Brazilian Brigadeiro Recipe

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Recipe 10 of the Christmas Cookies Around the World Holiday Project for Kids: Brazilian Brigadeiro Recipe

If you are looking for a fun way to teach your children about different cultures and celebrate the holidays in your classroom, you can’t go wrong with any cookie recipe in this Christmas Cookies Around the World Series! In this post, we’re talking all about Brigadeiro Cookies and Christmas in Brazil. Brigadeiro Cookies also known as chocolate fudge sandwich cookies are a delicious and scrumptious Christmas cookie to make during the holiday season! They taste amazing and you can even customize your filling.

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GET ALL 12 COOKIE RECIPES AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES WITH THE FULL CHRISTMAS COOKIES AROUND THE WORLD HOLIDAY PROJECT.

This Christmas Cookies Around the World project is a fun way to teach children about Christmas in other countries while tasting some delightful cookies!

The Christmas Cookies Around the World series will help you gently introduce preschool and early elementary aged children to:

World geography
Holiday traditions
Popular cookies from various cultures and parts of the world
Baking skills
Math and measurement

It is also designed to encourage togetherness through baking and kindness through sharing with others.

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Brief History of the Brazilian Brigadeiro

Brigadeiro is a traditional Brazilian dessert that is often eaten at parties and special events throughout the year, including at Christmas. You won’t even need the oven for this easy brigadeiro recipe. The chocolate truffles are made on the stovetop.

It is said that brigadeiro became popular in Brazil after World War II when a political candidate, Air Marshal Eduardo Gomes, who preferred to be called Brigadeiro, and his supporters shared the treats at political rallies and fundraising events.

Fun Facts About Brazil’s Christmas Traditions

Many Brazilian Christmas traditions come from Portugal as Portugal ruled Brazil for many years.
Nativity Scenes, known as Presépio, are very popular.
Most people, especially Catholics, will go to a Midnight Mass service or Missa do Galo (Mass of the Roster).
After the Missa do Gallo there are often big firework displays and in big towns and cities there are big Christmas Tree shaped displays of electric lights.
In Brazil, Santa Claus is called Papai Noel & Bom Velhinho (Good Old Man).
Sometimes children leave a sock near a window. If Papai Noel finds your sock, he’ll exchange it for a present!
Taking part in a ‘Secret Santa’, known as ‘amigo secreto’ (secret friend) is popular in Brazil at Christmas.
Favourite Christmas foods in Brazil include pork, turkey, ham, salads and fresh and dried fruits.

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Videos About Christmas in Brazil

Using this helpful video, find out what Christmas is like in Brazil.

Learn all about the different holiday traditions celebrated in Brazil around Christmas.

Want to know what the difference between Christmas is here and in Brazil? This video will compare them!

Websites for Teaching Kids About Christmas in Brazil

Use this website to find out how Christmas is celebrated in Brazil.

Learn all about the different Christmas Day celebration activities in Brazil with this link.

This article will walk you through how Christmas is celebrated in Brazil.

Books About Brazil’s Christmas Traditions

Christmas in Brazil by World Book

Brazilian Brigadeiro

Brigadeiro Cookies, also known as chocolate fudge sandwich cookies, are a delicious and scrumptious Christmas cookie to make during the holiday season!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Cooling Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Brazilian

Servings 24 Cookies

Ingredients

14 oz sweet condensed milk one typical can
1/2 cup chocolate powder cocoa powder or Nesquik
1 tbsp butter plus more for hands
Chocolate sprinkles or your favorite sprinkles
Paper candy cups

Instructions

Prepare your ingredients
Add the condensed milk, butter, and chocolate powder to a medium saucepan and stir.
Cook over medium heat, for approximately 10 minutes, stirring repeatedly. Scrape the sides and the bottom of the pan with a spatula to avoid burning.
The brigadeiro is ready when you scrape the bottom of the pan, and the brigadeiro takes 2-3 seconds to come back to its place (You can also use a candy thermometer or regular food thermometer to check when the mixture reaches 205F.
Pour the hot brigadeiro into a buttered dish or a plate, and let it cool (about 45 min or until cool enough to handle).
Pour sprinkles in a deep plate or bowl.
When the brigadeiro is cooled, butter your hands, and scoop teaspoonful portions and roll little balls.
Roll the little balls in the sprinkles. Then place in candy cups. Keep them in a cool place or in the refrigerator until serving time.

Keyword Brazilian Brigadeiro, Brazilian cookies, Brigadeiro, Christmas Cookies, Cookies

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Get Your FREE Christmas Cookies Around the World Taste Test Recording Sheet

Use the taste test recording sheet to have kids record information about the cookie(s) they tasted and rate how well they liked the cookies. Individual pages can be compiled into a taste test booklet for all the cookies you try in the series, or you can choose to have kids record only their favorite cookie if you prefer.

