Oi Gente!!
This brigadeiro recipe is so easy to make and so worth knowing! All you need are just 3 simple ingredients and this Brazilian candy goodness will be ready in no time to satisfy all your sweet cravings!
More brigadeiro recipes to try: Brigadeiro Cake Recipe / Brazilian Chocolate Cake with Brigadeiro Frosting / Brazilian Hot Chocolate
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What is brigadeiro
Brigadeiro (bree-gah-day-ro) is one of the most classic Brazilian desserts. So classic and so Brazilian, it’s safe to say it’s part of the Brazilian DNA. True facts!
These little chocolate caramels are possibly THE most known, most popular and most loved Brazilian party treat. Ask any Brazilian and they’ll confirm… Brigadeiros are like a Brazilian chocolaty treasure, so sweet and so gooey, it’s impossible not to love.
This simple dessert is made with just a handful of ingredients, mainly condensed milk and chocolate powder – you know, the kind you add to milk like Nesquik, or Nescau, widely used in Brazil. You can definitely make brigadeiro with cocoa powder too, but there’s a slightly different process and recipe for it, especially when we want to roll it into little balls. I’ll get to that on another post.
More Brazilian sweets to try: Beijinho de Coco – Brazilian Coconut Balls Recipe
Ways to enjoy a delicious brigadeiro
Sometimes it’s left as a caramel-like ‘sauce’ that we just eat with a spoon, dip fruits in (hello brigadeiro dipped strawberries!!), make brigadeiro cake (with brigadeiro as a cake filling, or drizzled all over the top – OR BOTH!)…
And, of course, sometimes we roll it into these cute little bite size balls, that we cover in sprinkles. These little brigadeiro balls are essentially like Brazilian bonbons, and some people also call them Brazilian chocolate truffles, or Brazilian fudge balls.
Add sprinkles
We traditionally use chocolate sprinkles, but the beauty of these little festive treats is that you can dress them any which way you want – just add different color sprinkles, and candy cups to match!
They look super cute in pink, white, red for Valentines Day. Or red, white, green for Christmas. Pastel nonpareils for Easter. Your favorite team’s colors. Rainbow sprinkles for fun birthday… seriously, the possibilities are endless!
And if you put them in a pretty box, they make a perfect little gift too.
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Brigadeiro ingredients
These are the 3 ingredients you’ll need for this easy brigadeiro recipe:
- Sweet condensed milk
- Chocolate powder – you know, the kind you add to milk like Nesquik, or Nescau, widely used in Brazil.
- Sprinkles – brigadeiro without sprinkles should be considered a crime!
This sweet treat is so easy to make, I’ve been making it since I was a kid.
The recipe is extremely simple, but there are a few little tricks you need to know to ensure your brigadeiro balls come out perfect every time. Check out the deets below!
How to make brigadeiro
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan
And cook over medium heat.
- Stir and scrape, stir and scrape, stir and scrape!!
Repeat after me… stir and scrape!!
This is likely the most important advice I can give you. Stirring and scraping during the cooking process, will ensure the brigadeiro doesn’t burn AND that no lumps form. The brigadeiro is ready when you scrape the bottom of the pan and it takes 2-3 seconds for all that gooey mixture to come back to its place, or when the mixture reaches 205F-208F. You can use a candy thermometer, or just a regular food thermometer to check.
- Let it cool
Pour the hot brigadeiro in a plate and let it cool until it’s cool to touch. At that point, you can cover the dish with kitchen wrap to refrigerate and roll later, or you can roll now.
- Roll into balls
Lightly butter your hands, and scoop 1/2 Tbsp to Tbsp size portions and roll little balls – like this!
- Cover in sprinkles!!
Ta-da!! You’re so close. Just roll the little balls in your sprinkles or nonpareil colors of choice and pronto, you are done! You can serve them on a dish, or put them in small little candy cups like the ones below.
If brigadeiros weren’t already part of your life, prepare yourself. These little 3-ingredient fudgy chocolaty goodness are about to become your new favorite party sweet, like ever!
