Serves 40
75 min
Brigadeiros
Recipe GLPRe69183115d44b9
Brigadeiros are a beloved Brazilian confection—rich, fudgy chocolate balls with an irresistible texture. This recipe makes about 40 petit treats by combining sweetened condensed milk and unsweetened cocoa powder into a thick, glossy mixture, then rolling into balls and coating with your choice of toppings like sprinkles, coconut, crushed nuts, pretzels, mini chocolate chips, or crushed vanilla cookies. They're perfect for parties, gifts, or satisfying a sweet craving. Serve chilled for the best texture.
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Ingredients
2 tbsp Unsalted butter, divided
2 cans (14 oz. each) Sweetened condensed milk
5 tbsp Unsweetened cocoa powder
Candy sprinkles, for coating
Sweetened shredded coconut, for coating
Crushed nuts, for coating
Crushed pretzels, for coating
Mini chocolate chips, for coating
Crushed vanilla cookies, for coating
Directions
Grease a small saucepan with 2 tablespoons of butter and place it over medium heat, tilting to coat the bottom and sides evenly.
Pour both cans of sweetened condensed milk and the unsweetened cocoa powder into the greased pan.
Whisk the cocoa powder and condensed milk together until fully combined and no cocoa lumps remain, about 1 minute.
Switch to a wooden spoon and continue stirring over medium heat until the mixture begins to gently boil, about 3–5 minutes.
Lower the heat to medium-low and stir constantly without stopping. Occasionally scrape the sides and bottom of the pan to prevent sticking or burning. The mixture will gradually thicken as the moisture cooks off.
After about 10–15 minutes of constant stirring, the mixture will noticeably thicken and begin to pull away from the pan's sides. When you draw a spoon through the center, a valley should form that takes about 3–5 seconds to close.
Continue stirring for 2 more minutes until the batter is very thick and gathering in the center of the pan. Remove from heat.
Pour the hot batter into a bowl lightly greased with butter. Let cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes, then refrigerate uncovered for approximately 45 minutes until the mixture is cool and firm enough to handle.
Lightly butter or oil your hands to prevent sticking. Using a small spoon, scoop out portions of the batter (about 2 teaspoons each) and roll between your greased palms to form uniform balls.
Place your desired coating (sprinkles, coconut, crushed nuts, pretzels, mini chocolate chips, or crushed vanilla cookies) into small shallow bowls. Roll each brigadeiro ball in your chosen coating until fully covered.
Place each coated brigadeiro into a mini paper baking cup or arrange on a serving plate. Serve immediately if preferred, or refrigerate until ready to eat. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
