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? ›

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, Heloisa Nabuco de Oliveira, to promote the presidential candidacy of Eduardo Gomes.

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Why is my brigadeiro not thickening? ›

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.

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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.

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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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Why do Brazilians eat brigadeiros? ›

All Brazilians have a strong emotional attachment to the brigadeiro. Eating a brigadeiro is supposed to provide individuals with a familiar sense since it is a way to recall joyful moments spent with family and friends.

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Should brigadeiros 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.

Why are my brigadeiros sticky? ›

Brigadeiro is chocolate fudge; like any fudge, it should stick to the pot while cooking. Although you must keep stirring the fudge constantly, it will leave a sticky layer on the bottom. You don't want to scrape that because it will be like burnt fudge.

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Why are my brigadeiros flat? ›

The hardest part of making brigadeiro is to know how far to cook: if you undercook it, the fudge will not hold a ball shape and will flatten. If you overcook it, it will taste like toffee, too hard, and not enjoyable.

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What do Brazilians call pineapple? ›

Abacaxi is generally from Brazil and is the Brazilian Portuguese word for pineapple.

Why is my brigadeiro lumpy? ›

*If you notice the brigadeiro becoming too bubbly and lumpy, turn off the heat. Stir vigorously for about two minutes, then resume cooking over low heat.

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How to fix overcooked brigadeiro? ›

Super easy. Either because it was overcooked or because the brigadeiro was in the fridge or in the freezer and became too hard. Just microwave it with some heavy cream or milk and youll be good to go.

What is an interesting fact about the dessert? ›

The word dessert comes from the French verb desservir, meaning 'to clear the table'. When dessert first appeared as part of our eating rituals, it was to allow the tables to be cleared for the after-dinner activities; sweetmeats and spiced wines were consumed standing up, away from the table.

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What is a fact about mousse? ›

For a fruit mousse, pureed fruit or juice replaces the milk in the custard. The term mousse is also used for gelatin desserts that are whipped to a froth after they have partially set. Mousse originated in the 18th century in France, where the word mousse translates as “foam,” describing the airy texture of mousse.

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What is a fact about chocolate mousse? ›

One of the first written records of the appearance of chocolate mousse in the United States is actually from an exposition in New York City in 1892. Later on, the recipe for chocolate mousse started appearing in a “Housekeepers Column” in the 1897 edition of the Boston globe.

What is a fun fact about chocolate mousse? ›

The French, lovers of culinary wonder, were first to discover mousse. It is actually a French word meaning “froth” or “foam.” “Mousse au chocolat” is French for chocolate mousse. The United States first became acquainted with chocolate mousse at a Food Exposition held at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1892.

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