Chocolate Brigadeiros Recipe, typical sweets from Brazil
It's always the simplest things in life that matter most. Sometimes, they become the most extraordinary. This popular Brazilian dessert worldwide is a classic example of that context. A sweet that is prepared effortlessly, without complex ingredients or strange techniques, which has unanimously won the popularity contest. This hero is none other than the Brazilian brigadeiro, a delicious chocolate ball.
What is the origin of brigadeiro?
The history of the brigadeiro recipe has some interesting twists, including a tragicomedy situation. But let's stick only to the most plausible and known scenarios. One of the popular stories is that this chocolate originated in 1945 with a political context.
The then Brazilian brigadier (brigade, in Portuguese) Eduardo Gomes, disputed the presidential elections of that year. Being single and handsome, he was very popular and admired among feminine circles who came up with an excellent idea: they advocated for him to use the slogan "Vote for Brigadeiro, which is beautiful and single."
Then, they prepared these chocolates and sold them on the streets requesting the votes of the people in the elections.
The other version would indicate that his wife would have prepared them for the fundraising parties of his campaign and, instantly, they became a great success. Everyone began to ask "Do you have the brigadeiro chocolates?" And from there they began to know as brigadeiros. This is how the famous Brazilian chocolates emerged.
When and where are brigadeiros prepared?
No birthday party for children in Brazil is complete without these chocolates. For Brazilian children, they are like the candies we have all grown up eating. Now, this custom extends even more to weddings and other celebrations. One of the main reasons why they are so popular in Brazil is because they are a real holiday treat. One can have fun from the beginning of its preparation until the time to clean the pot. All you need is to gather some friends.
The popularity of this Brazilian chocolate is definitely not limited only to the Portuguese-speaking country. This chocolate, which was usually prepared during children's birthday parties, has gained an exotic status in the dessert category. According to each one's choice, confectioners around the world have embellished them in different ways.
How to prepare the brigadeiros?
Traditionally, these little chocolates are made using only three ingredients. Many ingredients / products, including basic elements such as milk, sugar, eggs and fresh fruits (usually the key ingredients for making sweets or sweets) were rationed during the period of World War II. So this dessert was improvised using only concentrated milk (condensed or reduced), cocoa and butter.
Although they are very simple to do, you have to know how long to cook the brigadeiros. The correct consistency depends on it. In Portuguese it is called ponto certo, which means the right point to get it out of the fire. But do not worry; mastering it is no epic task.
If you already know how to prepare caramel or ganache, you can easily identify this point in one or two attempts, at most. Cook it over medium heat and remove it when the whole mixture slides through the pan when tilting it, are the key facts.
Keep this in mind: you can prepare these little treats effortlessly.
Brigadeiro Ingredients:
400 ml of sweetened condensed milk
25 g unsalted butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Chocolate noodles (to decorate)
Brigadeiro Instructions step by step:
Grease a tray with butter. Set aside.
In a pan, add the condensed milk, chocolate and butter.
On medium-low heat, for about 10 to 15 minutes, continue stirring until the mixture separates from the pan. If you scrape it with the spoon, you can see the bottom of the pan clearly.
Transfer the contents to the greased tray and spread the mixture. Allow to cool completely.
With greased hands with butter, form balls and cover them with chocolate noodles (or colored). Repeat with the remaining mixture.
