Brigadeiro are bite-sized chewy truffles and they are the most popular sweets in Brazil. The recipe for brigadeiro is quick to make and has very few ingredients. People serve them at all birthday parties, dinner parties, and weddings across South America.

Created in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the 1940s, brigadeiro (bree-gah-day-ro) quickly gained popularity throughout the country.

They are also known by the nickname “negrinho” (little black) because cocoa is one of its main ingredients.

The history of brigadeiro in Brazil

Post-World War II Brazil was a hotbed of political debate.

The government suspended democratic elections in 1937, but they planned to reintroduce them on December 2, 1945. Because of this, throughout Brazil, political parties were raising funds and attempting to influence voters.

A military brigadier general, Eduardo Gomes, was one of the most popular presidential candidates at the time. His supporters decided to create a new confectionery item to sell in support of Gomes.

The idea was that the candy was more fun than traditional electoral marketing ballots.

Creating a new type of confectionery in 1945 was not easy. Traditional milk chocolate uses sugar and milk. And post-war food shortages made milk and sugar scarce. So Eduardo Gomes’s followers had to be creative.

However, Rio de Janeiro confectioner Heloisa Nabuco de Oliveira found a way to use more readily available condensed milk. This provided sweetness and creaminess to the truffle. And it was easy to combine with locally produced cocoa powder.

This marketing strategy was not enough for Eduardo Gomes to win the elections, but the brigadeiros did win over the palate of Brazilians.

The recipe did not stay in Brazil, however. Widely popular, it traveled to the rest of the South American countries.

Across South America, these treats are part of many birthdays and weddings.

The traditional chocolate brigadeiro recipe

Brazilians celebrate the original recipe for these chocolate truffles as a national icon. It consists of condensed milk, butter, cocoa powder, and chocolate sprinkles.

Brazilians also use this same recipe for frosting cakes. If you take the mixture off of the heat a couple of minutes early, while the mixture is still kind of runny, you can pour it over a cake as a glaze.

The only variation you would find when making traditional brigadeiro is the use of Nesquik or Nescau to replace the cocoa powder. Use whichever you have on hand.

Variations on brigadeiro, Brazilian truffles

Today, there is an incredible variety of brigadeiros. The base is the same, condensed milk, and butter.

One of the most popular variations is the beijinho or ‘little kiss’, a coconut brigadeiro. It is the perfect contrast to the chocolate brigadeiro. Brazilians serve both at every party.

A fruity variation, passion fruit brigadeiro, is a favorite. It’s made using passion fruit pulp and rolled on granulated sugar. The mixture needs to cook a little bit longer than chocolate brigadeiro. It is sweet and slightly tart.

Another favorite at children’s birthdays is the strawberry brigadeiro made with strawberry milk powder and covered in sprinkles.

Brigadeiros are extremely easy to make, with simple ingredients and techniques that you can make with the little ones in the house. It is a treat that they will surely enjoy.