Home > Desserts > BEST Brigadeiros BEST Brigadeiros April 26, 2019 | 27 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Brigadeiros: A traditional Brazilian treat combining condensed milk, cocoa, butter, and chocolate sprinkles. Easy to make, they’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! My mom grew up in Brazil and spent a few of her adults years there. Growing up, she always made these fudge-y treats and Acai Bowls for us. What Are Brigadeiros? It’s said that Brigadeiros were named after a Brigadier General who was popular in Brazil during World War II. The reason they were created is that chocolate was scarce during the war, but cocoa powder was readily available. They’re made of sweetened condensed milk, butter, cocoa powder, and sprinkles covering the outside layer. Ingredients Unsalted Butter: Adds creaminess and prevents sticking. Sweetened Condensed Milk: Provides sweetness and creamy texture. Regular Cocoa Powder: Delivers chocolate flavor. Chocolate Sprinkles or Cocoa Powder: Used for coating, adding texture and extra chocolate taste. QUICK TIP Have you ever made fudge using chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk? That’s the same concept for Brigadeiros, too, but they don’t get as thick and firm. How To Make Brigadeiros Melt butter in a pan. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and cocoa powder. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Let the mixture cool. Form into small balls. Roll them in chocolate sprinkles or cocoa powder. Enjoy your delicious Brigadeiros! STORAGE Storing Brigaderios Storage: Chill Brigadeiros immediately after cooking for 30 minutes, then roll, dip in sprinkles, and refrigerate for an additional 15-30 minutes. They can be stored in the fridge for up to 12 days. Freezing: They can be frozen for up to 3 months. After rolling in sprinkles, place them on a parchment-lined sheet and freeze. Once solid, transfer to an airtight bag and freeze. Thaw in the fridge. More No-Bake Treats Rice Krispie Treats No Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake Puppy Chow Edible Cookie Dough No Bake Healthy Breakfast Cookies FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Brigadeiros 5 from 4 votes - Review this recipe Ultra-chocolatey Brigadeiros: A traditional Brazilian treat combining condensed milk, cocoa, butter, and chocolate sprinkles. Easy to make, they're a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Brigadeiros 5 from 4 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Ultra-chocolatey Brigadeiros: A traditional Brazilian treat combining condensed milk, cocoa, butter, and chocolate sprinkles. Easy to make, they're a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! Course Dessert, Snack Cuisine American Keyword Brigadeiros Prep Time 15 minutes minutes Cook Time 10 minutes minutes Chilling Time 30 minutes minutes Total Time 55 minutes minutes Servings 12 brigadeiros Chelsea Lords Calories 137kcal Author Chelsea Lords Ingredients▢ 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided▢ 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk (do not use low-fat or fat-free)▢ 1/3 cup regular cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)▢ 1/8 teaspoon salt▢ Chocolate sprinkles or additional cocoa powder, for decoratingUS - Metric USMetric InstructionsSoften 1 tablespoon butter and rub it over a large plate. Set aside.In a nonstick 10-to-12-inch saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and add the sweetened condensed milk. Add the cocoa powder and salt and reduce the heat slightly. Stir nonstop for 8-13 minutes or until the mixture begins to pull away from the edge of the pot; it should be very thick. To check if it's done, run a wooden spoon through the center and watch to make sure it takes a few seconds to melt back into the center again. Transfer the mixture to the prepared plate and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.When the mixture is set, butter your hands to prevent sticking, and pull off a portion of the mixture (about 1/2 to 1 full tablespoon). Roll the mixture between your hands to get a perfectly round ball. Repeat with the remainder of the mixture to get about 12 balls. Pour sprinkles (or cocoa powder) on a flat plate and roll the fudge balls into the sprinkles (or cocoa powder) to coat.Best enjoyed the same day! Nutrition FactsCalories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 67mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 176IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 1mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
These are gorgeous! I bet they are delicious, too. Your pictures definitely make me want to take a bite out of the screen 😉 Reply
They say you learn something new every day. I had no idea what a brigadeiros were. Thanks for enlightening me. 🙂 Reply
Chelsea, these look wonderful, and they are coated in sprinkles. Say no more 😉 Thanks for sharing a special, unique recipe! Reply
I’ve never head of Brigadeiros! And also have no idea how to pronounce it 🙂 They do, however, look insanely delicious! Reply
Hello there! I want to make these as they look like a fab treat to hand out as mini Christmas gifts. A clarification question on the recipe: the cocoa powder, is that like a Nesquick cocoa powder? So, something that’s sweetened too. Thanks so much and thanks for the recipe! Reply
Just regular cocoa powder (like by Hersheys) — not special dark or dutch process! Happy holidays! Reply
What a fun recipe and so pretty too. My kids love anything round, chewy, sweet, and sprinkled so this would definitely make them happy. Pinned. Would love to share this on my weekly roundup. Reply
My Tia ( who was born and raised in Brazil) used to make Brigadeiros when she lived here in the U.S. She had given me her recipe but I miss placed it. My Tai now living in back in Brazil is hard to get a hold of, that is why I have been searching the web for a good Brigadeiro recipe. I must say she never made chocolate or any other flavored Brigadeiros, I remember making them with her, she simply used sweetened condensed milk and butter, after chilling the heated mixture in the freezer over night, we would roll and cover the candies with chocolate sprinkles. I am not sure why she didn’t use cocoa in the mixture but i’m ok with that. My family and friends all loved the simple little candies. I would love to try your version of the recipe thank you for sharing it! Reply
I know brigadeiro all too well… I am from Brazil and have been making them for years! They are a staple in any celebration. My daughter loves them and always ask for them in her birthday parties. My American neighbors and her American friends always expect them whenever there is a gathering. Brigadeiros have become quite famous and are being made in a variety of flavors now, there are even some gourmet recipes that are to die for. Reply
I did it! Check it out: https://mandarinysite.wordpress.com/2017/02/15/valentines-day-candy-card/ Reply
Oh my gosh I’m OBSESSED!!! Your card couldn’t be any cuter 🙂 I love it and thank you so much for sharing! Reply
Any idea how they would fair for a day or two in room temp on a Christmas cookie platter?? I see the fridge is suggested, probably to make that chewy, fudgey texture, but has anyone tried them on a cookie platter? Reply