Beijinho is a bite-sized sweet snack popular in Brazil, made using coconut and condensed milk. Commonly eaten at celebrations and festivities across the country, Beijinho is known as a ‘birthday candy’ and comes in many different varieties. Traditionally it is coconut flavor but chocolate, nuts, and even liquors are also used to make variations of Beijinho.
‘Beijinho’ is a Portuguese word that translates to Little Kiss which accurately describes its size and sweetness.
Origin & Cultural Significance
Often eaten at weddings, parties and birthday celebrations, Beijinho is a simple, sweet treat, and the recipe has been passed down for generations. The original recipe can be traced back to Portugal where the dish is known as ‘beijo de freira’ or a ‘nun’s kiss’, because it was originally made in convents from almonds and sugar syrup.
When Portugal colonized Brazil, they brought the treats along with them which was eventually adapted to include the Brazilian ingredient coconut – and the dessert became known as beijo de coco. When sweetened condensed milk was invented in the 20th century, the recipe was further adapted. Eventually, cloves were added to the dish for decoration, and the dish became more commonly known as ‘beijinho’.
It is made by preparing grated, desiccated coconut, before being rolled in caster sugar and grated coconut and commonly served with a single clove pushed into the top of the ball. The balls are simple, easy to make, and often a favorite for young children to make before big celebrations.
Brazilian Beijinho Recipe
Beijinho is a bite-sized snack popular in Brazil, made using coconut and condensed milk. Commonly eaten at celebrations and festivities across the country, Beijinho is known as a 'birthday candy' and comes in many different varieties.
Ingredients
- Sweetened condensed milk - 1 can (14 oz.)
- Shredded coconut - 2 cups (plus extra for coating)
- Unsalted butter - 2 tbsp
- Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
- Cloves (ground) - 3
- Chocolate sprinkles (optional) - for decoration
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine sweetened condensed milk, shredded coconut, unsalted butter, and ground cloves.
- Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring continuously, until it thickens and starts to pull away from the sides of the pan (about 10-15 minutes).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Allow the mixture to cool until it is easy to handle.
- Grease your hands with butter and shape small portions of the mixture into round balls, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Roll each Beijinho in shredded coconut until well coated.
- If desired, decorate with chocolate sprinkles by gently pressing them onto the Beijinho.
- Place the Beijinhos in small paper cups for serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 58Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 28mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 0g
Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.