If you’ve ever indulged in the sweet, fudgy goodness of Brazilian Brigadeiro, imagine it dressed up for the holidays. That’s exactly what this Christmas Brigadeiro Recipe does — blending warm spices and festive colors for a dessert perfect to make anytime during the holiday season. It’s a treat that’s both nostalgic and freshly cheerful, perfect for sharing with family or gifting to friends.
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Why You’ll Love This
This Christmas Brigadeiro Recipe is a wonderful blend of creamy, chocolatey richness with the warm, festive embrace of holiday spices and a bright pop of orange liqueur. It’s truly a crowd-pleaser that feels special without being complicated.
- Reliable Texture, Great Flavor: You’ll get a sumptuous, fudgy consistency that’s chewy and indulgent, balanced with cozy cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.
- Crisp–Golden Finish: The outside sprinkles add a satisfying crunch and festive colors, making each bite joyful.
- Pantry-Friendly Ingredients: Most ingredients are ones I bet you already have on hand, plus a splash of orange liqueur to brighten the flavor.
- Weeknight Easy, Weekend Worthy: This recipe is quick to prepare yet makes a memorable addition to any holiday dessert spread.
Ingredient Snapshot
For this Christmas Brigadeiro Recipe, quality and balance are key. Using good unsweetened cocoa powder and fresh spices really lifts the flavor, while a decent orange liqueur adds that special brightness. I always suggest double-checking your spices for freshness to get that fragrant warmth that makes these truly festive.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Use a good-quality brand for creaminess; it’s the base that makes brigadeiro so luscious.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Choose Dutch-processed for smoother flavor or natural if you like a tangier chocolate note.
- Butter: Real butter adds richness; also needed for greasing the pan and your hands.
- Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cardamom, Clove): Freshly ground if possible, these warm spices give a cozy holiday twist.
- Orange Liqueur: Triple Sec or Cointreau works best to add a bright, fruity note—feel free to skip if preferred but it adds lovely complexity.
- Festive Sprinkles: Choose colors matching your holiday theme to garnish and add crunch.
Quick Note: Exact measurements are in the printable recipe card at the bottom.
How to Make Christmas Brigadeiro Recipe
Step 1 — Set Up & Season
Start by greasing your heavy-bottomed saucepan with half the butter—the bottom and sides—this prevents sticking as you cook the brigadeiro. Then, into the pan goes the sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, warm spices, orange liqueur, and the remaining butter. Before turning on the heat, whisk everything together to create a smooth, homogenous mixture. This step sets you up to cook evenly and avoid clumps right from the start.
Step 2 — Sear, Toast, or Mix
Place the pan over medium heat and begin stirring constantly with a whisk at first—this keeps the mixture moving so it doesn't scorch. As the mixture heats and thickens, switch to a wooden spoon or spatula (which I prefer) for better control. After about 7–8 minutes, things will transition from runny to creamy and fudge-like. This is the moment you need to stir vigorously, scraping the bottom and sides to prevent burning. If you see caramelized bits forming too fast or the mixture boiling too intensely, just pull the pan off heat briefly or add a knob of butter or a splash more orange liqueur to slow it down.
Step 3 — Finish for Best Texture
The brigadeiro is ready when you scrape the bottom of the pan and it takes 2–3 seconds for the mixture to flow back into place. This often happens around 205 to 208°F if you use a candy thermometer. Transferring it immediately to a plate or shallow dish prevents overcooking. Let it cool for about two hours or refrigerate to speed cooling. When cool, it’s easier to roll into those lovely little balls that make Brigadeiro so irresistible.
Smart Little Tips
From my experience, patience and attentiveness during cooking make all the difference with this Christmas Brigadeiro Recipe. Those first signs of serious thickening call for extra stirring to avoid burning, and a good buttered pan makes cleanup easier later!
- Doneness Cue: The 2–3 second return of the mixture to its place after scraping indicates the perfect fudgy stage.
- Temperature Trick: Use a candy thermometer for precision; 205–208°F is your sweet spot.
- Make-Ahead Move: Brigadeiros can be made several hours ahead and kept refrigerated until serving.
- Avoid This Pitfall: Resist the urge to hurry the cooking process with high heat, which risks burning and ruining texture.
Serving Ideas
Finishing Touches
After rolling your brigadeiros, the traditional finish is a generous coating of festive sprinkles in green, red, and white. This adds not just crunch but a burst of holiday cheer with every bite. I like rolling the brigadeiro balls in butter first to help the sprinkles stick better and give a slight sheen to the surface.
Pair It With
Serve these alongside fresh berries for brightness or pair with a hot cup of spiced coffee or mulled wine to accentuate the warm spices inside. The creamy richness of brigadeiro and the lively holiday drinks balance beautifully for festive gatherings.
