Recipe for brigadeiros (Brazilian chocolate truffles)

My friend Peter, who runs a pousada in Brazil, recently passed through New England on one of those whirlwind, must-see-everyone visits that are always, always, always too short. We had a very small window in which to get together, and I planned to surprise him with brigadeiros, a traditional Brazilian chocolate truffle-like treat. Unfortunately, Peter and I missed each other on this visit, but the urge to make brigadeiros stayed with me. Named for Brigadier Eduardo Gomes, who ran for president of Brazil in 1922, these sweets were made by adoring female supporters, and sold to raise money for his campaign. The brigadier lost, but the chocolatey caramel bonbons endured. I used Ghirardelli sweetened ground chocolate, which more closely resembles the cocoa powder you'd find in Brazil; if you don't have any sweetened cocoa powder, try powdered hot chocolate mix. The chocolate sprinkles are traditional, but I couldn't resist the multi-colored ones. I'm sure the brigadier would have loved them.

Brigadeiros (Brazilian chocolate truffles)

From the pantry, you'll need: sweetened condensed milk, kosher salt, butter, pure vanilla extract.

Adapted from this recipe on About.com. Makes 14 1-1/4 inch bonbons.

Ingredients

1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
4 Tbsp cocoa powder (I used Ghirardelli ground chocolate; you can also use Nesquick.)
1/4 tsp kosher salt
3 Tbsp butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate and/or multicolored sprinkles for decoration

Directions

Pour the condensed milk into a heavy straight-sided, deep 2-quart sauce pan. Stir in the cocoa powder and salt.

Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat. Keep the mixture barely at a boil to prevent burning and sticking.

Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring, until mixture becomes very thick and shiny and starts to pull away from the bottom and sides of the pan.

Remove from heat and vigorougly stir in the butter and the vanilla, until the mixture is smooth and all of the ingredients are incorporated.

Chill in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes. With buttered hands, roll the mixture into 1-1/4-inch balls, or use a cookie scoop with a quick release (called a disher).

Roll each ball in the sprinkles, pressing lightly to ensure that the sprinkles adhere, and place in a paper liner.

Chill until ready to serve. Can be made hours, or even days, ahead.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More recipes in The Perfect Pantry:
Microwave dulce de leche
Dulce de leche milhojas
Truffles
Chocolate-mango-kiwi wontons

Other recipes that use these pantry ingredients:
Maple pumpkin cheesecake, from Cooking on the Side
Mom's peanut butter fudge, from Food Blogga
(Sort of) Brazilian sweetened condensed milk strawberry limeade, from La Fuji Mama
Avocado shake (sinh to bo), from Viet World Kitchen
Tres leches cake, from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Comments

The multi-colors are much prettier than the brown ones but I can totally appreciate the history. Thanks for telling a great Food Story!

What fun! I just came across some condensed milk in the pantry, so this might be a great rainy day activity. I would be quite flattered if some adoring female supporters made a candy in my honor!

Oh my, what a temptation these would be. Love hearing the story of how they came to be popular in Brazil!

I love brigadeiros... what a good recipe, too, and looks like I'll have to make some soon. Will post when I do.. colored sprinkles makes them 'American'

CJ, I love the multi-color sprinkles, too, especially for children.

TW, these were so easy to make, and we kept them in the fridge for several days. Or you could bring them to work and share with your co-workers!

Kalyn, I'm a sucker for a good food-related story!

Janet, it was fun to make some of each, the traditional Brazilian with the brown sprinkles, and the other. You could also coat them like chocolate truffles, with cocoa powder or confectioners sugar.

and those are the perfect treat to give as a gift.
love those. (of course i made a batch with spicy ground up pecans added in)

Vanillasugar, what a great addition, spicy pecans!

Strangely enough, I just saw these in a magazine and immediately wanted to make them. And eat them. Yours look so delicious!

Jamie, for someone who loves chocolate (and you do, don't you?), these are perfect. Not quite like French chocolate truffles, more toffee-like.

Oh my gosh, those look amazing. So sorry you missed your friend, Lydia. So glad you made the brigadeiros anyway. Who knew you were a chocolatier -- you're even more multi-talented than I knew!

oh my. you just made candy look easy!