Brigadeiro Brazilian Docinho Recipes

BRIGADEIRO (BRAZILIAN DOCINHO)

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan mix chocolate with condensed milk and add the margarine. Cook in low heat stirring constantly until you can see the bottom of the pan. Continue to stir for another two minutes. Pour onto a plate and let cool completely before you form the little balls (I usually leave it in the cupboard until next day). Butter your hands slightly to form the little balls. Roll the balls in chocolate powder or jimmies and put them in small paper cups.
• A little cultural note: Have you noticed how many Brazilian recipes are made with condensed milk? It came to Brazil from Switzerland over a hundred years ago. It's made by Nestlé and because the label featured the picture of a milkmaid, the cans became known as the "maid milk' and that's what condensed milk is called to this day (Leite Moça).

BRIGADEIRO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cocoa, butter and condensed milk. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest until cool enough to handle. Form into small balls and eat at once or chill until serving.

BRAZILIAN BRIGADEIRO

Steps:

• PREPARE:.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stir vigorously the sweetened condensed milk, margarine and cocoa powder.
• Cook the mixture until it thickens enough to show the pan bottom during stirring.
• Pour the mixture in a greased dish and let it cool to room temperature. Take small amounts of the mixture with a teaspoon and make 1 ½ inch balls.
• Roll the balls over chocolate jimmies to decorate.
• Hint: Grease your hands with margarine to make the balls easily.
• If the balls don't hold the shape and flat down like coins, it means that you did not cook enough. Cook additional five minutes, take a small sample and dip it in a glass with cold water. If you cooked enough, this sample should hold the shape after cooling down in the water.
• The cheapest , low grade sweetened condensed milk is the best to make the brigadeiro because they have more starch on them, which helps the candy to hold the shape.
• In US, buy the sweet condensed milk from the Walmart brand "Great Value", cook this brand for 20 minutes in medium heat stirring continuously and your brigadeiro is with the right consistency.

CHOCOLATE BRIGADEIROS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk, 1/4 teaspoon salt, heavy cream, corn syrup and vanilla. When the mixture starts to bubble, add the cocoa powder and chocolate disks. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until the chocolate melts and the mixture pulls away from the sides and slides around the bottom, 10 to 15 minutes. (The mixture should just lightly bubble around the edges while cooking, so reduce the heat if it's cooking too quickly.)
• Without scraping the bottom of the skillet, transfer the mixture to a medium heatproof bowl. Let cool at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to cool completely before rolling, 3 to 4 hours.
• Grease a small ice cream scoop with nonstick spray. Scoop out 24 equal mounds of the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. (Alternatively, refrigerate for 2 hours, then scoop the mounds and refrigerate on the baking sheet until firm, about 20 minutes. The increased surface area makes the mixture cool faster.)
• Spray your hands with nonstick spray and evenly roll each mound into a ball. Then, it's up to your imagination how to garnish. You can simply roll them in cocoa powder or sprinkles. I think storing them in little paper baking cups make them look adorable as well. These are best enjoyed at room temperature.

BRIGADEIRO

Steps:

• Over medium-low heat, stir vigorously the three ingredients.
• Cook the mixture until it thickens enough to show the pan bottom during stirring (it will be firm enough to stay together and not spread) Pour into a greased dish and let cool to room temperature (or chill a few minutes in the fridge) Grease your hands with butter and take small amounts of candy and form into 1 1/2 inch balls.
• Roll the balls in chocolate jimmies to decorate.
• If the balls don't hold their shape, cook an additional 5 minutes until it thickens up more.

BRIGADEIROS

Steps:

• If using store-bought condensed milk, skip to Step 2. If making the sweetened condensed milk from scratch, add the milk and sugar to a large saucepan. Heat over medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally and scraping the sides and bottom of the pan with a spatula, for about 30 to 40 minutes. When the milk reduces to about 1 3/4 cups, thickens to a syrup texture and turns slightly yellow, it is ready.
• Prepare the brigadeiros: Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over low heat. Add the condensed milk, cocoa powder and salt, and whisk until no trace of cocoa remains, about 5 minutes.
• Turn the heat up to medium, and use a heatproof spatula to stir the mixture constantly until it becomes thick and shiny and pulls away from the bottom of the pan as a mass when you drag the spatula across it, about 7 minutes. If you're not sure the mixture is ready, take 1/2 teaspoon of it and run it under cold water. When it's cool enough to touch, squish it with your fingers - it should be the texture of a soft and fudgy caramel.
• Scrape all of the mixture onto a piece of parchment paper, and let it cool down until it's easy to handle, about 30 minutes. Lightly butter your hands, and use them to shape a scant tablespoon of the mixture into a ball or rough cube, then roll it in the sprinkles. Place each one on a paper wrapper, if you like. The brigadeiros will keep in the fridge for 1 week, or in the freezer for 1 month. Serve chilled or at room temperature.