Brigadeiro is a traditional Brazilian treat, and one of the most popular candies in Brazil. Originally it was made with just condensed milk and cocoa powder, but its flavor has evolved to include other ingredients such as cinnamon and vanilla or even one of many liqueurs or fruit purees that give brigadeiros a slightly different taste. Brigadeiro is usually rolled by hand into small balls or wrapped in paper cups, but it can also be shaped with molds available to make the candies pretty and festive. The outer shell of brigadeiros is always chocolate-flavored, often dark, milk or white chocolate.

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To make these delicious candies, you will need a can of condensed milk, half a cup of butter, 3 cups of cocoa powder and chocolate sprinkles. Using a heavy bottom saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and add the condensed milk and cocoa powder to the pan stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until all ingredients are well-combined. Cook for approximately 5 minutes or until the mixture thickens, then remove from heat. Let it cool 10-15 minutes, then mold little balls with your hands or use a scoop and place them on a plate.

Decorate with chocolate sprinkles or leave them plain, but be sure to leave some space between each to allow the brigadeiros room to breathe while they cool down completely on your plate. If you realize you made too many brigadeiros, don’t worry: you can keep them in the refrigerator for up to a week as long as they’re well covered.