Halloween is here, and what better way to celebrate than by giving a spooky twist to one of Brazil’s most beloved treats—brigadeiros! These little chocolate truffles are already a party classic, but with a few fun additions, they transform into adorable (and delicious) Chocolate Bat Brigadeiros that are sure to impress kids and adults alike.
💡 Want more brigadeiro recipes?
Check out my blog post where I’ve rounded up all the ones I’ve shared so far—including my Crème Brûlée Brigadeiro, White Brigadeiro (coming soon), Pumpkin Spice Latte Brigadeiro (coming soon), and Coconut Brigadeiro. And don’t forget to leave a comment telling me which flavor you’d like to see next!
What Are Brigadeiros?
Brigadeiros are traditional Brazilian chocolate truffles made with sweetened condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder, then rolled in chocolate sprinkles. They’re creamy, fudgy, and a staple at every Brazilian birthday party. Today, we’re dressing them up for Halloween—complete with mini Oreo wings and candy eyeballs.
How to Make the Bat Wings 🦇
For the bat wings, I used mini Oreos. Each cookie needs to be cut in half, which sounds simple, but was trickier than I expected. The first time, most of them just crumbled apart. What helped was placing the cookies in the freezer for 30 minutes before cutting them—this made it much easier to slice them cleanly in half. It’s still a little finicky, so expect a few casualties (snack on those while you decorate 😉).
The Eyes 👀
I kept things simple and ordered Wilton candy eyeballs from Amazon. They stuck surprisingly well just by gently pressing them on top of the brigadeiros.
That said, if you plan to transport, gift, or move these around a lot, the eyes may loosen or fall off. In that case, use a dab of melted chocolate (or even a tiny bit of your brigadeiro mixture) as “glue” to secure them.
✨ A Note on Sprinkles
Traditionally, brigadeiros are rolled in chocolate sprinkles. But here’s the thing—most store-bought sprinkles are mostly sugar, not real chocolate. If you can, look for sprinkles that actually list cocoa in the ingredients. They’ll give your brigadeiros a richer flavor and smoother finish. Dutch sprinkles (hagelslag) are one of my favorites, and you can usually find them online.
If you don’t have sprinkles, no worries! You can simply roll the brigadeiros in sugar. And since these are Bat Brigadeiros, here’s a fun twist: make your own spooky black sugar by adding a drop of black food coloring to plain sugar in a small container, then shaking it around until it’s evenly coated. Instant Halloween vibes! 🦇✨
Serving & Storage
- These bat brigadeiros are perfect for Halloween parties, school events, or spooky movie nights.
- Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. Let them come to room temp before serving for the best texture.
A Note on Paper Cups
Brigadeiros are traditionally served in small paper candy cups, which keep them neat and make them perfect for gifting or serving at parties. These cups aren’t always easy to find, but I’ve had luck occasionally on Amazon, Etsy, and BrazilianMarket.ca. Search for terms like brigadeiro paper cups, brigadeiro liners, truffle cups, truffle paper liners, chocolate paper cups, or chocolate liners to find them. They add a charming touch to your treats — and make your bat brigadeiros even more festive and fun.
Final Tips
- Don’t stress if some Oreos break—imperfections make the bats look even spookier!
- If you can’t find candy eyeballs, white chocolate chips with a dot of melted dark chocolate work too.
- This recipe makes about 25 Brigadeiros (depending on how big you make them), but you can easily double it for a crowd. I do not recommend tripling the recipe. For some reason it never works out- I have tried it a couple of times with unsatisfactory results.
Chocolate Bat Brigadeiros
Equipment
- Small paper candy cups (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 egg yolk optional, for creaminess
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder or chocolate powder
- Chocolate sprinkles preferably real chocolate ones
- Mini Oreos for wings.
- Candy eyeballs
Instructions
Make the brigadeiro mixture
- If using, pinch and remove the thin membrane from the egg yolk, or pass it through a fine-mesh sieve.1 egg yolk
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, butter, egg yolk, and cocoa powder. Stir constantly over medium-low heat with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula. Cook for 10–15 minutes until the mixture thickens.2 cans sweetened condensed milk, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- You’ll know it’s ready when the mixture starts to pull away from the bottom of the pan, and when you scrape a spatula across it, it takes a few seconds to flow back together. Another classic test: tilt the pan — if the mixture slowly slides down in one mass instead of running freely, it’s done.
Cool, Shape and Decorate the Brigadeiros
- Transfer the brigadeiro mixture to a greased plate or tray. Cover with plastic wrap to prevent drying. Let cool completely to room temperature (about 2 hours).
- Grease your hands lightly with butter. Scoop small amounts of the mixture and roll them into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in chocolate sprinkles, or sugar if you prefer (see note below).Chocolate sprinkles
- Place mini Oreos in the freezer for 30 minutes before cutting — this makes them much easier to halve without crumbling. Cut each cookie in half and insert two halves into each brigadeiro for wings. Gently press two candy eyeballs onto the top of each brigadeiro. If you plan to transport or gift them, secure the eyes with a dab of melted chocolate or a small bit of brigadeiro mixture.Mini Oreos, Candy eyeballs
Notes
Notes
- Sprinkles: Traditional brigadeiros are rolled in chocolate sprinkles, but you can use any type you prefer. For richer flavor, look for sprinkles made with real cocoa (hagelslag are ideal). If you don’t have sprinkles, roll them in sugar instead. For a spooky Halloween twist, make black sugar by adding a drop of black food coloring to sugar in a container, then shaking until evenly coated.
- Egg yolk: Optional, but adds a creamier consistency.
- Wings: Freezing Oreos before cutting makes them easier to slice cleanly.
- Storage: Store brigadeiros in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature before serving.
- 💡 Pro tip: Assemble the bat wings and eyes just before serving to keep them looking their best.
Nutrition
🎃 These Chocolate Bat Brigadeiros are a playful nod to my grandma’s traditional recipe, but with a Halloween costume of their own. Sweet, chocolatey, and a little spooky—they’re guaranteed to fly off the plate!
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