Hi all! Mark here.
I have a thing for simple desserts, and this dessert couldn't be simpler!
Today's recipe is a Brazilian treat called "Brigadeiro" which produces a delightful, chewy, bite-sized dessert with only three basic ingredients!
Brigadeiro are a popular Brazilian treat that resembles a small chocolate bonbon rolled in toppings. The topping of choice is typically chocolate sprinkles, but shredded coconut, pretzel bits, and even crushed nuts work wonderfully too! Both were enjoyable, but the Heath pieces I used were my favorite since they added an extra sweetness and a slight crunch to the treat. Brigadeiro are different from regular truffles in that the sweetened condensed milk they are made with gives them a slight caramel flavor, which is balanced nicely by the rich chocolate taste from the cocoa powder.
Brigadeiro are a staple at Brazilian birthday parties for children (similar to the cupcake in America) and are also considered comfort food by many, as the dessert is easy to make and requires only 3 ingredients. After having made this dessert, it's not hard to imagine why it is so beloved.
The recipe for Brigadeiro is strikingly similar from website to website, though the main recipe I used is here: Brigadeiro
Recipe yields about 24 brigadeiro
You need:
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 T butter
3 T cocoa powder
For toppings:
3 T sprinkles
3 T Heath toffee pieces
(other popular toppings include ground pistachio and shredded coconut; though anything that the brigadeiro can be rolled in can be used a topping)
In a medium sized saucepan over medium-low heat, mix the three ingredients together and stir the mixture for about ten minutes. Do this until the mixture has thickened and sticks to itself instead of the pan. It will become quite thick in this stage, hold its shape well, and will also have a deep chocolate color. At this point, transfer the mixture into a greased bowl and let it cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
After you've let the mixture cool, take it out from the fridge and with greased hands, tear off little pieces of the mixture and roll it into a ball shape of about 1 inch, to 1.5 inches. (I prefer smaller sizes, so I did 1 inch) After you've rolled the candy into a ball, roll it into whatever toppings you desire. I did chocolate sprinkles, and also Heath bar toffee pieces. At this point the treats are often put into little mini wrappers for ease of eating, though they do not have to be. The brigadeiro can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge until ready to eat.