Easy Plating Upgrades
For a quick wow factor, place brigadeiros in mini cupcake liners and arrange them on a platter dusted lightly with cocoa or cinnamon powder. You can also drizzle a little melted chocolate over some to add visual contrast. I’ve found that grouping them in small clusters with fresh rosemary sprigs amps up the Christmas vibe instantly.
Make-Ahead, Store & Reheat
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover brigadeiros in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll keep beautifully for up to 5 days. The texture remains fudgy but firm enough to hold shape, and flavors deepen slightly as they rest. Just be sure to bring them to room temperature before serving for the best mouthfeel.
Freezing Tips
Brigadeiros freeze surprisingly well. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze initially, then transfer to a sealed container or zip-lock bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and bring to room temperature before serving. Texturally, they remain deliciously creamy, though the sprinkles might lose a bit of their crunch.
Reheating Christmas Brigadeiro Recipe Without Drying Out
If you need to warm up brigadeiros, I recommend a gentle approach to keep them luscious. In the microwave, heat them in short bursts of 10–15 seconds, covered loosely with a damp paper towel to maintain moisture. An oven set to low (about 250°F) for 5–8 minutes also works well, especially if they’re on a baking sheet covered with foil. Avoid high heat that can dry them out quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! The orange liqueur adds a nice brightness, but you can omit it or substitute with orange zest or a tiny splash of orange juice concentrate to keep the festive flavor.
Burning usually happens if the heat is too high or stirring is inadequate. Immediately remove the pan from heat, add a bit of butter, and reduce the flame. Stir constantly and patiently to prevent sticking, especially towards the end of cooking.
Yes! You can roll them in cocoa powder, crushed nuts, or even toasted coconut flakes for a different but delicious finish.
It’s best to chill the mixture for 2 hours or until firm, but if you’re short on time, popping it in the fridge for at least 1 hour can work. Just make sure it’s cool enough to handle without being sticky or runny.
Final Thoughts
I’ve made many versions of brigadeiro, but this Christmas Brigadeiro Recipe holds a special place in my holiday traditions. The blend of spices with the smooth, chocolatey base creates a comforting yet festive treat that’s always a hit. Give it a try—you’ll enjoy how effortlessly it comes together and how joyfully it disappears at any holiday table!
PrintPrint Recipe
Christmas Brigadeiro Recipe
A festive twist on the classic Brazilian sweet treat, Christmas Brigadeiro combines rich cocoa, warm holiday spices, and a splash of orange liqueur for a creamy, fudgy confection perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 22 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Brazilian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Christmas Brigadeiro
- 1 can (400 ml or 14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 3 tbsp. (25 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp. (30 g) butter, divided plus butter for greasing hands
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp. ground nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp. ground cardamom
- A small pinch of clove
- 2 tbsp. (30 ml) orange liqueur such as Triple Sec or Cointreau
- ½ cup (75 g) festive green, red, and white sprinkles (jimmies)
Instructions
- Grease the pan: Lightly grease a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan with 1 tbsp. (15 g) of butter on the bottom and sides to prevent sticking.
- Add ingredients: Pour in the sweetened condensed milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, clove), orange liqueur, and the remaining 1 tbsp. (15 g) of butter into the greased pan.
- Start cooking: Bring the mixture to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk initially, then switch to a wooden spoon or spatula to prevent burning.
- Simmer carefully: Once boiling, reduce heat to low or medium-low and continue stirring vigorously for about 12 minutes. The mixture will gradually thicken and become creamy and fudgy. Avoid burning by stirring constantly; if cooking is too rapid or caramelized bits form, briefly remove the pan from heat, reduce heat, and add a small knob of butter or more liqueur to slow cooking.
- Check doneness: The Brigadeiro is ready when the mixture pulls away from the pan bottom and returns slowly in 2-3 seconds after scraping. For precision, use a candy thermometer reading between 205°F and 208°F.
- Cool down: Transfer the hot mixture to a dish or plate without scraping the pan sides or bottom too much and let cool at room temperature for about 2 hours or refrigerate to speed up cooling.
- Serve and store: Keep Brigadeiro in a cool place or refrigerate until serving. For best texture, bring to room temperature by removing from fridge 10-15 minutes before serving. Optionally, roll into balls and coat with festive sprinkles before serving.
Notes
- Constant stirring is crucial to prevent scorching and to achieve the right fudgy texture.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pan for even heat distribution and to avoid burning.
- If you want quicker cooling, refrigerate the mixture but allow it to soften slightly before serving for ideal flavor and texture.
- You can substitute the orange liqueur with orange zest or orange juice for a non-alcoholic version.
- To make traditional brigadeiro balls, let the mixture cool completely, then butter your hands, roll into small balls, and coat with sprinkles.
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