Brazilian

Serving

Beijinho (Coconut Truffles)

Name: Beijinho (Coconut Truffles)
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Brazilian
Ingredients: 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk; 2 tbsp butter; 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, plus extra for rolling; Whole cloves, for garnish (about 20); 1/4 cup granulated sugar, for rolling

Fudgy little coconut truffles rolled in sugar and topped with a single clove, the ever-present partner to brigadeiros at Brazilian parties.

40 minutes

Serves 8

Dessert

14 min prep

22 min cook

Contains common allergens

Dairy

In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.

Instructions

7 steps

1
In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the condensed milk, butter, and shredded coconut.
2
Cook, stirring constantly, for 10-12 minutes until the mixture thickens and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
3
Transfer to a greased plate and let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 30 minutes until firm enough to handle.
4
Grease your hands with butter and roll the mixture into small balls, about 1 tablespoon each.
5
Roll each ball in granulated sugar or extra shredded coconut.
6
Press a whole clove into the top of each truffle for garnish.
7
Serve in mini paper cups at room temperature.

Beijinho (Coconut Truffles) — plated and served — Serving moment. How Beijinho (Coconut Truffles) looks plated and ready to eat — a representative photo, not a step in the recipe.

Listahan Family Score™

68/100

Works for many families

Allergen-friendly 90

Kid-friendly 55

Weeknight-easy 54

Budget-friendly 72

Great leftovers 65

Pantry-friendly 64

Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.

Nutrition

per serving

Calories

0 g

Protein

8 g

Carbs

6 g

Fat

Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.

Listahan cooking guide

Chef notes & practical guide

Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.

Cultural context

Beijinho, meaning little kiss, is the coconut sibling to brigadeiro, Brazil's chocolate condensed-milk candy, and both emerged in the mid-20th century as inexpensive, quick-to-make sweets for children's birthday parties. The clove pressed into the top is a traditional visual touch, meant to evoke a small flower or bud, and is typically removed before eating rather than chewed. It remains a fixture of the Brazilian festa infantil table alongside brigadeiro and cajuzinho.

Listahan note

This version follows the classic stovetop method, cooking condensed milk, butter, and coconut down until it pulls from the pan, then rolling and finishing each truffle with a clove for the traditional presentation.

Technique cues

Stirring constantly while the mixture cooks prevents the condensed milk sugars from scorching on the bottom of the pan, which happens quickly once the mixture thickens.
The mixture is done when it visibly pulls away from the sides of the pan as you stir, not simply when it looks thick in the spoon, that visual cue is the reliable doneness test for this style of Brazilian candy.
Greasing your hands with butter before rolling keeps the sticky mixture from adhering to your palms, which otherwise makes shaping neat, even balls very difficult.

Kitchen flow

Parallel prep: Set out the greased plate and rolling sugar or coconut before you start cooking, since the mixture needs to move quickly from pan to plate once thickened.
Make-ahead: The cooked mixture can be made a day ahead and chilled, then rolled into balls the next day once firm.
Leftover move: Beijinho keeps at room temperature in mini cups for a party but should be refrigerated if not eaten within a few hours in a warm room.
Cleanup rhythm: Soak the saucepan in hot water immediately after cooking, the condensed milk residue hardens onto the pan quickly once cooled.

Ingredient brief

Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.

sweetened condensed milk

the entire candy base

Purpose: condensed milk provides both the sweetness and the thick, fudgy texture that defines this whole category of Brazilian candies once reduced on the stove

Handling: cook it down slowly over medium-low heat, stirring constantly to avoid scorching

Adaptation: there is no real substitute; this ingredient defines the texture and category of candy

unsweetened shredded coconut, plus extra for rolling

flavor and textural signature

Purpose: coconut is what distinguishes beijinho from its chocolate sibling brigadeiro, giving it a chewy bite and tropical sweetness

Handling: cook it into the base, then use a separate portion for the exterior coating after rolling

Adaptation: sweetened shredded coconut works with a slight reduction elsewhere in added sugar to balance sweetness

butter

richness and non-stick aid

Purpose: butter adds a rounder, less cloying richness to the condensed milk base and helps the mixture release cleanly from the pan as it cooks

Handling: add at the start alongside the condensed milk and coconut so it melts in evenly

Adaptation: a plant-based butter substitute works for a dairy-adjacent version, though condensed milk itself still contains dairy

whole cloves, for garnish

traditional decorative finish

Purpose: a single clove pressed into the top is the classic visual signature of beijinho, meant to resemble a small flower bud

Handling: press gently into the top of each rolled ball just before serving

Adaptation: omit entirely for a version safer for young children who might swallow the whole clove, or use a small piece of coconut instead

Technique notes

Reduce the heat if the mixture starts to bubble too vigorously, a hard boil risks scorching the sugars before the texture fully develops.
Chill the cooked mixture until firm enough to hold its shape when rolled, working with it too warm produces flat, misshapen truffles.
Roll all the balls to a consistent size using a tablespoon measure so they cook and set uniformly and look neat on a serving tray.

Ingredient swaps

Child-safe garnish: Skip the whole clove garnish for young children who might swallow it whole, and use a small pinch of extra coconut on top instead.
Lower-sugar direction: Roll in unsweetened coconut instead of granulated sugar for a slightly less sweet exterior coating.
Flavor variation: Stir a small amount of finely chopped toasted coconut or a splash of coconut liqueur into the base for an adult party version.

Serve alongside

brigadeiro
cajuzinho
a simple Brazilian birthday sponge cake
chilled guarana soda
cafezinho

Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.

Storage & reheating

Store at room temperature in mini paper cups for up to a day, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to a week.
Not reheated; serve at room temperature or lightly chilled.
The rolled truffles freeze well for up to 2 months; thaw in the fridge before serving.

Equipment

medium saucepan
greased plate for cooling
mini paper candy cups for serving

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