Indulge yourself in the sugary sweetness of Brigadeiros – Brazilian chocolate balls composed of condensed milk, cocoa powder and butter. With its unique flavor, this delightful treat has been enjoyed by people all around the world! Don’t miss out on your chance to experience their deliciousness – try them now!
Brazilian chocolate balls
Even if you’ve never been to Brazil, you might be familiar with one of the country’s most popular treats – brigadeiros. These delicious fudge balls are a decadent treat that are perfect for any occasion! And since this recipe for Brazilian chocolate balls is made with just five ingredients, you can whip them up in no time and have a beautiful dessert to serve at your next event.
What Are Brigadeiro balls?
This popular Brazilian treat goes by a variety of names. The most popular option is “brigadeiros,” which means brigadier in English. The dessert is said to be created in honor of the Brazilian Brigadier Eduardo Gomes in the 1940s.
These Brazilian fudge balls are typically bite-sized chocolate treats, similar to a bon-bon or a truffle. They’re traditionally made by combining sweetened condensed milk with chocolate and butter to create a fudgy center. The balls are then decorated with different toppings, like chopped nuts and sprinkles, or filled with different flavorings, like lime, pistachio, or white chocolate.
These fudgy treats are a popular party dessert and they often make an appearance at Brazilian birthday parties. But you don’t have to be hosting a celebration to whip up your own Brazilian chocolate balls at home!
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How Do You Store Brigadeiros?
If you have leftover chocolate truffles when your party is over, you can store them in three different ways – at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer. Either way, it’s a good idea to transfer the chocolate balls to an airtight container first.
When storing the chocolate balls at room temperature, place them in a cool, dry place away from direct light to prevent the chocolate from melting. You could store your chocolate in a pantry or cabinet and they’ll stay fresh for up to three days.
If you store your brigadeiros in the refrigerator, they’ll be good up to one week. But it’s important to keep in mind that storing the chocolate in the fridge could cause them to harden and dry out slightly.
Brazilian chocolate balls can also be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Store the balls in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container and allow them to come to room temperature before eating them.
Can You Make Brazilian Chocolate Balls Ahead?
Not only is this simple recipe easy to make – it can also be made ahead of time for even quicker prep work! If you plan on making your chocolate balls ahead of time, it’s best to prepare the fudge first and roll it into balls when you plan on serving it.
Follow the instructions for preparing the fudge, then transfer the dish to the freezer. When you’re ready to make your chocolate balls, move the dish to the refrigerator. The mixture can be rolled into balls after it has thawed.
Is Cocoa Powder the Same as Cocoa Mix?
While cocoa powder and cocoa mix have similar names, they’re not the same thing. Unsweetened cocoa powder is often used in baking to add chocolate flavor to the recipe without increasing the sugar content. And cocoa mix is a combination of cocoa powder, sugar, and other ingredients, like powdered milk, that can be used to make a cup of hot chocolate.
So, while cocoa mix does often contain cocoa powder, it also includes other ingredients that you might not want to mix into your dessert. That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure you’re using the correct ingredient in your recipe. When you’re making brigadeiros, you’ll need unsweetened cocoa powder and not cocoa mix.
Chocolate fudge balls ingredients
On top of being delicious, these Brazilian fudge balls couldn’t be easier to make. That’s because you only need five ingredients to prepare these delicious sweets! To make your own brigadeiros at home, you’ll need:
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Butter
- Chocolate sprinkles
- Chopped pistachios
How Do You Make Brazilian Chocolate Balls?
Once you see how easy it is to make your own traditional Brazilian dessert, you’ll want to whip these cookies up for every party! In fact, you can make this brigadeiro recipe in just three simple steps:
Prepare the fudge filling
The fudge filling of your chocolate truffles is made on the stovetop. To make the filling, you should heat the butter, condensed milk, and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan. Stir vigurously to combine while keeping the stove to medium heat. You’ll know your chocolate filling is done cooking when you can see the bottom of the pan after running a spatula or a wooden spoon through the middle without the chocolate mixture running around it.
Chill the filling
Once the chocolate filling is cooked, it needs to have time to set. The quickest way to set your chocolate fudge is to pour it in a bowl and place it in the refrigerator.
Coat the chocolate balls
After giving the fudge time to set, you can start to roll the chocolate into balls. Using a tablespoon to scoop the fudge from the pan is an easy way to ensure all your truffles are the same size. After scooping the filling, roll it between your hands to form little balls, then coat each ball with chocolate sprinkles or chopped pistachio. Coconut or crushed walnuts, pecans and almonds will work well with these chocolate balls too if you want to add your own twist to the traditional brigadeiro recipe. You can even sprinkle them with a pinch of salt for an extra-special touch
Brazilian chocolate truffles are a delicious, easy-to-make dessert that’s sure to please. Whether you’re looking for a sweet treat to share with friends or the perfect dessert for a party, these Brazilian desserts are the answer. Enjoy!
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Brazilian chocolate balls
Equipment
- medium saucepan
Ingredients
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tbsp butter
- Chocolate sprinkle
- Chopped pistachios
Instructions
- Grease a medium size baking tray or plate with butter.
- In a medium saucepan add butter over low heat.
- Once it’s melted, add the condensed milk and the cocoa powder and combine well, turn the heat to medium.
- Keep stirring for about 10 -15 mins until you can see a fudgy texture. When you run the spatula through the middle of the pan you should be able to see the bottom of the pan without the mixture running around it.
- Remove from heat and pour into the greased plate an let it chill for about 15-20 mins.
- Take 1 tbsp of the mixture and form into a small ball.
- Coat the balls with chocolate sprinkles or chopped pistachio.
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