Learn more about Brazilian sweets and recipes that bring a nostalgic taste of grandma’s food
When talking about Brazilian sweets, the first image that comes to mind is often a very round brigadeiro, covered in sprinkles and chocolate. Despite being an icon of our cuisine, the festive sweet to roll or eat with a spoon is not the only classic Brazilian sweet.
THE Chef Luca Corazza argues that the various Brazilian ingredients allow recipes that go beyond the “mainstream”, such as the good old recipes present in Brazilian homes, those popularly called “grandmother’s meals”. Therefore, he decided to create simple recipes that use ingredients present in the basic food baskets of Brazilians, while maintaining the sweet spirit of our cuisine.
Discover interesting facts about Brazilian desserts and learn these recipes below.
What is the favorite dessert of Brazilians?
“I think Brazilians sometimes underestimate themselves, because they don’t realize how much they like fruit desserts,” Corazza points out. He says that just look at how many different fruit popsicles there are throughout the country, in addition to fruit desserts, of course, such as passion fruit mousse, fruit jelly, strawberry bonbons, grape bonbons and banoffes “which have become a hit with fresh bananas.”
Although fattier flavors sell better, the pastry chef believes that the diversity of the Brazilian palate is still present, but we end up forgetting about the fruit, because it is of low quality, or it is too syrupy, or the cooking method is not correct. “Fruit is not such an easy thing to work with, but Brazilians love it with desserts.”
What are the typical sweets of each region?
In a country as vast as Brazil, both in size and in the immensity of its cultures, it is difficult to say which sweets are typical of each region. According to Corazza, throughout the North and Northeast region, for example, there is a wide variety of chocolates, creams and cupuaçu jellies. Meanwhile, even in the Northeast, cultural diversity means that there are many typical sweets, such as cartola in Recife, munguzá in Bahia, the origin (or species) sweet in Maranhão, etc.
In the South, where the German occupation was greater, strudel is the strong point, but where the descendants of Italians are more numerous, this apple pie gives way to pastiera (an Italian cake with buttery dough and filled with ricotta, honey and wheat grains). However, what the chef believes is unanimous at the national level is ice cream, which also addresses the biome of each region, with typical fruits from the Atlantic Forest, the Amazon, the Caatinga and so on. “Today even ice creams have these regional identities, and it’s a pleasure to know that nothing is so pure anymore, everything is mixed, because a world like that is much more delicious,” he says.
Hands up!
To include the many Brazil, the pastry chef teaches how to make practical recipes that use ingredients included in the basic food basket throughout the country, with truly Brazilian alternatives that transform common objects into sweets with nostalgic textures and flavors. Check it out below.
Bahian bullet
One of Lucas Corazza’s (and his mother’s) favorite recipes, the Bahian Caramels, or Egg Caramels, have a crunchy syrup on the outside and a very creamy yolk filling on the inside. For Corazza, the difference between this dessert is the mouthfeel.
“How delicious it is to bite into something that you normally find only creamy and suddenly it becomes ‘disturbing’. It is not just that monobloc of consistency like a pudding, a quindim or a brigadeiro. No, it has crec and explodes in the mouth.”
Home-made prestige
A non-industrial alternative to the popular bonbon, this luxurious homemade recipe guarantees very moist coconut and a smooth, chocolatey coating. Learn how to make a simple coconut cake with sugar covered in chocolate.
Guava Snack
Guava, guava pinch or simply guava cookie, no matter the name, everyone knows what it is. The recipe is simple and easy and has only six ingredients.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
