Recipe · Sweet
Brigadeiro – Brazil's chocolate balls
Brigadeiros are the standard treat at every Brazilian children's birthday party: soft, chocolatey, rolled in sprinkles. You need only three ingredients – and the right moment to take the pot off the hob.
Method
- Stir condensed milk, cocoa and butter together in a non-stick pot.
- Heat over medium-low heat while stirring constantly, about 10–15 minutes.
- The mixture is ready when it thickens and briefly leaves a trail on the pot bottom as you draw the spoon through.
- Transfer to a lightly buttered dish, cover and leave to cool for 30–60 minutes.
- Lightly butter your hands, shape small balls and roll them in the sprinkles. Place in praline cases.
- Consistency: Taken off too early, the mixture stays too soft; cooked too long, it turns crumbly. Better slightly too soft than too firm – it firms up further in the fridge.
- Variations: With white chocolate and desiccated coconut, with instant coffee in the mixture or with peanut butter instead of cocoa.
- Storage: Keeps for several days in a tin in the fridge; let it come briefly to room temperature before serving.
Handy extras
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Frequently asked questions
Do I absolutely need sweetened condensed milk?
Yes. Unsweetened evaporated milk will not work – the mixture would need extra sugar and would turn out differently.
How do I stop it burning?
Use a non-stick pot, low heat and constant stirring, especially around the edge and the bottom.
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