Brigadeiro

Brigadeiros were born at the end of wartime: a surefire way to result in a unique origin story. The year is 1946, and the very handsome and popular Brigadier Eduardo Gomes is running for President of Brazil. In support of his candidacy, a woman named Heloisa Nabuco de Oliveira created this confection to sell at political rallies. It was a significant election for women, as it was the first national election in which they were permitted to vote. Originally named “doce do brigadeiro” (“Brigadier’s sweet”), it was eventually shortened to brigadeiro, and the rest is history. Brigadeiros are now unconsidered the unofficial treat of Brazil, and are ubiquitous at every child’s birthday party across the country.

Brigadeiros were originally made with just cocoa powder and sweetened condensed milk: just two ingredients to make an impact. At the time, milk and sugar were harder to come by, so sweetened condensed milk does the job of two in one. Cocoa powder provides rich chocolate flavor without requiring actual chocolate, which was also scarce and expensive. 

• Brigadeiros are uniquely Brazilian, and truffles have different styles of preparation across Europe and the United States.
• Truffles typically contain a mixture of cream and chocolate, while brigadeiros consist of cocoa powder instead of chocolate. 

Brigadeiros, in their most traditional form, are rolled in chocolate sprinkles. In the modern age of brigadeiros, upscale brigadeiras (candy shops that specialize in brigaderos) sell the famous sweet rolled in things like shredded coconut or chopped pistachios, and ones sporting a variety of different flavors like paçoca (a Brazilian peanut candy), ninho (a popular powdered milk), lime, Oreo, and even Nutella!