
- The mixture is ready when you can see the bottom of the pan for at least 3-4 seconds when you drag the spatula through it.
- Butter a large plate and transfer the cream to cool at room temperature.
- Once it is cool and firm enough to handle, shape out balls, then coat them with desiccated coconut and sprinkles.
- Chill in the fridge for a few hours before you serve.
Video
Notes
- Click on the US Customary link to see the measurements displayed in cups and ounces.
- The servings can be adjusted by clicking the number next to Servings.
Nutrition
Andrea Broom
Love these. I lived in Rio when I was younger for a couple years and was addicted to these.
Daniela Anderson
Thank you for your comment, Andrea! They are indeed hard to resist, l love them too.
Lina
They look so divine☺☺☺ Really appreciate your enthusiasm and the energy with which you participate in these challenges...This is a great contribution! Looks amazing!
Daniela Anderson
Thank you, Lina! It's always a pleasure to take part in your challenges! ?
youthfoodblog
This is so cute. Thanks for sharing!
tentimestea
Oh these sound and look delicious! Cute is the perfect word for them--I love the different toppings. The coconut sounds perfect for flavour, but the pink nonpareils are adorable. 🙂
Daniela Anderson
Thank you very much for your kind comment, l am glad you like them ?
Jess
Hi, I'd like to make these for my niece's wedding. I have two questions: Do these need to be refrigerated? How far ahead of time could they be made? Thank you!
Daniela Apostol
Hi! They keep well in the fridge for at least 2-3 days if they are stored in an air-tight container. They are delicious!
Freda @ Aromatic essence
They look gorgeous!
Daniela Anderson
Thank you! ?
greg wrobel
ok, what did i do wrong....................simple recipe, well explained, "followed' to a t, but ended up with great tasting blobs that even after freezing are just a mess and impossible to serve.
Daniela Apostol
They most probably haven’t been cooked enough. Depending on the heat, they might need to be left to cook for longer until the chocolate mixture has thicken enough.
Liv
I realize this comment was years ago, but for anyone else who runs into this problem, if you have a thermometer, you want to cook the brigadeiro until soft ball stage, or about 235-240 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you don't have a thermometer, what I learned to do in Brazil is to keep cooking the brigadeiro until the mixture is thick enough that when you stir it and the mixture reveals some of the bottom of the pan, you want to be able to see the bottom of the pan for 4-5 seconds before the mixture slowly covers it back up. Then you'll be able to roll it into balls once it has cooled.