Don’t these candies look like beautiful little gems? Can’t you just picture them on your plate of Christmas cookies? Perfect bites of creamy fudge that dreamily melt in your mouth, coated in a colorful array of crunchy candies, sprinkles, and cocoa. They look like a confection you’d discover in a Parisian bonbon boutique. How long it takes: about a half hour to make but allow extra time for chilling, at least a couple of hours Equipment you’ll need: saucepan, 9 x 9 inch pan, parchment paper Servings: makes 60, depending on size I’m giving you a heads up, they are dangerously hard to resist. They are pretty similar to expensive truffles!
About this Brigadeiro Recipe
Pronounced bre-ga-DAY-ro, these fudgy little treats are so easy to make! This Brazilian candy is traditionally made with sweetened condensed milk but this brigadeiro recipe uses marshmallows instead. The end result is a creamy fudge that’s easy to prepare, cooks in less than 10 minutes, and is pretty much fool proof. You won’t need a candy thermometer to make this confection.
What You’ll Need
Butter: Doesn’t all good fudge begin with butter? Use unsalted butter. You’ll need a half stick. Mini Marshmallows: Larger marshmallows work too. Just cut them into small pieces. Sugar: Regular granulated white sugar like you would use for baking. Whole Milk: You’ll need whole milk, no nonfat or low-fat milk for these babies. Bittersweet Chocolate: A good quality chocolate is essential for good quality candy. You can use chocolate chips if you like but buy a good brand. Pure Vanilla Extract: For flavor. Your Choice Of: crushed peppermint candies; cocoa powder; powdered sugar; nonpareil sprinkles; colored sprinkles; finely chopped toasted walnuts; finely chopped pistachios; ground freeze-dried raspberries; matcha powder
How To Make This Recipe
Blend the butter, marshmallows, sugar, and milk together in a saucepan on the stove. It doesn’t take long for the marshmallows to melt into the butter and sugar, making a creamy base. Remove the pan from the heat, add a teaspoon of vanilla, and stir in the bittersweet chocolate chunks until the mixture is smooth and the chocolate is completely melted. Does anything smell better than warm melted chocolate? I don’t think so. This warm mixture is poured into a small cake pan lined with parchment paper to cool. It needs to cool on the counter for 30 minutes, and then in the fridge for at least an hour. The colder the fudge, the easier it is to roll into balls. You can actually refrigerate it a couple of days, tightly wrapped. When the fudge is good and cold, lift it out of the pan in one big piece, using the parchment paper to grab it, and cut it into approximately 60 squares. This isn’t an exact science, but it’s nice if the size of the brigadeiros are relatively uniform. Really, you can make them however big or small you like them. Roll each square into a ball shape. Coat the brigadeiros in the topping of your choice (check out the Make It Your Own section). The rolling process goes pretty quickly. I like to put half the fudge back in the fridge to stay nice and cold while I’m rolling the first half.
A Brief History of Brigadeiros
These chocolate treats have a fascinating history. According to Atlas Obscura, this iconic Brazilian treat was first created as a campaign incentive for Air Force Brigadier Eduardo Gomes, who was running for president of Brazil in 1945. He supported women’s rights, among other things, and was apparently a good looking bachelor. In fact, one of his campaign slogans was “Vote for the brigadier, who’s good looking and single”! Women supporters, looking for a way to raise money for his campaign, sold chocolate “brigadeiros” at rallies. Traditionally, they are made with sweetened condensed milk, which was widely available at the time and inexpensive.
Make It Your Own
For this photo, I rolled my brigadeiros in cocoa powder, multi-colored sprinkles, and crushed peppermint candies. Other options are:
nonpareil (white) sprinkles, chocolate jimmies, or any color sprinkles finely chopped pistachios for a lovely green color toasted walnuts, finely chopped, or another nut of your choosing powdered sugar ground freeze-dried raspberries (a beautiful pinkish red) bright green matcha powder To flavor the fudge to complement the coatings, replace the vanilla with ½ teaspoon pure peppermint extract, ¼ teaspoon pure almond extract, or 1 tablespoon raspberry liqueur, such as Framboise. For espresso flavor, add 2 teaspoons espresso powder to the sugar when you melt the marshmallows.
Storage Tips
Brigadeiros can be stored in the refrigerator or a cool dry location for at least 7 days in an airtight container, with parchment or waxed paper between layers. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Wondering how long brigadeiros can sit out on a platter? They are fine for a couple of hours. They will get a little softer.
More Chocolatey Recipes
Who doesn’t love chocolate? Here’s a few more recipes to tempt you:
No Bake Chocolate Tart (only 4 ingredients) Mexican Chocolate Shortbread Cookies Peppermint Chocolate Sugar Cookies Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies Triple Chocolate Banana Muffins Best Chocolate Cake Recipe Hot Chocolate Dip
Quick-Start Guide!
