This Brigadeiro Recipe is impressive and delicious! These fudgy chocolate balls of heaven are velvety soft but a bit dense—they are supposed to be, though! They have a texture similar to fudge but softer. The combination of cocoa powder and chocolate chips gives them a deep and complex flavor, too!
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These truffles are a classic Brazilian staple often made to celebrate happy occasions like birthdays and weddings. There are several flavors and types out there but by far the most popular are the chocolate ones.
If you like homemade truffle recipes, you will love these Valentine’s Truffles and Hot Chocolate Truffles too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s a no-bake treat: These indulgent chocolate Brigadeiro don’t require any time in the oven. The mixture is cooked slightly on the stovetop but that’s all! It’s very easy.
- It takes 20 minutes to prepare: In about 20 minutes, you will have a rich and chocolatey dessert to enjoy. It’s so incredibly quick but still impressive!
- It’s budget-friendly: You won’t break the bank with this recipe. It requires minimal, low-cost ingredients that come together to create a magical sweet treat.
Brigadeiro Recipe Ingredients
You can make these amazing Brazilian truffles with just 5 simple ingredients. They are common baking staples that you might already have on hand!
- Sweetened condensed milk: This adds sweetness to the Brigadeiros but also helps the mixture firm up slightly to create beautifully rolled truffles.
- Cocoa powder: I add cocoa powder to create a deep and rich chocolate flavor. It only enhances this Brigadeiros recipe.
- Butter: You will need fat to ensure the correct texture and consistency. I like salted butter to balance out the sweetness, but you can use unsalted butter if you prefer.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: The combination of cocoa powder and chocolate chips makes these Brazilian chocolate balls extra decadent. Feel free to use milk or dark chocolate chips depending on your preference.
- Chocolate sprinkles: I roll the truffles in chocolate sprinkles, but you can just use more cocoa powder instead.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Hazelnut: Add some Nutella to the mixture, and then roll the truffles in crushed hazelnuts for a warm, nutty version.
- Maple walnut: Pour in a dash of maple syrup or maple extract and roll them in crushed walnuts.
- Caramel coconut: Use caramel sauce in the truffle mixture, and then roll the truffles in sweetened shredded coconut for a tropical twist.
How to Make This Brigadeiro Recipe
Here are the directions needed to make this Brigadeiro recipe. Gather your ingredients and equipment, and measure everything to make the whole process much faster!
Step 1: Combine condensed milk, cocoa, and butter. Grab a medium nonstick saucepan and heat it to medium-low. Add the sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and butter.
Step 2: Simmer and thicken. Stir and cook the mixture for about 5-10 minutes or until it’s thick enough to leave a clean line when you pull your spoon across the bottom of the pot.
Step 3: Add chocolate chips. Shut off the stove and pour in the chocolate chips. Stir the Brigadeiro mixture continuously until all of the chips are fully melted.
Step 4: Transfer and cool. Carefully pour it into a clean mixing bowl. Allow it at least 30 minutes to cool so it can set and become easier to work with.
Step 5: Scoop and roll. Use a large spoon to scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Place it into some sprinkles and roll it around until it’s coated. Repeat with the remaining truffles!
Step 6: Serve. Put them into mini muffin or candy liners, and enjoy!
Brigadeiro Recipe Tips
- Grease your hands before rolling them: Add a little oil or melted butter to your hands before you roll the Brazilian Brigadeiro. It’s a soft and sticky mixture, and this hack makes it so much easier to handle the chocolate mixture.
- Don’t use margarine: It’s important to use real butter in this recipe to achieve the correct consistency and flavor in these chocolate truffles.
- Make them a different shape: Try a small silicone mold with liners and make the Brigadeiro into a cup shape. Feel free to get creative!
- Storing for later: Store the truffles in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
If you love recipes like this unique candy, you may also enjoy this decadent Dubai Chocolate Bar.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy your Brazilian truffles with this Drumstick cake or a scoop of rhubarb ice cream for a fruity contrast.
- These truffles pair well with coffee as they complement the bitterness. Make your favorite brewed coffee or try Dalgona cloud coffee or a coffee milkshake for a twist.
- Make a Brazilian dessert plate with my popular baked Brazilian pineapple.
Recipe FAQs
If the heat gets too high, the mixture will start to burn and likely stick to the bottom of the pot. Ensure you are using a nonstick pot and that you are keeping an eye on the heat.
Overcooking the mixture will cause it to seize and become hard to work with. Watch it as it cooks, so it doesn’t harden.
This can happen if you don’t cook it long enough. It needs enough time to thicken, so it becomes like a soft dough to make it easier to roll and shape.
More Delicious Homemade Candy Recipes
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Brazilian Brigadeiros (Chocolate Truffles)
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan The one I used was 4 quarts
- mini muffin liners
Ingredients
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- ¼ cup pure cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chocolate jimmies sprinkles
Instructions
- In a medium non-stick saucepan over medium low heat, add sweetened condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder and stir continuously.
- Bring mixture to a low simmer and cook for about 5-10 minutes, You’ll know it's ready when you pull your spatula or spoon along the bottom of the pan and the mixture leaves a clean line that doesn’t immediately fill back in.
- Turn the heat off and add the chocolate chips, stirring until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Transfer the mixture to a large non-stick bowl (or line a bowl with parchment) and cover to cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
- Once cooled, rub a little butter or oil on your hands and scoop 1 Tablespoon sized balls of the mixture. Roll in your hands to create a round ball before rolling in the sprinkles. You can press the sprinkles into the ball if they don’t stick easily.
- Place in mini muffin liners or candy cups and serve at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
- Store the Brigadeiros in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Grease your hands with a little butter or oil to make the truffle mixture easier to roll into balls.
- If you overcook the mixture, it will become firm. Keep an eye on the chocolate mixture and only cook it until it’s thick enough to stick together.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in March 2016. It's been updated with new content and images.
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