Brigadeiro: The Brazilian chocolate treat that’s too easy NOT to make 🇧🇷🍫✨
You know how some friendships start with deep conversations or shared interests? Well, my friendship with Luiza from Brazil started with chocolate.
We met last summer at the Bocconi Summer School in Milan, where we spent most of our free time eating way too much gelato and laughing about our cultural differences (like how she couldn’t believe Italians put butter on pasta, and I couldn’t believe Brazilians put ketchup on pizza—WHY?!).
One evening, after a long day of classes, we were starving and craving something sweet. That’s when Luiza said the magic word: Brigadeiro.
“Wait, what’s that?” I asked.
“Only the best thing ever,” she said. “And we can make it right now with three ingredients.”
Five minutes later, we were in the dorm kitchen, making a sticky chocolate mess—and that was the night I fell in love with Brazil’s most famous chocolate treat.
Brigadeiro: The Chocolate bites that EVERY Brazilian loves
If you ever go to a birthday party in Brazil, I guarantee you’ll find a plate of Brigadeiro. These little chocolate truffle-like balls are rich, chewy, and covered in sprinkles, making them dangerously addictive.
They were first invented in the 1940s, named after a brigadier (military officer), and somehow became the unofficial national dessert of Brazil. Honestly? They deserve that title.
Luiza told me that every Brazilian kid grows up making Brigadeiro at home because it’s so easy—no baking, no fancy ingredients, just chocolatey happiness in a bite-sized ball.
My first attempt at making Brigadeiro: a sticky disaster 🍫😂
After coming back to LA, I decided to recreate the magic and make Brigadeiro at home. I thought: How hard can it be?
Answer: Harder than expected.
I misjudged the cooking time and ended up with a chocolatey puddle instead of a smooth, rollable mixture. When I finally got the texture right, my hands were so sticky with chocolate that I accidentally dropped a brigadeiro ball on the floor. My dog thought Christmas had come early.
But the moment I took a bite of the properly made ones, I knew: this was my new favorite dessert.
How to make Luiza’s family recipe for Brigadeiro
🍫 What You’ll Need:
✔️ 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
✔️ 2 tbsp cocoa powder
✔️ 1 tbsp butter
✔️ Chocolate sprinkles (because aesthetics matter)
🥄 How to Make It:
1️⃣ Melt the butter in a pan, then add the condensed milk and cocoa powder.
2️⃣ Stir. Stir. And keep stirring. (This is a serious arm workout.) Cook on medium heat until the mixture thickens and pulls away from the sides—about 10-15 minutes.
3️⃣ Let it cool (the hardest part). Once it’s at room temp, grease your hands with butter and roll the mixture into bite-sized balls.
4️⃣ Roll in sprinkles and try not to eat them all at once (spoiler: you will fail).
Why you NEED to try Brigadeiro
✨ It’s ridiculously easy – 3 ingredients, 15 minutes, zero stress.
✨ It’s fun to make – Rolling chocolate balls in sprinkles? Yes, please.
✨ It’s dangerously addictive – Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I sent Luiza a picture of my final batch, and she responded with:
“Now you’re officially Brazilian. But if you don’t eat at least five in one sitting, you’re doing it wrong.”
So, obviously, I ate six. 😎
If you’re craving something chocolatey, fun, and ridiculously good, Brigadeiro is your new best friend. Just be careful—once you start making them, you’ll never stop.
Bom apetite! 🇧🇷✨