Seriously, your birthday parties, dinner parties, or any other party you can imagine will never be the same. And that’s a wonderful thing!
Try it, and let me know how you like them!
Bom Apetite!
Beijinhos
xoxox
More brigadeiro recipes you’ll love:
Other Brazilian Desserts:
BRIGADEIRO RECIPE | BRAZILIAN FUDGE BALLS
Ingredients
- 1x 14oz can of sweet condensed milk
- 1/2 cup chocolate powder, such as Nescau or Nesquik
- 1 Tbsp margarine or butter (plus more for hands)
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Add the condensed milk, the butter, and the chocolate powder to a medium saucepan and stir.
- Cook over medium heat, for approximately 10 minutes, stirring repeatedly and scraping the sides and the bottom of the pan with a spatula to avoid burning.
- The brigadeiro is ready when you scrape the bottom of the pan, and the brigadeiro takes 2-3 seconds to come back to its place, or when the mixture reaches 205F-208F – You can use a candy thermometer, or just a regular food thermometer to check.
- Pour the hot brigadeiro into a dish or a plate, and let it cool – about 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, pour sprinkles in a deep plate or bowl.
- When the brigadeiro is cooled, butter your hands, and scoop 1/2 Tbsp to Tbsp portions and roll little balls.
- Roll the little balls in the sprinkles.
- Keep them in a cool place or in the refrigerator until serving time.
I LOVE brigadeiro! Never thought to try making them myself but now I’m inspired–thanks!
Yeah girl!! It’s sooo easy to make and soooooo worth it!! 🙂 beijos
As someone who is researching more of their Brazilian ancestry, your recipes have made me feel closer to that side of my heritage. Muito obrigada!
Ahhhhh Briana, de nada!!! That makes me SO VERY HAPPY to know. Thank you! Beijinhos xx
Those look choco-licious. I could eat my weight in chocolate. I have to make these.
WHAT?! These are amazing and I’m sad I’ve never seen or tasted them before! They look really delicious and I think I’m going to have to give this recipe a try. My dad will especially love these!
Well, now I have some serious cravings for chocolate! These look utterly delicious, and I love how easy they are to make! They would also make a great edible gift for this festive season!
This is a great treat to serve along with Christmas cookies! Thanks for the great step by step photos!
Oh my, I love brigadeiros so much! I make them with unsweetened cocoa but this recipe is even easier! Beautiful and delicious! Thanks for sharing.
I really love how festive and versatile this fun dessert is! I think I’ll try this when I go back home for the Holidays with my momma. She’s the reason for my chocolate obsession anyway! 🙂
These Brigadeiro look so rich and tasty! I bet these are wonderful to add in for candy gift baskets for the holidays!
Why have I never heard of these before!? They are so fantastic… I’m talking better than fudge and truffles fantastic. Cannot wait to make them again… this time, as little take-away treats at my holiday party!
My daughter would love these. I am thinking to surprise her with these tonight.
I love brigadeiros, they are my favorite sweets. I loved your recipe and congratulations on the site.
Thank you, Ana!
Made these for my niece and she loved them so much! Thank you for sharing!
Yay! That’s great!
I am beyond excited! I am adopted from Brazil. My mother spent 3 weeks there securing my adoption. She has made these throughout my childhood, and not once did I know they were Brazilian. I am sooo excited to make these and introduce my children to these….
Awww this makes be beyond happy!! <3 thank you for sharing! I'm excited for your kids to try them as well - they're such a classic part of Brazilian childhood!! Enjoy!!!
Hi Aline,
Thank you for the recipe. I am guessing that these are to be stored in an airtight container? How long can they keep for?
Thanks in advance.
Carol
Hi Carol, yes – and they keep for a couple of days, but they start to crystalize and harden after 3 days or so. They’re still edible, but the texture isn’t the same.
Thank you for the recipe! Mine are not staying hard as I roll them into balls they melt on the plate. Any suggestions? They taste great!!
Hi Abigail – Try cooking them more slowly, at lower temperature!