Sweetest Hobby

Today, we’re exploring a dessert that’s not only delightful but also deeply rooted in tradition: the Brigadeiro and Meringue Dessert. The Brigadeiro is more than just a sweet treat; it represents Brazilian culture, enjoyed from childhood birthday parties to lavish weddings.

I’d love for you to join me in preparing this delightful dessert!

Ingredients

Brigadeiro:

• 2 cans of condensed milk
• 400g of heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder (minimum 50%)
• 2 teaspoons of unsalted butter
• 100g of dark chocolate or your preferred type

 Meringue:

• 4 egg whites
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup of water

Crunch layer:

• 1 cup Pecan
• ¾ demerara sugar

Brigadeiro Instruction:

1. Melt the chocolate in the microwave and mix with the cocoa powder (set aside).
2. In a saucepan, combine condensed milk, heavy cream, butter, and mix well to incorporate.
3. Add the melted chocolate to the mixture.
4. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until it reaches the coating consistency (approximately 15-17 minutes). Place in a dish for the dessert and set aside.

Crunch Layer Instructions:

1. Melt the Sugar: Begin by melting the sugar in a pan until it reaches a liquid state.
2. Add Pecans: Once the sugar is melted, add the pecans to the melted sugar.
3. Pour onto a Sheet Pan: Immediately pour the sugar and pecan mixture onto a sheet pan that has been lined with parchment paper. Spread it out evenly and allow it to cool and harden.
4. Blend in a Food Processor: After the mixture has cooled and hardened, you may use a food processor to blend it. This step can help break the crunchy layer into smaller, more manageable pieces or a desired texture for your recipe.

Meringue Instruction:

1. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
2. In a saucepan, make a syrup with sugar and water until it reaches the soft ball stage. Slowly pour this syrup over the beaten egg whites, beating until it cools and forms a firm meringue.

Assembling the Dessert

1. Layering the Dessert:
   • Start by layering Brigadeiro, a Brazilian chocolate fudge-like confection, at the bottom of individual cups or a dish.
   • Next, pour over the prepared pecan crunch layer as the second layer on top of the Brigadeiro.
   • Lastly, add a portion of meringue as the final layer on top of the pecan crunch layer.
2. Decorating:
   • Decorate the assembled dessert according to your preference or theme. I made a chocolate sauce and put over the merengue like I showed on video.

Enjoy!

Don’t miss out on our next recipe!

From my kitchen to yours,

Ana Raquel.