“Brigadeiro” on the Raw

If you have ever been to Brasil or even to a Brazilian restaurant, then you know that one of the most famous desserts is a ball of condensed milk cooked with chocolate and butter. It is called “Brigadeiro” and there is nothing more delicious in the world to satisfy your sweet tooth, if you have one.

Now, condensed milk’s ingredients are horrible for you. And the excess of sweetness is nauseating, so I tried to come up with a healthy version. Granted, it lacks the “milkiness” of its original and unhealthy counterpart but it will satisfy your “need for sweet.”

Here is my original recipe:

INGREDIENTS

6 dates (pitted)
2 tbs. raw cacao
1 tbs. lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
3 oz. raw cacao butter
6 cashew nuts
1 tsp. coconut oil
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tiny pinch of unrefined salt
1 small dollop of hazelnut oil
DIRECTIONS

Shave the raw cacao butter using a grater on a plate and leave it there.

Place the dates, the cashews, the salt, the coconut oil and the vanilla extract in a high-speed blender and pulse to blend the ingredients together.

Add the 1st tablespoon raw cacao and cacao butter and blend; add the second tablespoon of raw cacao and blend some more until it forms into a gooey, thick chocolate paste (about 1 minute).

Wash your hands well and pour a drip of hazelnut oil on the palm of your hands.

Gather about a teaspoon of the chocolate paste and push it out of the spoon onto the palm of your hand.

Roll the paste until it forms a little ball.

Place the ball on a platter.

Repeat this process until there is no more paste.

As far as decoration, you can serve one “brigadeiro” on a small plate and drizzle some cashew cream—see recipe under “Cashew Cream.”

NOTES

You will need:

– a high speed blender
– two tablespoons
– a glass flat container

NUTRITIONAL INFO

Calories: 525
Total Fat: 20g

Saturated Fat: 10g
Sodium: 11 mg
Cholesterol: 0
Carbohydrates: 86g
Dietary Fiber: 11g
Sugar: 66g
Protein: 5.25g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 8.6%
(No Vitamin A or C)