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Save paper by printing two or four to a page if preferred.

Get the entire 12 Days of Christmas Cookies Around the World project

For those interested in expanding the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies Around the World project into a class or family project we’ve created a 50+ page activity guide to make it super easy for you.

Inside you’ll find:

Quick Reference List of Cookies and Countries
Generic Cookie Taste Test Recording Sheet
Cookie Taste Test Recording Table
Class Graphing Header and Voting Cards
Christmas Cookies Around the World Passport (three versions)
Taste Test Journal
Cookie Recipe Cookbook
Editable Cookie Recipe Page to add in additional family and multi-cultural options
Gift Tags
Notecards
My Family’s Favorite Cookie Recipe (two versions)
Editable Parent Letter (two versions)
Ingredient List by Cookie

The project is designed for use in the classroom, at home, or in community programs. Suggestions and modifications for each setting are included in the resource.

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Get your Christmas Cookies Around the World Project

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This project is also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

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FAQs

What is a fun fact about brigadeiro? ›

Invented in Brazil, the history of the brigadeiro is somewhat murky. It is said to be named for a presidential candidate and Air Force Brigadier, Eduardo Gomes and sold as a fundraiser for his campaign by women who had recently won the right to vote.

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What does brigadeiro mean in English? ›

Translation of brigadeiro – Portuguese–English dictionary

brigadier [noun] in the army, the commander of a brigade.

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What does brigadeiro mean in Brazil? ›

It is similar to a classic chocolate truffle, except it is made with sweetened condensed milk instead of cream and is a little more chewy and crumbly in texture. The word “brigadeiro” comes from Portuguese and refers to the military rank of brigadier.

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.

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What is the shelf life of brigadeiros? ›

Despite the slight variation, it can be observed that the Brigadeiro's color fades after 30 days, as it becomes lighter. As for the presence of crystals on the surface, it is first detected on day 22 and increases from that point on.

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Who invented 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, Heloísa Nabuco de Oliveira, to promote the presidential candidacy of Eduardo Gomes.

When should I eat brigadeiro? ›

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!

What is the national dessert of Brazil? ›

It is said that if Brazil had to declare a national dessert, it would most likely be mousse de maracujá, or passion fruit mousse. The dessert consists of fresh passion fruit, sweetened milk, and creme de leite, a product similar to evaporated milk.

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What is a Brazilian truffle called? ›

Brigadeiro (pronounced bree-gah-DAY-roh) is a classic fudgy Brazilian truffle. They're made with condensed milk and cocoa powder, and you will find them at almost any Brazilian party. Unlike regular truffles, they don't have a hard shell.

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What is Brazilian slang for pretty? ›

That's because one of the most common ways to compliment someone's beauty is to call them a gato or gata.

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What do Brazilians call pineapple? ›

Abacaxi and ananas are both words to refer to pineapple. 1. Lives in Brazil.

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How do I know when a brigadeiro is done? ›

It's done cooking when it is thick like pudding, and starts to pull away from the pan.

On a buttered plate, pour out mixture and let cool in the fridge for several hours.
Drop into cocoa powder (or chocolate sprinkles) and toss around. ...
Place your finished brigadeiros in little paper cups or on a plate and serve.

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Oct 8, 2020

Keep Reading ›

How to thicken up brigadeiro? ›

If the mixture is too soft to roll into balls, try refrigerating it for 30 minutes. If your brigadeiro is still too soft or runny, next time cook it for longer. Fear not though, it's still perfectly edible.

Why is my brigadeiros sticky? ›

Tips on how to make Brigadeiros. Cook over medium, or medium-low heat. If the heat is too high, the mixture will stick to the bottom of the pan.

Read The Full Story ›

What is an interesting fact about the dessert? ›

Dessert Means 'Clear The Table!' The word dessert comes from France and means 'to clear the table'. Not because desserts are so delicious that there is never any left on the table but because they used to be eaten standing away from the table to allow the servants to clear up ready for after dinner activities!

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What is an interesting fact about chocolate mousse? ›

Chocolate mousse, as well as being delicious, also has a fascinating history. It was first discribed as "mayonnaise de chocolat" - and, more interesting, was invented by the French post-Impressionist painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, in the late 19th century.

Read On ›

What are some fun facts about chocolate wafers? ›

Did you know that in Egypt, there are special kinds of wafers called "freska" that are only sold on the beach in the summertime? Elsewhere in the world, chocolate wafers are enjoyed as a key ingredient in cookies, in ice cream sandwiches and countless other recipes.

Know More ›

What is the most interesting fact about chocolate? ›

Chocolate has an ancient Mesoamerican origin

Clearly, chocolate originated from ancient Mesoamerica. After all, the first cacao plants were found there. Ultimately, the Mesoamericans turned these plants into chocolate. In fact, they even used it as a medicine.

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