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Brigadeiros: how to make the Brazilian truffles

Create a surprise in the kitchen with Venchi's Chocolate Brigadeiros recipe, a classic Brazilian dessert, easy to make at home and destined to become a classic. They have a unique and irresistible flavour that absolutely must be tried and looks like a bite-sized truffle.  You can pair them with Venchi’s Chocoviar chocolates and satisfy everyone’s chocolate cravings.  

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What are brigaderios?

Brigadeiros are a traditional Brazilian dessert, and they're often served at important family celebrations. They’re usually bite-sized chocolate balls made from just a few simple ingredients, such as condensed milk, cocoa powder, and a few spoons of butter.  

They have their own special taste, with rich chocolate notes that's absolutely irresistible. When you bite into brigadeiros, they can be delightfully soft and chewy at the same time.  

 

What's the difference between chocolate truffles and brigadeiros?

Chocolate truffles and brigadeiros both look similar and are often presented in a small ball shape. But they're different in texture, taste and ingredients. The chocolate flavour in truffles comes primarily from chocolate ganache, while brigadeiros use cocoa powder.  

 

How to make chocolate brigadeiros

Learn how to make chocolate brigadeiros with our step-by-step instructions below. The recipe is super simple and easy to master for cooks of all levels.  

Just make sure to be extra careful during the thickening step—it's really important, and we've added how to test if the mixture is thick enough in the instructions.  

 

Ingredients

  • 400g sweetened condensed milk  

  • 25g of cocoa powder  

  • 15g unsalted butter  

  • 150g  sprinkles  

 

Instructions

  1. Coat a large plate with butter and set aside.  

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan on medium heat, being careful that it doesn’t burn.  

  1. Next, mix the condensed milk and cocoa powder in the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. It's very important not to stop stirring—otherwise, the mixture can stick to the bottom of the pan.  

  1. Make sure to keep stirring continuously until the mixture has thickened, which will take about 10-15 minutes. You’ll know it's thick enough and ready when the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan. You can also test it by scraping a spoon through the middle of the mixture, and it should take a few seconds for it to come back together.  

  1. Pour the thick, fudgy mixture onto the greased plate so it’s even and flat.  

  1. Place the chocolate mixture in the refrigerator and leave it to harden for at least 1 hour.  

  1. Take the hardened chocolate out of the refrigerator and use a spoon to scoop a small amount of it out, then begin shaping it into small bite-sized balls. You can spray cooking oil on your palms so that the chocolate doesn’t stick to them.  

  1. Spread the sprinkles on a plate and roll each chocolate ball in it until it's fully covered.  

  1. You can serve chocolate brigadeiros as they are or chilled.  

 

How to store them

If you’d like to make your chocolate brigadeiros last, make sure to store them in an airtight container. They can be left on the kitchen counter at room temperature for a few days—this will help maintain their soft, fudgy texture but could be a problem during the warm months. The safer option is to store them in the refrigerator, where they can last up to a week.  

You’re also welcome to keep these chocolate bites in the freezer—perfect for when you’d like to be well-prepared for a big celebration or save them for a rainy day. Simply make sure to take them out of the freezer the day before and let them defrost slowly in the refrigerator before serving.