3 Simple Sweet Tooth Recipes Using Condensed Milk

Brazilians love their desserts, and the variety and sheer number of treats to be found can be as overwhelming and dazzling as Rio’s Carnival. Despite the variety of desserts, however, there is one, single ingredient that tends to appear more than most: condensed milk. 

It is easy to understand why condensed milk features so heavily in Brazilian desserts. On its own, it is sweet and silky. Paired with other ingredients, it lends a smooth, fudgy texture to a bite sized treat. It is also inexpensive and does not need to be refrigerated. 

The following are five easy recipes you can make at home using condensed milk and a few other simple ingredients. All can be made ahead of time and frozen for added convenience.

Brigadeiros Recipe

 

Brigadeiros are one of Brazil’s most favorite sweet treats.They are named after Brigadier General Eduardo Gomes, a Brazilian political leader during the 1940s. This recipe was practical at the time, since it did not contain any wartime rationed ingredients like eggs or milk.

Today, it is an especially favorite at children’s parties. 

Ingredients:

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons Dutch cocoa powder
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles
Pinch of salt
Paper candy cups

Instructions:

1. Grease a casserole dish or other non-stick baking dish
2. Heat your condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until butter is melted and the mixture is slightly thickened (10-15 minutes). 
3. Add a pinch of salt and stir.
4. Pour the mixture into the greased baking dish.
5. Refrigerate for one hour.
6. Pour your sprinkles onto a large plate for easy coating.
7. Using a small, 1.57” ice cream scoop or melon baller, scoop out the hardened mixture and roll each scoop into a smooth ball with your hands. 
8. Toss each ball into the dish with chocolate sprinkles until they are evenly coated.
9. Put each ball into a candy cup and refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Rabanada Recipe (Brazilian French Toast)

 

In America, French toast is traditionally made with milk and eggs and eaten with syrup for breakfast. In Brazil, a similar version is made but with condensed milk and lots of cinnamon sugar. It is eaten for dessert or an afternoon snack, instead of as a morning meal. 

Ingredients:

1 loaf of bread (preferably stale)
6 oz sweetened condensed milk
3 eggs, room temperature
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
Vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Slice bread into 1-inch slices.
2. In a small bowl, mix together eggs, condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt.
3. Soak each piece of bread on both sides and transfer to a baking dish. 
4. Pour any unused mixture over the slices. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 3 hours or up to overnight.
5. When the bread has soaked up all the mixture, preheat a skillet for medium heat. 
6. Mix your cinnamon and sugar and put it on a large plate. 
7. Add vegetable oil to the skillet.
8. Remove a slice of soaked bread from the egg mixture and drain off any excess. Fry in oil for 2-3 minutes per side, until cooked through and golden brown. 
9. Immediately after frying, coat each slice in the cinnamon sugar mixture and transfer to a paper towel lined plate or cooling rack. 

Cajuzinho Recipe (Brazilian Cashew Bites)

 

Like Brigadeiros, these bite-sized treats are popular at children’s birthday parties. The name translates to “little cashew,” since they were originally made using ground cashews. Today, however, they are more commonly made with peanuts. 

This recipe is very similar to Brigadeiros, but incorporates crushed peanuts and a sugar coating rather than sprinkles.

Ingredients:

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon Dutch cocoa powder
3 tablespoons ground, roasted peanuts (unsalted)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
Paper candy cups

Directions:

1. Grease a baking dish or glass bowl. 
2. Heat condensed milk, butter, cocoa powder, salt, and ground peanuts in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until thickened (10-15 minutes).
3. Pour mixture into the glass dish or bowl.
4. Refrigerate for one hour, or until hardened. 
5. Scoop out bite sized-amounts with a spoon or ice cream scoop and roll into balls. Coat in granulated sugar and put in candy cups.
6. Garnish with a whole roasted peanut. 
7. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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