Brigadeiro, Brazil’s beloved chocolate treat, are rich, gooey truffles made from sweetened condensed milk and chocolate. Originating in the 1940s, these bite-sized delights have become a staple at Brazilian celebrations and are now gaining popularity worldwide for their fudgy texture and simple preparation.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Just 4 simple ingredients
- No baking required
- Perfect for parties, gifting, or kids’ lunch boxes
- Easy to customize with toppings
🧾 Ingredients
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz / 397 g)
- 3.4 oz (100 g) dark chocolate – or try milk chocolate for a sweeter twist
- 1 tbsp butter (unsalted or salted)
- Chocolate sprinkles or toppings (like chopped nuts, coconut, or cocoa sugar)
🥄 Instructions
1. Cook the Mixture
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the sweetened condensed milk, butter, and broken pieces of chocolate.
Stir constantly as the chocolate and butter melt. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue stirring until the mixture thickens – about 10 minutes.
Tip: You should be able to draw a line through the mixture with your spatula and it will take about 2 seconds to come back together.
2. Cool and Chill
Remove from heat, pour into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to cool to room temperature. Then chill in the fridge for 1–2 hours.
3. Roll into Balls
Scoop about a walnut-sized amount and roll into balls with your hands. If the mix is too firm, let it sit at room temp a few minutes.
4. Decorate
Roll each ball in your topping of choice:
- Traditional: Chocolate sprinkles
- Party-style: Rainbow sprinkles
- Gourmet: Chopped pistachios, coconut flakes, cocoa nibs, or cocoa sugar
- Seasonal: Red and green sprinkles for Christmas, pink for Valentine’s Day, etc.
Place each into a mini muffin liner or candy cup.
🍫 Chocolate vs Cocoa Powder
While traditional brigadeiro uses cocoa powder, this recipe uses real dark chocolate for a superior depth of flavor. However, if you prefer the classic style:
- Substitute ¼ cup (25g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- Omit the chocolate pieces
Either way, the result is deliciously chewy and chocolaty.
🧊 Storage Tips
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container up to 1 week
- Fridge: Keeps well up to 2 weeks
- Shipping? Not recommended unless packed securely; they’re soft and delicate
👧 Fun for Kids
Let your kids roll and decorate their own brigadeiros! Prepare small bowls of sprinkles and toppings, then let them dip and design their truffles. It’s a fun edible activity!
❓ FAQ
Q: Can I use milk chocolate?
Yes! It’ll be a bit sweeter and less intense in flavor than dark chocolate, but still tasty.
Q: Are these the same as chocolate truffles?
Not quite. Truffles are made with cream and chocolate; brigadeiros use condensed milk, making them denser and chewier.
Q: Is this Brazil’s national dessert?
Many would say yes! Brigadeiro is iconic and deeply loved throughout the country.
🧁 Related Recipes from Our Kitchen
If you love chocolate treats like brigadeiro, try these from My World Wide Recipe:
- Chocolate Pistachio Cream Thumbprints
- Nutty Chocolate Balls
- Lemon White Chocolate Truffles
- Sticky Coconut Cake
- Pistachio Coconut Macaroons
📋 Printable Recipe
Brigadeiro – Brazilian Chocolate Truffles
12 servings | 15 minutes prep
Ingredients:
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz / 397g)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3.4 oz (100g) dark chocolate
- Chocolate sprinkles or toppings
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, combine all ingredients over medium heat.
- Stir constantly until thickened (10 mins).
- Let cool, then chill for 1–2 hours.
- Roll into balls and coat with desired toppings.