Brigadeiro

Brigadeiro is a decadent Brazilian dessert made by heating three key ingredients together - unsalted butter, cocoa powder, and condensed milk, which are then rolled into a small ball, similar in shape to a truffle. First made in the 1940s, when fruit and sweets were in short supply, brigadeiro was born out of creativity with just a few ingredients. According to one legend, Brigadeir Eduardo Gomes was running for presidency in 1945 with a slogan that said "Vote for Brigadeir, he's handsome and single". The slogan won over a lot of girls who baked and sold the sweets in order to raise funds for Brigadeir's campaign. Whether the story is true or not, today it is impossible to find a birthday party in Brazil without these chocolate sweets. Brigadeiros are very sweet, with a rich chocolate flavor, and are usually topped with chocolate sprinkles. Today, they are marketed as a gourmet delicacy, made in many different flavors such as almond, mint, hazelnut, coffee, and coconut. A source of national pride, it is said that if you make brigadeiro for someone who is feeling bad, there are good chances that it will make them smile.