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Recipe 10 of the Christmas Cookies Around the World Holiday Project for Kids: Brazilian Brigadeiro Recipe
If you are looking for a fun way to teach your children about different cultures and celebrate the holidays in your classroom, you can’t go wrong with any cookie recipe in this Christmas Cookies Around the World Series! In this post, we’re talking all about Brigadeiro Cookies and Christmas in Brazil. Brigadeiro Cookies also known as chocolate fudge sandwich cookies are a delicious and scrumptious Christmas cookie to make during the holiday season! They taste amazing and you can even customize your filling.
GET ALL 12 COOKIE RECIPES AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES WITH THE FULL CHRISTMAS COOKIES AROUND THE WORLD HOLIDAY PROJECT.
This Christmas Cookies Around the World project is a fun way to teach children about Christmas in other countries while tasting some delightful cookies!
The Christmas Cookies Around the World series will help you gently introduce preschool and early elementary aged children to:
- World geography
- Holiday traditions
- Popular cookies from various cultures and parts of the world
- Baking skills
- Math and measurement
It is also designed to encourage togetherness through baking and kindness through sharing with others.
Brief History of the Brazilian Brigadeiro
Brigadeiro is a traditional Brazilian dessert that is often eaten at parties and special events throughout the year, including at Christmas. You won’t even need the oven for this easy brigadeiro recipe. The chocolate truffles are made on the stovetop.
It is said that brigadeiro became popular in Brazil after World War II when a political candidate, Air Marshal Eduardo Gomes, who preferred to be called Brigadeiro, and his supporters shared the treats at political rallies and fundraising events.
Fun Facts About Brazil’s Christmas Traditions
- Many Brazilian Christmas traditions come from Portugal as Portugal ruled Brazil for many years.
- Nativity Scenes, known as Presépio, are very popular.
- Most people, especially Catholics, will go to a Midnight Mass service or Missa do Galo (Mass of the Roster).
- After the Missa do Gallo there are often big firework displays and in big towns and cities there are big Christmas Tree shaped displays of electric lights.
- In Brazil, Santa Claus is called Papai Noel & Bom Velhinho (Good Old Man).
- Sometimes children leave a sock near a window. If Papai Noel finds your sock, he’ll exchange it for a present!
- Taking part in a ‘Secret Santa’, known as ‘amigo secreto’ (secret friend) is popular in Brazil at Christmas.
- Favourite Christmas foods in Brazil include pork, turkey, ham, salads and fresh and dried fruits.
Videos About Christmas in Brazil
Using this helpful video, find out what Christmas is like in Brazil.
Learn all about the different holiday traditions celebrated in Brazil around Christmas.
Want to know what the difference between Christmas is here and in Brazil? This video will compare them!
Websites for Teaching Kids About Christmas in Brazil
Use this website to find out how Christmas is celebrated in Brazil.
Learn all about the different Christmas Day celebration activities in Brazil with this link.
This article will walk you through how Christmas is celebrated in Brazil.
Books About Brazil’s Christmas Traditions
Christmas in Brazil by World Book
This book talks all about how Christmas is celebrated in Brazil including several carols, recipes, and instructions for making tree ornaments.
Additional Resources for Teaching Children About Brazil
Videos
Teach your kids all about what life is like around and in Brazil.
Use this helpful video to teach your kids about the country of Brazil.
This fun video will showcase popular Brazilian dishes that they eat in Brazil.
Websites
Learn about the country of Brazil with these fun facts.
Learn about the biggest country in South America with this website.
See what it’s like to visit Brazil using this helpful travel guide.
Books
Living in . . . Brazil by Chloe Perkins
Discover what it’s like to grow up in Brazil with this fun picture book.
Brazil by Colleen Sexton
In this book, students will learn all about Brazilian culture and what Brazil kids do for fun.
Brazil For Kids: People, Places and Cultures by Baby Professor
This book will introduce your kids to everything they need to know about the culture and heritage of Brazil.
What Will I See In Brazil Geography for Kids by Baby Professor
This book is a passport into what life is like in Brazil for your kids to learn more about the country.
If You Were Me and Lived in…Brazil by Carole P. Roman
Travel to Brazil and learn all about what you would do if you were in that country!
Brazilian Brigadeiro Recipe
Brazilian Brigadeiro
Brigadeiro Cookies, also known as chocolate fudge sandwich cookies, are a delicious and scrumptious Christmas cookie to make during the holiday season!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Cooling Time 45 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Brazilian
Servings 24 Cookies
Ingredients
- 14 oz sweet condensed milk one typical can
- 1/2 cup chocolate powder cocoa powder or Nesquik
- 1 tbsp butter plus more for hands
- Chocolate sprinkles or your favorite sprinkles
- Paper candy cups
Instructions
Prepare your ingredients
Add the condensed milk, butter, and chocolate powder to a medium saucepan and stir.
Cook over medium heat, for approximately 10 minutes, stirring repeatedly. Scrape the sides and the bottom of the pan with a spatula to avoid burning.
The brigadeiro is ready when you scrape the bottom of the pan, and the brigadeiro takes 2-3 seconds to come back to its place (You can also use a candy thermometer or regular food thermometer to check when the mixture reaches 205F.
Pour the hot brigadeiro into a buttered dish or a plate, and let it cool (about 45 min or until cool enough to handle).
Pour sprinkles in a deep plate or bowl.
When the brigadeiro is cooled, butter your hands, and scoop teaspoonful portions and roll little balls.
Roll the little balls in the sprinkles. Then place in candy cups. Keep them in a cool place or in the refrigerator until serving time.
Keyword Brazilian Brigadeiro, Brazilian cookies, Brigadeiro, Christmas Cookies, Cookies
Get Your FREE Christmas Cookies Around the World Taste Test Recording Sheet
Use the taste test recording sheet to have kids record information about the cookie(s) they tasted and rate how well they liked the cookies. Individual pages can be compiled into a taste test booklet for all the cookies you try in the series, or you can choose to have kids record only their favorite cookie if you prefer.
Save paper by printing two or four to a page if preferred.
Get the entire 12 Days of Christmas Cookies Around the World project
For those interested in expanding the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies Around the World project into a class or family project we’ve created a 50+ page activity guide to make it super easy for you.
Inside you’ll find:
- Quick Reference List of Cookies and Countries
- Generic Cookie Taste Test Recording Sheet
- Cookie Taste Test Recording Table
- Class Graphing Header and Voting Cards
- Christmas Cookies Around the World Passport (three versions)
- Taste Test Journal
- Cookie Recipe Cookbook
- Editable Cookie Recipe Page to add in additional family and multi-cultural options
- Gift Tags
- Notecards
- My Family’s Favorite Cookie Recipe (two versions)
- Editable Parent Letter (two versions)
- Ingredient List by Cookie
The project is designed for use in the classroom, at home, or in community programs. Suggestions and modifications for each setting are included in the resource.
Get your Christmas Cookies Around the World Project
This project is also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
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