Homemade Sweet Brazilian Balls Recipe: Fun Tropical Treats

Tropical flavors dance across your palate with these irresistible brigadeiros, a beloved Brazilian balls recipe that captures the essence of Rio’s sweet culinary tradition.

These bite-sized chocolate delights melt smoothly on your tongue, promising pure indulgence.

Silky condensed milk blends perfectly with rich cocoa powder, creating a decadent treat.

Each little sphere tells a story of Brazilian street food culture and generations of home cooks.

Rolled in chocolate sprinkles or coconut, these delectable morsels offer a quick escape to South American dessert paradise.

One taste transports you directly to the vibrant streets of São Paulo.

Let’s find out this simple yet spectacular recipe and experience a piece of Brazilian sweetness.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 147 kcal

Servings: 21

What You Need for Chocolate Brazilian Balls

• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creamy foundation that provides rich sweetness and helps bind all ingredients together, choose a high-quality brand for best flavor.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers deep chocolate intensity, Dutch-process offers smoother taste while natural unsweetened provides more robust chocolate punch.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall chocolate flavor by balancing sweetness and adding subtle depth.

• Unsalted Butter: Adds silky texture and helps create smooth, malleable mixture that makes rolling balls easier, select fresh butter for best results.

• Chocolate Sprinkles: Provides delightful crunch and attractive exterior, look for sprinkles with good chocolate flavor and vibrant color.

Tools for Preparing Chocolate Brazilian Balls Easily

• Large skillet: Essential for cooking the chocolate mixture evenly and breaking up lumps.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Perfect for stirring and preventing mixture from sticking to pan.
• Plate: Needed for cooling and shaping the chocolate mixture.
• Plastic wrap: Helps cover and chill the mixture in the freezer.
• Small bowl: Useful for rolling balls in chocolate sprinkles.
• Measuring spoons: Helps measure cocoa powder and salt accurately.

Simple Steps to Make Chocolate Brazilian Balls

• Flavor Foundation

Grab a skillet and mix sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and a pinch of salt. This magical combination will create a rich, creamy base that’s about to become something delicious.

• Smooth Transformation

Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly. Watch as the ingredients meld together, transforming into a thick, glossy blend that starts pulling away from the pan’s edges. This process takes about 8-10 minutes and requires your gentle attention.

• Cooling Pause

Transfer the warm chocolate mixture onto a plate and cover it with plastic wrap. Pop it into the freezer for half an hour, allowing the mixture to firm up and become easier to handle.

• Chocolate Rolls

Once chilled, roll the mixture into small, bite-sized spheres. Gently roll each ball in a pool of chocolate sprinkles, creating a delightful crunchy exterior that adds texture and extra sweetness.

• Serving Delight

Arrange the chocolate balls on a serving plate. These Brazilian treats are ready to be devoured immediately, offering a burst of rich chocolate flavor with every single bite.

Add a Twist to Chocolate Brazilian Balls Flavor

• These Brazilian treats are super forgiving when making at home, so don't stress about perfection.
• Let the mixture cool completely before rolling to prevent sticky hands and ensure clean, smooth ball shapes.
• Replace chocolate sprinkles with coconut flakes, crushed nuts, or colorful rainbow sprinkles for fun visual variety.
• Keep Brazilian chocolate balls refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days, making them a great make-ahead dessert for parties or unexpected sweet cravings.
• Add a splash of vanilla extract or a pinch of ground cinnamon to the mixture for a subtle depth that enhances the chocolate's rich flavor.

Chocolate Brazilian Balls Served Your Way

• Sweet Chocolate Companions: Pair these Brazilian balls with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful contrast in temperatures and textures.
• Party Perfect Platter: Arrange the chocolate balls on a decorative tray with small toothpicks for easy grabbing during gatherings or dessert tables.
• Coffee Lover's Dream: Serve alongside a steaming cup of Brazilian coffee or espresso to enhance the rich chocolate flavor and create an authentic culinary experience.
• Festive Presentation: Dust the serving plate with cocoa powder or place the chocolate balls in colorful mini cupcake liners for an elegant and eye-catching display.

Keeping Chocolate Brazilian Balls Fresh

• Chilling Technique: Cool the chocolate mixture completely before shaping to ensure smooth, easy-to-handle balls that won't stick to your hands.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Store Brazilian chocolate balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, maintaining their rich texture and preventing moisture buildup.
• Freezing Option: For longer storage, freeze the balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a sealed freezer bag. They'll stay delicious for 2-3 months, ready for quick sweet treats.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the chocolate mixture a day in advance and refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to develop and making preparation even easier when you're ready to serve.

Savory Brazilian Balls Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 21 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Chocolate brigadeiros offer a sweet Brazilian delight packed with rich cocoa flavor. Silky chocolate treats roll easily into perfect bite-sized spheres that guests will adore.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 can (14 oz/397 g) sweetened condensed milk
• ⅓ cup (40 g) cocoa powder (Dutch-process or natural unsweetened)
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter
• ¼ tsp (1 g) kosher salt
• ½ cup (85 g) chocolate sprinkles

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Chocolate Fusion: Meld sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, unsalted butter, and salt in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, whisking continuously to create a smooth, homogeneous blend.
2. Thickening Process: Maintain persistent stirring as the mixture transforms, scraping pan edges to prevent scorching, until the composition becomes dense and separates from the skillet’s surface, approximately 8-10 minutes.
3. Cooling Stage: Spread the molten chocolate mixture evenly on a clean plate, allowing rapid temperature reduction, then encase completely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes until firm.
4. Shaping Technique: With moisture-dampened hands, craft uniform spherical forms, each roughly 1 inch in diameter, ensuring consistent size and smooth exterior.
5. Decorative Coating: Gently tumble each chocolate sphere in a shallow dish of chocolate sprinkles, ensuring complete and elegant coverage that enhances visual appeal and textural complexity.
6. Serving Presentation: Arrange the Brazilian chocolate balls on a serving plate, permitting them to settle at ambient temperature, which optimizes their luxurious texture and concentrated flavor profile before indulgence.

Notes

• Prevent Burning Technique: Continuously whisk and scrape the skillet’s bottom and sides to avoid scorching and ensure a smooth, even chocolate mixture.
• Cooling Hack: Spread the chocolate mixture on a plate to help it cool faster, reducing waiting time and preventing overcooking.
• Moistened Hands Trick: Slightly dampen hands before rolling to prevent the chocolate mixture from sticking and create perfectly uniform balls.
• Coating Pro Tip: Use fresh chocolate sprinkles and roll gently to ensure complete and even coverage without crushing the delicate chocolate spheres.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Rolling
• Cuisine: Brazilian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 21
• Calories: 147
• Sugar: 17 g
• Sodium: 16 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 19 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg