How to Make Brigadeiro: A Guide to Brazil’s Favorite Sweet Treat

If you’re looking for a super easy and delicious dessert to make at home, then you should definitely try making Brigadeiro. Brigadeiro is a Brazilian dessert that’s made with condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and chocolate sprinkles. It’s creamy, sweet, and perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth cravings.

Making Brigadeiro doesn’t require any fancy equipment or special skills. It’s a simple and fun recipe that you can easily make with friends or family. All you need is a few ingredients and some time to let it cook. So, let’s get ready to make your new favorite Brazilian dessert! Follow these simple steps and enjoy the yummy treat in no time.

Ingredients Needed to Make Brigadeiro

To make brigadeiro, a few simple ingredients are needed. Some of the main ingredients that you would need to make brigadeiro include:

1. Condensed Milk

Condensed milk is the main ingredient used to make brigadeiro. You can use any type of condensed milk as long as it is a sweetened version. This ingredient is what gives the brigadeiro its sweet taste.

2. Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is another important ingredient when making brigadeiro. This ingredient is what gives the brigadeiro its chocolatey flavour. You can use any type of cocoa powder to make brigadeiro but unsweetened cocoa powder is recommended.

3. Butter

Butter is necessary to give the brigadeiro its creamy texture. You can use any type of butter, though unsalted butter would be recommended.

4. Chocolate Sprinkles

Chocolate sprinkles are typically used to coat the brigadeiro after it has been made. These sprinkles should be made of chocolate and can be found at most supermarkets.

5. Spatula

A spatula is necessary for stirring the mixture while it’s being cooked. You can use any type of spatula, though a rubber spatula would be recommended.

6. Cooking Pot

A cooking pot with a thick bottom is necessary for cooking the brigadeiro. The pot should be large enough to accommodate all of the ingredients.

7. Baking Paper

Baking paper is typically used to place the brigadeiro once it has been made, so it can cool down before being rolled or cut into bite-sized pieces.

8. Mixing Bowl

A mixing bowl is necessary for mixing all the ingredients together before they’re added to the pot.

9. Serving Tray

A serving tray is necessary to place the brigadeiro once it has been coated with chocolate sprinkles. This should be used for presentation purposes.

10. Cooking Time

The cooking time for brigadeiro should not exceed 15-20 minutes. Otherwise, the mixture may become too hard or too chewy. Keep an eye on the cooking process, and remove the pot from the heat once it reaches the right consistency.

The Ingredients You Need to Make Brigadeiro

Before you start making brigadeiro, you need to make sure you have all the necessary ingredients. Brigadeiro is a simple recipe, which means that you don’t need too many ingredients to make it. Here are the ingredients that you’ll need:

1. Sweetened Condensed Milk

The base of brigadeiro is sweetened condensed milk, so it’s the most important ingredient. You can find sweetened condensed milk in most grocery stores. Make sure you buy the right one as there are other types of condensed milk that are unsweetened and won’t work for this recipe.

2. Butter

Adding butter to your brigadeiro mixture will help it become creamier. You can use any type of butter, whether it’s salted or unsalted. It’s best to use room-temperature butter, so it’s easy to mix.

3. Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is what gives brigadeiro its chocolate flavor. You can use any type of cocoa powder, whether it’s Dutch-processed or natural. The higher the quality of cocoa, the better the taste of your brigadeiro will be.

4. Chocolate Sprinkles

You can use chocolate sprinkles to coat your brigadeiro balls. Chocolate sprinkles are easy to find in most grocery stores.

5. Cooking Spray

Spray a little bit of cooking spray on your hands before you start rolling the brigadeiro balls. The cooking spray will prevent the brigadeiro mixture from sticking to your hands.

6. Salt

Adding a pinch of salt to the brigadeiro mixture will help balance the sweetness. You can use any type of salt, but make sure you don’t add too much.

7. Vanilla Extract

Adding vanilla extract will give your brigadeiro a slight vanilla flavor. You don’t need to add too much, just a little bit will do.

8. Parchment Paper

Line a baking sheet or a plate with parchment paper. The parchment paper will prevent the brigadeiro balls from sticking to the surface.

9. Small Saucepan

You’ll need a small saucepan to cook the brigadeiro mixture. Make sure the saucepan is clean before you start cooking.

10. Wooden Spoon

You can use a wooden spoon to stir the brigadeiro mixture while it’s cooking. A wooden spoon won’t scratch the surface of the saucepan, and it won’t react with the ingredients.

With all these ingredients in hand, you are ready to make delicious brigadeiro!

Ingredients for brigadeiro:

Making brigadeiro is a very simple process, and it doesn’t take much time. But before we get started with the recipe, let’s take a look at the essential ingredients we need to make brigadeiro.

The role of each ingredient in making brigadeiro:

Here’s a brief explanation of the role of each ingredient in the recipe.

1. Condensed milk:
Condensed milk is the base ingredient of brigadeiro. This ingredient is thick, sweet, and has a creamy texture that provides the perfect consistency to the mixture. Also, condensed milk is cooked for few minutes with cocoa powder and butter to make it thicker and more chocolatey.

2. Unsweetened cocoa powder:
Cocoa powder is what gives brigadeiro its chocolate flavor. Using unsweetened cocoa powder ensures that the mixture doesn’t become too sweet or overpowering.

3. Butter:
Butter adds richness and creaminess to the mixture, giving it a smoother mouthfeel. It also helps to prevent the mixture from sticking to the pan while cooking.

4. Chocolate sprinkles:
Chocolate sprinkles serve as a traditional decoration for brigadeiro. They are used to coat the candy balls once they’ve cooled. But you can also use nuts, coconut flakes, or sprinkles of your choice as a coat.

5. Pinch of salt:
Salt is added to enhance the overall flavor of the mixture. It doesn’t make the mixture salty but highlights the chocolate flavor.

Preparation:

Now that we have all the necessary ingredients, let’s dive into the preparation process.

1. Prepare the ingredients:
First, gather all the ingredients you’ll need and have them within reach. Measure and keep them ready to use.

2. Mix the ingredients:
In a saucepan, mix together the condensed milk, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt. Stir the mixture very well until a homogeneous blend is achieved.

3. Cook:
Once the mixture is ready, turn on the heat to medium flame. Using a firm spatula, stir the mixture continually to avoid sticking to the bottom. Add the butter and keep stirring until the mixture thickens and starts to come off the sides of the pot. This takes about 10-12 minutes.

4. Let it cool:
Once the mixture has thickened, transfer it to a greased plate and let it cool completely. This will take around 15-20 minutes.

5. Form the candy balls:
While the mixture is still warm, grease your hands and scoop some mixture to make small balls about the size of a cherry.

6. Coat with sprinkles:
Finally, roll the candy balls into the chocolate sprinkles or any other sprinkle of your choice. Coat the whole surface uniformly, and your brigadeiro is now ready to be served or stored in the refrigerator.

Making brigadeiro is an easy process, and with this recipe, you can now make your own delicious Brazilian treat at home. Impress your friends and family with this simple recipe, or have it as a sweet snack whenever you need a little pick-me-up.

Thanks for Sweetening Things Up with Brigadeiro!

There you have it, folks! Making brigadeiro is definitely a fun and delicious way to bond with your family and friends. Be sure to prepare a batch or two for your next social gathering. Don’t forget to share this recipe with your loved ones and let them experience this Brazilian delicacy, too. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you again for more amazing recipes!