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Christmas Brigadeiro Recipe

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4.8 from 12 reviews

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.

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
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cardamom
  • A small pinch of clove
  • 2 tbsp. (30 ml) orange liqueur such as Triple Sec or Cointreau
  • 1/2 cup (75 g) festive green, red, and white sprinkles (jimmies)

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.

Find it online: https://freshfromkitchen.com/christmas-brigadeiro-recipe/