Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 174 votes

Brigadeiro Cake Recipe

Brigadeiro cake is the quintessential Brazilian birthday cake, and if you ask any Brazilian, we'll say this is the one chocolate cake to rule them all! This Brigadeiro cake recipe makes three layers of moist, tender crumb, super chocolaty cake and a smooth, ooey-gooey fudgy brigadeiro frosting and filling. The best part is you can decorate it with ALL. THE. SPRINKLES!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Filling & Frosting Cooling Time
4 hrs
Total Time
5 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 1 8-inch/20cm, three layer cake
Calories: 8880 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Brazilian

Ingredients

For the Cake:
  • 2.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 cup cocoa powder, sifted
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1.5 cups whole milk
For the Brigadeiro Filling & Frosting:
  • 2x oz cans of sweet condensed milk [2x 370g cans]
  • 1x .6oz can of table cream - "drained" / sem soro (see draining instructions in post) [1x 225ml can (215g)]
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1.5 cups chocolate powder, such as nescau or nesquick
  • 1 tablespoon margarine
For Decoration:
  • 3 cups Sprinkles

Instructions

Start with the Brigadeiro Filling & Frosting:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Please note the post above contains detailed information and reference photos to help with this step, if needed.
  2. In a medium sauce pan, combine the milk, the chocolate powder and the corn starch and whisk to combine.
  3. Next, add the "drained" table cream (fatty cream only), both cans of condensed milk, the margarine, and stir to combine (make sure you have at least 2 inches of free space on top of the pan to allow the mixture to expand as it boils, without boiling over).
  4. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously with a silicone spatula, and scraping the sides of the pan, until the mixture reaches a thick pudding-like consistency, or when it reaches 220F/105C (about 12-15 minutes).
  5. Pour the hot brigadeiro into a heat safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap to contact, where the wrap is touching (is in contact with) the brigadeiro and let it cool on the counter for about an hour or two - until it's cool enough to touch.
  6. When the brigadeiro is cool enough, place the bowl in the refrigerator until the mixture is completely cold, about two hours - best overnight.*
Make the Cake:
  1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
  2. Spray, or grease and flour all 3 cake pans, line with parchment paper, spray/grease again and set aside.
  3. In a medium size mixing bowl, add the sifted all purpose flour, the cocoa powder, the baking powder, the baking soda and the salt and whisk to combine – set aside.
  4. Mix the oil, the butter and the sugar in a large bowl, using a hand mixer (or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment) until combined and creamy – about 2 minutes.
  5. Next, add the vanilla extract and the eggs, one at a time, mixing on medium speed until combined. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl between each addition.
  6. Then, on low speed, add the cocoa/flour mixture to the egg-oil mixture in three parts, alternating adding the milk, beginning and ending with flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of milk) until your batter is fully incorporated. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl after each addition.
  7. Pour equal amounts of the batter into the greased pans, and bake until a cake tester/toothpick inserted to the middle comes out lightly crumbly (about 30-35 mins).
  8. Move the cake pans to a cooling rack and let it cool for about 5-10 mins, then remove the cakes from the pans and let it cool on the rack.**
Assembly:
  1. Spread a little bit of the brigadeiro onto a cake board or directly onto the plate where you'll serve your cake.
  2. Then, place your first cake layer flat side up.
  3. Scoop about 1 cup of filling onto the cake layer, and evenly spread the filling on the cake layer.
  4. Place second cake layer on top flat side up, and spread another cup of brigadeiro filing over the second layer.
  5. Place the third cake layer, again flat side up, and evenly spread the remaining brigadeiro filling along the sides and top of the cake.
  6. Decorate with sprinkles!
Bom Apetite!

Notes

  • *The brigadeiro can be made ahead of time. Make sure to cover with plastic wrap to contact, where the wrap is touching (is in contact with) the brigadeiro, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. 
  •  
  • **The cake layers can be made ahead of time. Make sure the cakes are completely cooled, then, wrap them neatly with plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze. To decorate, make sure to defrost the cakes completely until they reach room temperature – about an hour. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1cake Calories 8880kcal (444%) Carbohydrates 1504g (501%) Protein 99g (198%) Fat 301g (463%) Saturated Fat 106g (530%) Polyunsaturated Fat 104g Monounsaturated Fat 70g Trans Fat 3g Cholesterol 687mg (229%) Sodium 3292mg (137%) Potassium 3965mg (113%) Fiber 51g (204%) Sugar 1128g (2256%) Vitamin A 3637IU (73%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 1561mg (156%) Iron 39mg (217%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 18-inch/20cm, three layer cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 8880

% Daily Value*

Serving 1cake
Calories 8880kcal 444%
Carbohydrates 1504g 501%
Protein 99g 198%
Fat 301g 463%
Saturated Fat 106g 530%
Polyunsaturated Fat 104g 612%
Monounsaturated Fat 70g 350%
Trans Fat 3g 150%
Cholesterol 687mg 229%
Sodium 3292mg 137%
Potassium 3965mg 84%
Fiber 51g 204%
Sugar 1128g 2256%
Vitamin A 3637IU 73%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 1561mg 156%
Iron 39mg 217%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Report Abuse
Login to Continue
Forgot password?
Don't have an account? Register