Beijinhos Brazilian Coconut Kisses
The beijinhos are delicious coconut truffles of Brazilian origin made with 3 ingredients in just a few minutes and are ideal as a dessert. In Brazil, they are very popular, made for holidays and birthdays along with the brigadeiros, truffles made with condensed milk and chocolate that are loved by both young and old.
The beijinho, “little kiss” in Portuguese, is also known as branquinho “little white”, the recipe is very simple to prepare and is made of condensed milk, grated coconut, and a knob of butter. After a brief cooking, the mixture is left to rest in the refrigerator before forming spheres that are dipped in sugar or shredded coconut.
The origin of this praline is vague, but it is believed to have originated in Portuguese convents as the “nun’s kiss”, made with almonds, water, and sugar, ingredients that have been replaced over time with the current ones. Like all traditional recipes, this sweet has many variants; coconut kisses can be flavored with vanilla, orange, or lime, but they are usually served plain or with a clove in the center, giving them a delightful flavor.
Let’s see how to make the Beijinhos Brazilian Coconut Kisses…
Also try:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 18 pieces
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Brazilian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 86.23 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 10.99 (g) of which sugars 10.66 (g)
- Proteins 1.37 (g)
- Fat 4.46 (g) of which saturated 3.48 (g)of which unsaturated 0.82 (g)
- Fibers 0.33 (g)
- Sodium 36.31 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 1 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 7/8 oz condensed milk
- 1 1/2 cups grated coconut (shredded)
- 1 tbsp butter
Tools
- 1 Saucepan thick-bottomed
- 1 Small Bowl
Procedure
Place the butter in the saucepan and melt it; the butter helps prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Add the condensed milk and cook on low heat for a couple of minutes, add 1 1/3 cups of shredded coconut, mix everything and cook the mixture on low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
The beijinhos dough is ready when it begins to thicken and tends to detach from the pan walls.
At this point, pour it into a small bowl and cover with cling film in contact with the surface.
Let it cool at room temperature, then place it in the fridge for 1 hour.
P.S. If you have time, you can prepare the mixture the night before and leave it in the fridge overnight; the next day, you’ll only need to shape the sweets and serve them.
After the resting time, you will notice the mixture has become a compact block, it’s time to form the truffles.
Butter your hands and take a teaspoon of the mixture (if you want, you can weigh it; you will get 17/18 pralines of 0.71 oz each) roll it between your palms and dip it in the shredded coconut. If you like, place a clove in the center of each praline, as tradition dictates; otherwise, don’t add it.
The Beijinhos Brazilian Coconut Kisses are ready, let them rest in the fridge for 20 minutes before serving.
Tips
How long do Beijinhos last?
You can store them in the fridge, covered with cling film, for 5/7 days.
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