Brigadeiros are at the centre of every Brazilian children's birthday party. The table is set with bowls of brigadeiros next to the cake, and kids pick them up one at a time in little paper cups. Making them at home is also a popular thing for families to do together on a rainy afternoon.
They are very simple to make: condensed milk, butter, cocoa powder, all melted together in a pan and stirred until thick. Then you let the mixture cool, scoop little balls with a teaspoon, and roll each one in sprinkles. The hardest part is not eating the mixture before it cools.
Different Brazilian families have their own twists. Some roll their brigadeiros in chopped nuts. Some use white chocolate instead of cocoa. Some flavour them with coconut or coffee. There are now whole shops in Brazil that sell only fancy brigadeiros - in dozens of different flavours.
The sweet was invented in Brazil in the 1940s, but the recipe has been passed down ever since. If you ever go to a Brazilian birthday party, look for the little paper cups on the table - brigadeiros are almost certainly inside.