Brigadeiros
Published Feb. 21, 2021
- Total Time
- 1½ hours, plus cooling
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 5cups whole milk
- 1cup granulated sugar
- 2teaspoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing your hands
- 1¾cups homemade sweetened condensed milk or 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 5tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted
- Pinch of flaky sea salt
- 1cup chocolate or rainbow sprinkles
For the Sweetened Condensed Milk (optional)
For the Brigadeiros
Nutritional analysis per serving (24 servings)
175 calories; 6 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 28 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 27 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 56 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
If using store-bought condensed milk, skip to Step 2. If making the sweetened condensed milk from scratch, add the milk and sugar to a large saucepan. Heat over medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally and scraping the sides and bottom of the pan with a spatula, for about 30 to 40 minutes. When the milk reduces to about 1¾ cups, thickens to a syrup texture and turns slightly yellow, it is ready.
- Step 2
Prepare the brigadeiros: Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over low heat. Add the condensed milk, cocoa powder and salt, and whisk until no trace of cocoa remains, about 5 minutes.
- Step 3
Turn the heat up to medium, and use a heatproof spatula to stir the mixture constantly until it becomes thick and shiny and pulls away from the bottom of the pan as a mass when you drag the spatula across it, about 7 minutes. If you’re not sure the mixture is ready, take ½ teaspoon of it and run it under cold water. When it’s cool enough to touch, squish it with your fingers — it should be the texture of a soft and fudgy caramel.
- Step 4
Scrape all of the mixture onto a piece of parchment paper, and let it cool down until it’s easy to handle, about 30 minutes. Lightly butter your hands, and use them to shape a scant tablespoon of the mixture into a ball or rough cube, then roll it in the sprinkles. Place each one on a paper wrapper, if you like. The brigadeiros will keep in the fridge for 1 week, or in the freezer for 1 month. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Private Notes
Comments
As most Brazilians know, you can also eat it straight out of the pan while warm, or cook it just a tad less so it's softer when cooled, and eat it with a spoon. Most people only bother to roll them if they'll be served in a birthday party.
Use a can of sweetened condensed milk. Then you have: -12 minutes on the stove -30 minutes UNATTENDED to cool -Maybe 5 minutes or so to shape the candy and roll in the sprinkles. So actual time on task? About 20 minutes. Seems like a good deal to me. And pretty effortless.
Orange zest ( use a microplane - tiny pieces ) added at about 1 or 2 minutes before the end of cooking ( so it cooks slightly ) or you could do it for the whole cooking time, is a nice addition. Chocolate and orange go very well together. Use as much or as little zest as you think best, it's subjective.
Could not get the sprinkles to stick. Only sparsely covered, not nicely coated like the ones in the photo. What did I do wrong?
This is the perfect late night I-want-something-sweet recipe. The perfect hey-I-just-made-some-delicious-sweets, do-you-want-to-sit-on-the-porch-and-talk-crafts recipe. I added some cinnamon at the end -- when it starts coming together. Now I don't like it as much without! Wonderful recipe.
possibly impossible to screw up, possibly because I've never had these. quick & delish sweet if using sweetened condensed milk. rolled some in powdered coffee, some in cinnamon, some in cinnamon & chili peppers. the kitchen will get hot!