Brazilian chocolate truffles – Brigadeiro

 Brazilian best loved sweet is usually served at birthday parties, but can also be found at any kind of party including weddings. It was created in the 1940s during the war and named after Brigadier Eduardo Gomes, who was a Brazilian Air Force brigadier.  He ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1946 and 1950.  One version explains the name of the candy distributed nationally from the 50’s. One of them account that women in Rio de Janeiro, engaged in the campaign of Eduardo Gomes, prepared  brigadeiros or negrinhos (darkies)  as it was called then in the south of Brazil, at home and sold them on the street with the name of Brigadeiro, allocating money to the presidential campaign fund. It can be served as a creamed version over cakes as decoration, in shot glasses as small deserts or as little balls like truffles.

You can read my article about Brazilian food and customs at The Foodie Bugle

. 1 can of good quality of condensed milk

. 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter

. 7 tablespoons of drinking chocolate or 4 tablespoons of dark cocoa powder

. chocolate vermicelli or strands for decoration

1. Place in a deep pot sweetened condensed milk, margarine and cocoa powder
2. Cook over medium heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon