- What is brigadeiro?
- Where does brigadeiro come from?
- What is brigadeiro made of?
- How do you pronounce brigadeiro?
- What does brigadeiro translate to in English?
- What does brigadeiro taste like?
- How do you eat brigadeiro?
- How much does brigadeiro cost to make?
- How long does brigadeiro last?
- Can you make brigadeiro in the microwave?
- How do you roll brigadeiro?
- How do I know when my brigadeiro is done?
- Why is my brigadeiro runny?
- Is brigadeiro vegan?
- What allergens do they contain?
- How do I store brigadeiro?
- What are some variations you can make to this classic brigadeiro recipe?
- Conclusion
If you are looking for an easy crowd pleaser, this classic brigadeiro recipe is sure to check all your boxes!
My friend and coworker, Paul, inspired me to make this popular Brazilian sweet. He is Brazilian himself, and I am so thankful that he shared a bit of his culture with me!
What is brigadeiro?
Brigadeiro is a traditional Brazilian dessert. Often referred to as the national truffle of Brazil, brigadeiro is especially popular for festive events like birthday parties.
In South Brazil, brigadeiros are also called negrinhos.
While brigadeiro is commonly made at home, it can also be found in bakeries and snack shops.
For more fun facts about brigadeiro, check out Sweet Soul Boutique’s page here!
Where does brigadeiro come from?
The most popular origin story you’ll hear about brigadeiro is that it was created by a confectioner named Heloisa Nabuco de Oliveira from Rio de Janeiro.
Heloisa created the brigadeiro in an effort to promote the presidential candidate Eduardo Gomes in 1946.
The original name was doce de brigadeiro, which translates to “brigadier’s sweet” in English. The name was eventually shortened to just brigadeiro as the years went by.
Because this was the first national election that women could participate in, they were often seen selling brigadeiro in support of Eduardo Gomes. Unfortunately, the election was won by General Eurico Gaspar Dutra.
Others believe that brigadeiro originated in the 1920s when Nestle started to sell condensed milk in Brazil.
What is brigadeiro made of?
The most traditional brigadeiro is made with condensed milk, butter, and chocolate. The mixture is then rolled in chocolate sprinkles and served in tiny cupcake liners.
How do you pronounce brigadeiro?
Brigadeiro is pronounced “bri-ga-day-row”.
What does brigadeiro translate to in English?
In English, “brigadeiro” translates to “brigadier”. A brigadier is a military rank rank, and plays into the origin story of the brigadeiro.
What does brigadeiro taste like?
If you’ve never had brigadeiro before, the best way I can describe it to you is that it tastes almost like a mix between fudge and caramel.
The product itself is very sweet, but depending on what you roll it in, it can either accentuate that sweetness or mute it.
How do you eat brigadeiro?
There are two most popular ways to eat brigadeiro.
The first is to roll the mixture into balls, coat it, and then pop it into your mouth like a truffle.
The second is to eat it right off the plate or out of a container. This is otherwise known as brigadeiro de colher, which translates to “spoon brigadeiro” in English.
How much does brigadeiro cost to make?
This classic brigadeiro recipe was incredibly inexpensive to make and used ingredients that I already had in my home.
A can of condensed milk in my area cost $2.48 for the Eagle Brand. You can, of course, get a different brand but the only condensed milk I trust is Borden’s.
Butter was $3.98 for a pack of four. I used two tablespoons of butter, which cost about $0.25.
I used ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) of Nesquik powder, which was $0.28. The entire container was $5.28 and has 38 servings (two tablespoons each).
Last were the pink sprinkles, which costs $1.56 for the container. I ended up using about ¼ of the container which is $0.39.
In total, I was able to make 16 truffles with this recipe. Adding everything up, each truffle costs about $0.21.
How long does brigadeiro last?
I would recommend eating your brigadeiro within 2-3 days of making it for best results.
While it can probably last a little longer than that (up to a week in the refrigerator), it may suffer in quality because it can get hard.
