Beijinho
Beijinho de coco: soft coconut and condensed milk sweets, rolled in sugar and topped with a clove (plus 1 hour cooling)
Beijinho ('little kiss') is the white twin of brigadeiro, and the two always appear side by side at Brazilian birthday parties all over the country. Condensed milk is cooked with butter and coconut until thick, then rolled into small balls, coated in sugar or coconut and topped with a single clove. Chef's tip: don't skip the clove. It's the signature of a proper beijinho, giving a little warm, spicy perfume that balances all that sweetness (it's for decoration and aroma; take it out before eating).
- Total time
- 32 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk1 tin
- ½ oz unsalted butterplus a little for your hands
- 2 ½ oz unsweetened desiccated coconutdivided
- 3 tbsp coconut milk (optional)
- 1 ¾ oz caster sugarfor rolling
- 24 whole cloves
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put the 14 oz sweetened condensed milk, ½ oz unsalted butter, 3 tbsp coconut milk if using and two thirds of the 1 ⅔ oz unsweetened desiccated coconut in a heavy, non-stick pan.
Step 2: Cook over a medium-low heat, stirring constantly and scraping the base, for 10–12 minutes, until thick and shiny and it pulls away from the base in one piece when you tilt the pan. It won't darken like brigadeiro; it should stay creamy-white to pale gold.
12 minStep 3: Scrape onto a buttered plate, cover the surface with cling film and leave to cool completely, about 1 hour.
60 minStep 4: Mix the 1 ¾ oz caster sugar with the remaining 0.8 oz unsweetened desiccated coconut on a plate. Butter your hands, roll teaspoons of the mixture into about 24 smooth balls and roll them in the sugar mix.
Step 5: Press a 24 whole cloves into the top of each and set in small paper cases.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 160 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does beijinho take?
- About 32 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sweetened condensed milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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