Brigadeiros Recipe – easy Brazilian chocolate truffles made with dulce de leche, cocoa, and butter. Rich, fudgy, no-bake, and perfect for parties, holidays, or edible gifts.
Brigadeiros Recipe
This Brigadeiros Recipe makes rich, fudgy Brazilian chocolate truffles that are soft, sweet, and perfect for parties. They are made with dulce de leche, cocoa powder, and butter, then rolled in sprinkles, chocolate, coconut, or chopped nuts.
Traditional brigadeiros are usually made with sweetened condensed milk, but this version uses dulce de leche for a deeper caramel flavor. The result is a chewy, chocolatey, melt-in-your-mouth treat that disappears dangerously fast.
Serve them in mini cupcake liners for birthdays, holidays, dessert trays, edible gifts, or anytime your chocolate craving starts acting dramatic.
What Are Brigadeiros?
Brigadeiros are Brazilian chocolate fudge balls made by cooking milk, cocoa, and butter until thick and glossy. Once the mixture cools, it is rolled into small balls and coated with sprinkles or other toppings.
They are commonly served at parties and celebrations, especially birthdays, because they are easy to make, easy to serve, and loved by chocolate fans of all ages.
Why You’ll Love These Brazilian Chocolate Truffles
- Easy to make: just cook, cool, roll, and coat.
- No baking required: perfect when you want homemade candy without the oven.
- Party-friendly: bite-sized treats are easy to serve.
- Customizable: roll them in sprinkles, cocoa, coconut, or nuts.
- Rich flavor: dulce de leche gives them a deeper caramel-chocolate taste.
How To Dress Them Up
One of the best things about brigadeiros is how easy they are to decorate. Roll them in chocolate sprinkles for the classic look, or use colorful sprinkles to match a party theme.
You can also use shredded coconut, chopped nuts, cocoa powder, crushed cookies, or mini chocolate curls. Place each one in a mini paper liner, and suddenly you have fancy little truffles that look like they came from a bakery box.
Dulce de Leche Brigadeiros
This recipe uses dulce de leche instead of sweetened condensed milk. It is not the most traditional method, but it adds a delicious caramel flavor that works beautifully with cocoa.
If you prefer a more classic version, you can use sweetened condensed milk. Either way, the key is cooking the mixture until it thickens enough to pull away from the bottom of the pan.
How To Make Brigadeiros
Start by adding the dulce de leche, cocoa powder, and butter to a saucepan. Cook the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it becomes thick, glossy, and fudgy.
The mixture is ready when it pulls away from the sides and bottom of the pan. That is your sign to stop cooking. Do not walk away here. Brigadeiros require attention, much like teenagers and caramel.
Rolling The Truffles
Once the mixture is cooked, transfer it to a greased bowl or plate and let it cool. When it is cool enough to handle, lightly grease your hands and roll small portions into balls.
Then coat each brigadeiro in your topping of choice. Chocolate sprinkles are classic, but colorful sprinkles make them perfect for parties.
Tips For The Best Brigadeiros
- Stir constantly: this prevents scorching and keeps the mixture smooth.
- Use medium-low heat: slow cooking gives better texture.
- Cool completely: a warm mixture is too sticky to roll.
- Grease your hands: a tiny bit of butter makes rolling easier.
- Use mini liners: they make serving cleaner and prettier.
Can I Make Brigadeiros Ahead?
Yes. Brigadeiros are great make-ahead treats. Roll them and store them in the refrigerator until ready to serve. They are perfect for parties, dessert tables, holiday trays, and edible gifts.
How To Store Brigadeiros
Store brigadeiros in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving so they soften slightly.
Can I Freeze Them?
Yes. Freeze brigadeiros in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Brigadeiros Recipe
I hope you try these delicious Brigadeiros at home. They are rich, fudgy, easy to customize, and such a fun bite-size chocolate dessert.
Brigadeiros Recipe (Brazilian Chocolate Fudge Balls)
Ingredients
- 14 oz Can Of Dulce de Leche
- 2 Tablespoons Butter unsalted
- 4 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Sprinkles coconut flakes or ground nuts to coat the Brigadeiros
- Cooking Spray
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat add the Dulce de Leche, butter and cocoa. Stir with a wooden spoon until all the ingredients are mixed together
- When dulce de leche begins to a boil, lower the heat and stir for 3-4 minutes more or until it becomes thick and creamy being careful not to burn the bottom
- Remove from heat and add the mixture into a bowl previously greased with cooking spray or butter. Let the dulce de leche cool
- When the mixture is cool, roll into balls, about the size of a teaspoon and place on a sheet with parchment paper
- Pour sprinkles into a small bowl
- Dip each ball into the sprinkles and move it around until all the fudge ball is completely coated
- Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
- Traditional brigadeiros are often made with sweetened condensed milk, but dulce de leche adds a delicious caramel flavor.
- Grease your hands lightly with butter before rolling to prevent sticking.
- Roll in chocolate sprinkles, rainbow jimmies, coconut flakes, chopped nuts, or cocoa powder.
- Chill for 20–30 minutes if the mixture is too soft to roll.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Bring to room temperature for 10 minutes before serving for the best texture.
- For smaller party-size treats, divide into 16 mini brigadeiros instead of 12.
Nutrition
More No-Bake Chocolate Treats You May Like
Nutella Fudge Recipe
Chocolate Caramel Fudge
White Pecan Praline Fudge
Oh my goodness- these look amazing!!!
Thank you so much Camille! They taste like heaven!
how do you roll them when they are in the freezer
They won’t be completely frozen… just a tad more pliable
Do you have to refrigerate these after you make them or would they be ok if you didn’t? I want to make them for my class, but I don’t have a way to keep them cool until lunch time! Thanks! I love your page!
Hi Jen! Brigadeiros are just like fudge. They don’t need refrigeration.
I personally like to refrigerate them as soon as I make them but then I leave them out.
I can’t even make brownies… not sure what I’m doing here. Anyway, during this bold attempt The consistency wasn’t creamy ; it was more lumpy. Where did I go wrong? Is there anyway to fix this?
haha Amy! Don’t worry! just cook it a little longer and refrigerate until a bit firm. As long as you can roll them into balls you have no problem!
My kids LOVE brigadeiros! I don’t really mind them too much, either. Haha! I’m definitely going to have to give your recipe a try!
Thanks so much Raia! Let me know how they come out!
Oh I can’t wait to try this at home for my daughters birthday coming up. I will definitely need to do a few test runs as an excuse to taste before hand!! 🙂
Awesome Carolynn! Happy Birthday to your daughter and let me know how they come out!
Can I use sweetened condensed milk? I don’t have the other option
of course Chatura! Just give it a few more minutes in the saucepan!
How long will these keep for please? I am thinking of making them as wedding favours so need to make in advance!
Hi Karen, you can freeze and they can keep up for up to 3 months
If I freeze these do I roll them in the sprinkles first and freeze them?
Thank you.
Yes! roll them and add the sprinkles, then freeze