Can you make brigadeiro in the microwave?
Personally, I have never tried making brigadeiro in the microwave.
Since you have to constantly stir the mixture, microwaving will probably not give you your desired consistency.
Therefore, I would not recommend trying this recipe in the microwave.
How do you roll brigadeiro?
You’ll want to grease your hands with either some oil or butter before you roll your brigadeiro.
Once your hands are greased, scoop some of the mixture and roll it like you would if you were rolling play dough.
How do I know when my brigadeiro is done?
There are two methods that you can use to see if your brigadeiro is finished cooking.
The first way to check is to drag your spoon through the mixture. If you can see the bottom of the pot for a few seconds when you drag your spoon, it is done.
The second way is to get a glass of cold water and to put a bit of the mixture into it. If it stays together in the glass, it is done.
Why is my brigadeiro runny?
If your brigadeiro is runny, this may mean that your mixture needs a little bit more time on the stove to thicken up.
Try your best to be patient. Just keep stirring and it will get thick!
Is brigadeiro vegan?
Because brigadeiro is made with condensed milk as the base, most brigadeiro will not be vegan.
There is sweetened condensed coconut milk and sweetened condensed oat milk that is available on the market. However, I have never tried this recipe with non dairy products before so I am unsure if it will work the same way.
What allergens do they contain?
The allergens in brigadeiro will depend on what flavors you get, as brigadeiro can come in a variety of different flavors.
Traditional brigadeiro will contain milk because of the butter and condensed milk used in the recipe. Brigadeiro is naturally gluten free.
How do I store brigadeiro?
Store your brigadeiro in an airtight container on the counter for up to three days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Classic Brigadeiro Recipe-Brazilian Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients
- 1 can condensed milk 14 oz
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup Nesquik
- Sprinkles to coat brigadeiro
- Oil as needed
Instructions
- Add butter and condensed milk into a medium sized pan.
- Sift Nesquik into the pan.
- Turn the flame to medium low heat and stir continuously until your mixture starts to thicken.
- Once your mixture has thickened, turn off the flame and pour the mixture onto a greased plate. Refrigerate for one to two hours, just until it is firm enough to roll.
- Lightly grease your hands and roll the brigadeiro into your hands and then into the sprinkles, making sure that the brigadeiro is equally covered on all sides.
Notes
- The amount of time it takes for your brigadeiro to cook will depend on the kind of stove you have and the heat you have the mixture cooking at.
- For my stove, this recipe normally takes about 10-15 minutes to thicken to the right consistency. However, I’ve made brigadeiro on an older stove, and it’s taken 20-25 minutes.
- If you’re wondering what the “right consistency” of brigadeiro is, you can find that information under the headline “How do I know when my brigadeiro is done?” in this blog post.
What are some variations you can make to this classic brigadeiro recipe?
Altering the texture:
For a creamier brigadeiro, try adding a tablespoon of heavy cream.
For a fudgier brigadeiro, you can add an egg yolk before you start the cooking process.
Altering the flavor:
You can also add vanilla extract or ¼ tsp of instant coffee for a more dynamic flavor.
Adjusting the sweetness:
Instead of Nesquik, you can use unsweetened cocoa powder or dark chocolate chips.
If you’re looking to balance the sweetness, you can add a pinch of salt to the top of the truffles.
Alternatives to chocolate sprinkles:
You can roll your brigadeiro in a bunch of different things. Coconut flakes, chopped walnuts or pistachios, cocoa powder, and crushed oreos are among the most common.
Conclusion
I hope you give this classic brigadeiro recipe a try! It’s easy, fun and a treat your whole family will enjoy!
Do you love easy recipes? If so, you may want to try my Egg Free Apple Pie or my Egg Free Pumpkin Pie recipes!
NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Have you had brigadeiro before?
What is your country’s national dessert? I’d love to make it!
Let me know by leaving me a comment down below!