Brigadeiros

Decadent and chewy brigadeiros are a beloved Brazilian treat. They were originally made by blending condensed milk, sweetened cocoa powder, and butter into fudge, which was formed into truffle-size balls and rolled in sugar (later renditions called for sprinkles). The sweet became wildly popular after Eduardo Gomes, a Brazilian Air Force brigadier general, ran for president in 1945; his female campaign volunteers would whip up batches of them to hand out at fund-raisers. Gomes lost the election, but he succeeded in popularizing his favorite confection, which came to be known by his rank. Today, fancy Brazilian candy stores offer brigadeiros in flavors as non-traditional as lemon or wasabi, rolled with coconut, cookie crumbs, even sesame seeds. But I like the traditional version best, made with cocoa powder, and a touch of cream for extra smoothness.