Brazilian Brigadeiro with Lavender

Brazilian Brigadeiro with Lavender is a fun twist on classic fudgy truffle balls from Brazil. The rich caramel and chocolate flavour pairs wonderfully with a subtle floral aroma of lavender in this scrumptious version.

Hey, folks! Hope your September is off to a great start!

As I wrap up summer on Havoc in the Kitchen, I wanted to share a few more summer recipes with you. And what’s better than another lavender Brigadeiro recipe? Let’s dive into these Brazilian Brigadeiro with Lavender.

What is Brigadeiro?

Brigadeiros are a traditional and very popular Brazilian chocolate confectionery, similar to fudge or a chocolate truffle, but without a hard shell. Made from sweetened condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder, these Brigadeiros are cooked on the stovetop, cooled, and then rolled into balls, typically coated in chocolate sprinkles. They have a wonderful, chewy texture, as well as a rich, caramel-chocolate flavour.

Why You’ll Love These Brazilian Brigadeiro with Lavender

• Rich and decadent Brigadeiros offer a pleasant floral aroma that complements their caramel and chocolate flavors.
• They have a unique, chewy, and fudgy texture.
• They’re easy to make with just four ingredients, most likely already in your pantry.
• It’s an inexpensive recipe.
• They look elegant and can be presented as a gift.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Lavender Brigadeiro

• Sweetened Condensed Milk – This is the primary ingredient, providing the signature sweetness and a thick, chewy texture. Slowly cooking it over low heat develops a consistency similar to dulce de leche, which is essential for authentic Brigadeiro.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – This ingredient is responsible for the truffles’ rich, deep chocolate flavor and characteristic dark color. Using unsweetened cocoa helps balance the sweetness of the condensed milk.
• Butter – Butter gives the Brigadeiro a rich taste and glossy finish. Though not always specified, greasing the pan with butter also makes the cooking process smoother by preventing sticking.
• Chocolate sprinkles (jimmies) – These are used to coat the finished truffles, giving them a traditional look and adding texture to contrast with the fudgy interior.
• Dried lavender buds – Mince or rub the buds with your fingers before use. The lavender should be culinary-grade, and less is better for a subtle floral note; too much may give a perfumy, soapy taste.

How to Make Brigadeiro

Brigadeiros are easy to make, but need attention and time. Vigorous whisking can count as your arm workout for the day!

Add condensed milk, cocoa powder, and butter to a heavy saucepan on medium-low heat. Stir constantly with a spatula to prevent sticking and burning. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened.

Then, you need to cool the mixture completely, which takes 1 to 2 hours. However, you can speed up the process by refrigerating the mixture.

Lastly, roll the cooled mixture into bite-sized balls and coat them in the sprinkles.

Pro-Tips

The Brigadeiro recipe is straightforward but a bit tricky. These tips will help you make perfect fudgy Brigadeiros:

• A heavy-bottomed saucepan distributes heat evenly, reducing the risk of burning.
• Once heating, whisk vigorously and scrape the sides and bottom continuously to prevent sticking and burning.
  • When the mixture is ready, avoid scraping the bottom and sides as those parts may be overcooked.
• Don’t rush. Cook over low heat, or it may burn quickly.
• If you feel the mixture is boiling too fast or you see little coagulated, caramelized bites (a few of them are totally fine and delicious – unless they are burnt) start to appear, quickly remove the pan from the heat for 30 seconds. Reduce the heat and then return the pan to the stove.
• Adding a small knob of butter can slow down the cooking process.

Check More Brigadeiro Ideas

• Candy Cane Brigadeiro (Christmas Brazilian Truffles)
• Christmas Brigadeiro (Christmas Brazilian Truffles)
• Pumpkin Spice Brigadeiro (Fun Halloween Edition!)
• Brigadeiro – Brazilian Sweets (Brazilian Truffles)

I hope you like these Brazilian Brigadeiro with Lavender, and you will give them a try. If you make these Brigadeiros, please let me know by posting in this thread, sending me an Instagram message, or sharing your photos using the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.

Cheers!

Brazilian Brigadeiro with Lavender

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

Brazilian Brigadeiro with Lavender is a fun twist on classic fudgy truffle balls from Brazil.

Course: Chilled and No-Bake DessertsCuisine: Brazilian, Author’s RecipesDifficulty: Medium

5.0 from 1 vote

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Servings

16-20

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Cooling time

1-2

hours

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• 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. dried lavender buds, minced or rubbed

• 1/2 cup (75 g) chocolate-flavoured sprinkles (jimmies)

• Equipment:

• medium, heavy-bottomed pan or saucepan

• wired whisk

• spoon or spatula with a long handle, preferably wooden

Directions

• Grease a heavy-bottomed saucepan with 1 tbsp. (15 g) of butter (both the bottom and sides).
• Add the condensed milk, cocoa powder, minced lavender, and 1 tbsp. (15 g) of butter to the greased pan.
• Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, constantly stirring with a whisk first then with a wooden spoon or spatula.
• After bringing the mixture to a slow boil, reduce the heat to low or medium-low and continue cooking, stirring constantly, for about 10-12 minutes. In the first 7-8 minutes or so, you won’t see any serious changes, but very soon the mixture will become creamy and fudgy. It’s essential to continue stirring the mixture even more vigorously, as this is the point at which it can easily burn.
• Pro-tip. If you feel the mixture is boiling too fast or you see little coagulated, caramelized bites (a few of them are totally fine and delicious – unless they are burnt) start to appear, quickly remove the pan from the heat for 30 seconds. Reduce the heat and then return the pan to the stove.
  Adding a small knob of butter can slow down the cooking process.
• The Brigadeiro is ready when you scrape the bottom of the pan, and it takes 2-3 seconds for the Brigadeiro to return to its place. For accurate measurement, use a candy thermometer and cook until the mixture reaches 205°F-208°F.
• Transfer the hot Brigadeiro to a dish or plate, without scraping the sides and bottom too much, and let it cool for about 2 hours. You can speed up the process by refrigerating the mixture.
• Store them in a cool place or refrigerate until serving time. For the best result, remove from the refrigerator 10-15 minutes prior to serving. Enjoy!