Coconut Brigadeiros

Fudge made from condensed milk is the base for brigadeiros, bite-size sweets served in paper frills and covered with sprinkles. “Brigadeiros are like the cupcakes of Brazil,” the cooking teacher Leticia Moreinos Schwartz said. “They are at every birthday party.” (They are named for a once-popular politician, Brigadier Eduardo Gomes, who ran for president in 1945 under the slogan “Vote no brigadeiro, que é bonito e é solteiro” — “Vote for the brigadier, who’s good-looking and single.”)

Ingredients

• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
• 1 ½ cups finely shredded unsweetened coconut (see note)

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

    572 calories; 39 grams fat; 31 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 52 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 46 grams sugars; 8 grams protein; 41 milligrams cholesterol; 115 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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About 30 brigadeiros

Preparation

1. In a medium-size heavy saucepan, combine condensed milk, coconut milk, butter, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup shredded coconut. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and whisk constantly until fudgy, 8 to 10 minutes. When mixture is ready, it will pull together into one soft piece, leaving browned residue on bottom of pan.
2. Slide mixture into a bowl. (Don’t scrape the pan; leave any residue behind.) Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until very firm, at least 4 hours.
3. Scoop out teaspoonfuls of the mixture and use your hands to roll into balls, about 3/4-inch in diameter. Set aside on a baking sheet.
4. Place remaining 1cup coconut in a wide bowl. Roll 4 to 6 brigadeiros at a time through coconut, covering surface completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 1 month. Serve at room temperature.

• Sweetened flaked coconut will be too sweet. If desired for flavor, toast coconut beforehand on a baking sheet in a 350-degree oven, stirring every 2 minutes.

20 minutes