Eating the Americas - South American Sweet Treats

This week we have a clear winner in the South American recipes category - Brazilian Birthday Candies! (Keep reading for the recipe!)

Last week we tried some sweet treats. We made a Brazilian style fruit punch called Batida. (I think I remembered that right.) It was kind of like a smoothie - fruit juices and sweetened condensed milk with ginger ale, then with crushed ice added. Some of us really liked it, and others thought it was just okay. 

We also made Lemon Ice Cream, using a recipe similar to a Chilean ice treat. To make this one, we put a can of evaporated milk and a can of sweetened condensed milk in the freezer for a couple hours, shaking them every half hour. We squeezed the juice of five lemons to flavor it.

It all had to be beaten together, and then frozen.

A few hours later, we enjoyed a lemon ice, which was a little like frozen yogurt. Everyone liked this, but in varying degrees. You can find this recipe at Global Table Adventure if you're interested in trying it. 

But the favorite was definitely the Brazilian Birthday Candies. They were easy and fun to make. Not only did everyone like them (a lot!) but we have already received requests to make these again, and I'm pretty sure we can arrange for that to happen.

Making birthday candies

Brigadeiro (Brazilian Birthday Candies)

(from The 2nd International Cookbook for Kids by Matthew Locricchio)
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp corn syrup
butter or margarine
candy sprinkles or multi-color jimmies

Lightly butter a 10-12 inch pie plate or platter (it needs to be heatproof because you'll pour the hot candy into it and then put it into the fridge). Combine the condensed milk, cocoa and corn syrup in a heavy saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Stir and cook until it starts to form small bubbles around the outside (around 4 minutes). When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and add 1 tsp of butter. Continue to stir and cook until it thickens and starts to pull away from the sides of the pan. This can happen quickly, and it can stick if you don't keep stirring. Cook for 3-4 minutes more after it starts to thicken, then pour into the platter and spread it evenly. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

When you take the candy out of the fridge, have your jimmies ready in a medium bowl and lightly spread a little butter on your hands. Scoop up about a teaspoon of the candy and roll into a ball in your hands. Drop it into the jimmies and gently shake the bowl or roll the candy until it is coated. Place into a serving dish, and continue until all the candies are rolled and coated. Cover the dish with foil and refrigerate until ready to serve. You can also freeze these and serve them ice cold.

Super simple!! And good with coffee, Brazilian coffee of course! Let me know if you give it a try.

This post is linked at Try a New Recipe Tuesday, hosted by Lisa at Home to 4 Kiddos.

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