IIf you’re not satisfied with this smooth, chocolatey treat, you clearly haven’t spent much time on it BrazilWhere in the words of the blogger Olivia MesquitaThey are national treasures, a “must-have for special celebrations, from children’s parties to weddings.” As a content creator Camilla Hearst “It’s basically not a party without them,” he says. They are made quickly and simply with everyday ingredients, and are the perfect last-minute gift for someone you love.
Chocolate
Older recipes tend to use hot chocolate powder, but regular cocoa powder gives a less sweet result. Mesquita’s book, Authentic Brazilian Home Cooking, uses dark chocolate and the TV chef Leticia Morenos Schwartz It is suggested to combine the two. But, although the results are delicious, they are more like a dense, buttery consistency Chocolate truffles A light and silky party dessert. He loves Yotam OttolenghiI chose four tablespoons of cocoa, but feel free to adjust that to suit your taste.
Dairy
Chef Natalia Pereira told… New York Times That her mother in Minas Gerais would stir milk and sugar together over a wood stove to produce her condensed milk – although homemade condensed milk is easier than I expect, the flavor is missing here, so I recommend the canned variety.
Almost everyone uses butter, except for the recipe on the Carnation condensed milk website, which substitutes margarine, which makes me think a vegan version might be possible with plant-based condensed milk. Schwartz also adds a spoonful of double cream, tempering the intensely sweet bitterness of the cocoa and condensed milk into something smoother; It’s optional but worthwhile, in my opinion.
Salt, although not traditional, is a must, and you may also want to flavor your brigadero with sweet spices such as vanilla or cinnamon, or coffee powder, or stir in crushed crackers (such as Ottolenghi), fruit or nuts for texture.
Once they’re firm enough to roll – and the batter is often scooped from the pan at home – you can cover them with more cocoa powder, ground nuts, chocolate chips or desiccated coconut as you like… although nothing says “celebration” to me like crunchy, colorful hundreds and thousands.
Perfect brigeiros
Preparatory school 10 minutes
He cooks 15 minutes
makes 18
30 grams of butter
4 tablespoons of cocoa powderplus an additional layer
1 tablespoon double cream (optional)
1 x 397 grams can of sweetened condensed milk
½ teaspoon sea salt (or according to taste)
Hundreds and thousands– Coarsely ground coconut, or grated coconut for coating
Place a small heatproof tray or plate near the stove. If you have a cooking thermometer, have that ready as well, although it’s not necessary here.
Melt the butter in a small (non-stick) saucepan over low heat and sift the cocoa powder. Stir until it becomes a smooth paste, then add the cream, if using, and condensed milk, plus salt. Whisk or stir until well combined.
Raise the heat slightly and cook, stirring constantly (a silicone spatula is useful for reaching the edges of the pan), until the mixture thickens and you start to see the bottom of the pan constantly as you stir. It should read between 95-99°C (203-210°F) on the thermometer and takes about 10 minutes but will vary slightly depending on the pan and stove.
Pour it onto a tray or plate, leaving anything stuck to the bottom of the pan (it can be reheated with a little milk to make a delicious hot chocolate that saves you scrubbing the pan), then set it aside to cool until somewhat firm.
Scoop out teaspoons of the cooled mixture and use your hands to form them into balls. Place the toppings of your choice in a small bowl and roll the balls in it to cover them. Place in the refrigerator to firm up a bit if necessary before serving.
Brigadeiros: marketing gimmick or Brazilian icon? Share your favorite memories and tips for success below!
