Sweet Brigadeiros and Beijinhos: Brazilian Party Candies

My close friend Daniela Moreira sent me this recipe. Dani is from Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil and is the mom to Analua and Francisco.

Increasing your children’s global awareness means making tiny decisions to infuse different cultural opportunities into everyday life. The next time you are planning a party, internationalize the kids’ experience by making some Brazilian party candies. They are fast, easy, delicious, they require only a couple of ingredients, and your kids can help you make them (that’s the best part!). These caramel-type brigadeiros and beijinhos are typical for kids birthday parties all over Brazil. Remember to show your kids where Brazil is on the map, and remind them that Brazilians speak Portuguese (not Spanish:). Practice saying the names of the candies: bree-gah-DAY-ee-rows (rolling your r’s slightly) and bay-ee-ZHEE-nyos. My friend Dani says:

if you have a kid’s party in Brazil, you have to make these candies, otherwise it is not a kids party… Beijinhos and brigadeiros are the most common candies; we also have the same basic recipe made with strawberry (Nesquik), pineapple, peanuts (we call them cajuzinho, because we make them in the shape of cashew nuts), walnuts (which we also have at weddings). They are a national passion for Brazilians!

Brigadeiros and Beijinhos (Birthday Party Brazilian Candies)

- 1 can of sweetened, condensed milk
- 3 to 4 tablespoons of Nesquik (or other hot chocolate mix)
- 1/2 c dry coconut
- 1 tablespoon of butter/ margarine

For the brigadeiros, pour the condensed milk and the hot chocolate mix into a saucepan. If making beijinhos, do not use the hot chocolate mix. Cook on the stove top without stop stirring until it gets thick (and while stirring you can see the bottom of the pan. Let it cool down completely. Rub your hands with some butter, and roll the mixture to make little balls. Then, roll them in either:

1) chocolate sprinkles (to make the brigadeiros)
2) unsweetened coconut (to make the beijinhos)