Brigadeiro is one of Brazil’s most loved and devoured desserts. But what are they?
Brazilian truffles? Chocolates? Brownie balls? Fudge balls? Caramels?
They’re hard to describe. They’re like the fudgy cousin of a chocolate truffle, just without the hard shell.
Traditionally made with milk or dark chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, and butter, they’re velvety soft, creamy, sweet, and totally irresistible. If you’ve never tried one before, we promise it’ll be love at first bite. 
A Brief History of the Brigadeiro
According to popular belief, the Brazilian Brigadeiro was first created in the mid-1940s when post-War rations meant condensed milk was used more regularly in desserts (you can read more in this Atlas Obscura article). In 1946, it’s alleged that women made and sold brigadeiros at rallies for the Brazilian politician and Air Force Brigadier, Eduardo Gomes, who was running for President. Unfortunately he didn’t win the Presidency, but his famous and favorite chocolate balls became an integral part of Brazil’s sweet history!
While the original brigadeiro recipe contained eggs, these days the basic brigadeiro is made up of 3 simple ingredients: condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder. The mixture is then rolled and then covered in sprinkles or another topping. And while chocolate and coconut remain the staple flavors, these days you can find a wide range of gourmet artisan brigadeiros with ingredients like peanuts, guava, mint, coffee, strawberries, cheese, and pistachios (just to name a few!).
Brigadeiros are often served at birthday parties and weddings or simply made at home and spooned directly out of the pot. You’d be hard pressed to find a celebration in Brazil without brigadeiros! They’re synonymous with being happy and having fun!
Ways to eat brigadeiro
Brigadeiro doesn’t have to be rolled into balls and covered with toppings. In fact, unlike many other desserts, you can freeze brigadeiro, spoon it, spread it, melt it, roll it, and shape it. Because of its versatility, it’s impossible not to love!
So there you have it! A little snapshot of what makes the brigadeiro so special!
If you want to try making your own, we’ve shared our popular recipe here, otherwise you can pick and choose from our brigadeiro cookie, gift boxes, or flavors.
FAQs
They're hard to describe. They're like the fudgy cousin of a chocolate truffle, just without the hard shell. Traditionally made with milk or dark chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, and butter, they're velvety soft, creamy, sweet, and totally irresistible.
What is the most popular dessert in Brazil? ›
Some of the most famous desserts from Brazil are Brigadeiro, Quindim, Bolo de Rolo, Canjica, Cocada, Tapioca Pancakes, and many more.
What is brigadeiro cake made of? ›
This is a cake for all chocolate lovers. Sweetened condensed milk is a staple in Brazilian cuisine, especially in any cake. Brigadeiro is a small ball, made of sweetened condensed milk, butter and other dairy products and cocoa or chocolate. The balls are rolled in chocolate shavings (see pictured below).
What's the difference between chocolate and brigadeiro? ›
Brigadeiros are different from chocolate truffles in that they do not contain actual chocolate. These confections are instead made by heating sweetened condensed milk together with cocoa powder, and usually adding butter. Once the mixture thickens, it is then rolled into a ball and coated with a variety of toppings.
What is the favorite chocolate in Brazil? ›
The most popular types of chocolate in Brazil are milk chocolate, bonbons and truffles (preferred milk chocolate by 81% of people) while white chocolate (67 %) comes in second. In fact, Brazil is one of the largest markets for white chocolate in the world.
What is Brazil chocolate? ›
Flavor. Brazilian fine chocolates are among the best in the world. They are acknowledged for being very aromatic, with fruity acidity and floral notes. This flavor can be found in chocolate and many cocoa products, like nibs, beans, cocoa honey, cocoa powder, jelly, pulp, and many more.
What is a Brazilian dessert? ›
Bolo de rolo – a cake prepared using guava, it is recognized as a national dish by Brazilian law. Bolo Souza Leão – a typical Pernambuco cake. Bom-bocado – a coconut torte that is commonly served during Brazil's Independence Day. Brigadeiro – a traditional Brazilian confectionery.
What dessert is similar to brigadeiro? ›
Beijinho. Beijinho translates to 'little kiss' and in composition, this sweet is like a cousin of the brigadeiro, albeit one with a coconutty twist. In some places, the dessert is also referred to as “branquinho”.
Why do Brazilians eat brigadeiros? ›
A Brazilian Confection. Stoica explains their popularity saying that Brazilians love brigadeiros because they're sweet, beautiful, and easy to eat wherever you are. She goes on to explain, “They're also an essential addition to any celebration or party.
What is brigadeiro flavor? ›
Brigadeiros are a chocolate dessert, similar to truffles. Made from condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and coated in chocolate sprinkles, they are typically small spheres that are served in mini cupcake-like foil liners. Like truffles, brigadeiros are a dense and sticky chocolate treat.
Translation of brigadeiro – Portuguese–English dictionary
brigadier [noun] in the army, the commander of a brigade.
What are Brazilian brigadeiros made of? ›
Basically, this is a condensed milk fudge, cooked on the stovetop with butter, and the addition of flavor. In this case, chocolate. Growing up, we always made this with chocolate flavored milk powder such as Nesquick. However, gourmet Brigadeiro-makers in Brazil now use real chocolate to make this treat.
Are brigadeiros supposed to be refrigerated? ›
How can I storage them? The best way to storage your Mary's Brigadeiro Chocolate is at room temperature in a cool and dry place between 17 and 20 degrees between 5 and 7 days for freshness. If you can't keep them in a cold place, storage them in the fridge for up to 12 days.
Is chocolate in Brazil good? ›
Brazil is known in the world for many specialties, including cocoa, coffee, and chocolate. Thanks to the numerous cocoa plants and high production, Brazil has created many cocoa and chocolate brands and produces delicious chocolate for consumers.
What does brigadeiro mean in English? ›
Translation of brigadeiro – Portuguese–English dictionary
brigadier [noun] in the army, the commander of a brigade.
What is a fun fact about brigadeiro? ›
The brigadeiro (Portuguese pronunciation: [bɾiɡaˈdejɾu]) is a traditional Brazilian dessert. The origin of the dessert is uncertain, but the most common theory is that it was created by a confectioner from Rio de Janeiro, Heloisa Nabuco de Oliveira, to promote the presidential candidacy of Eduardo Gomes.
What are the brigadeiro flavors? ›
Brigadeiros Flavors
- Dark Chocolate.
- Dark Chocolate & Almond.
- Dark Chocolate & Pistachio.
- Milk Chocolate & Sprinkles.
- Coconut & Cream.
