The “brigadeiro” (Brigadier) reigns supreme among the “docinhos de leite Moça” (sweetened condensed milk sweetmeats), and it is a must at birthday parties in Brazil.
It is said that “brigadeiros” were invented in 1946 to enhance the election campaign of Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes and, at first, they were called the “Brigadeiro’s sweets”. Brigadeiro Gomes lost the election, but the “brigadeiros” won a landslide victory!
The others classics “docinhos de Leite Moça” are “beijinho” (coconut flavour), “olho de sogra” (pitted prune and coconut), “cajuzinho”(cashew flavour) and “camafeu de nozes” (walnut flavour).
Ingredients
• 400 g sweetened condensed milk
• 3 – 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 egg yolk
• chocolate sprinkles to garnish
Preparation method
- Combine all ingredients (except the chocolate sprinkles) in a heavy bottomed saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens and loosens from the pan. It takes about 10 minutes for a single dose recipe.
- Pour it hot on a buttered plate and let it cool.
- Grease your hands with butter, take a small teaspoon of the mixture and shape it in your hands to form small balls of about 2 cm in diameter.
- Coat the balls with the chocolate sprinkles.
- Place the “brigadeiros” in mini cupcake papers cases.
Notes:
• They taste even better after a few days and may be stored at room temperature for more than a week.
• They may be frozen.
Yield: 35 “brigadeiros”.
Posted on: 11 November 2011
I’m an architect. I was born in Brazil and my father was Italian.