Beijinhos de Coco: the Recipe for Brazialian Coconut Kisses Balls

Beijinhos are Brazilian coconut pralines, simple and delicious, which can be prepared quickly and easily. The name, in Portuguese, means "little kiss", and refers precisely to the size of these morsels; sometimes they are also called branquinho, or "little whites", due to the color that characterizes them.

Making them won't take you more than a few minutes. In fact, all you need to do is pour the condensed milk, the butter and the coconut sprinkles into a non-stick pan, obtaining a soft and moist dough which, once cooled, can be shaped into many small spheres, to be covered with coconut and served in single-portion baking cups, garnished with a very fragrant clove, an intense and pungent Asian spice, in perfect contrast with the delicacy of the dessert.

With a soft and doughy texture to the bite, and the inebriating tropical aroma, these sweets will be ideal to serve at the end of a dinner in the company of special guests, to refresh the palate after the best South American dishes. If you prefer, you can enrich them with a few drops of vanilla extract or with grated lemon or orange zest, for a pleasant citrus touch.

As per tradition, you can offer them arranged in a chessboard pattern with the brigadeiros, typical and exquisite chocolate truffles, even on the occasion of anniversaries and birthdays: it will be impossible to resist their goodness and they will be enjoyed one after the other. You can store them in the refrigerator, tightly closed in an airtight container, for a maximum of 2 days.

Find out how to prepare beijinhos following the step-by-step procedure and advice.

How to Prepare Beijinhos

Step 1

Step 1

Pour the condensed milk into a saucepan, preferably non-stick.

Pour the condensed milk into a saucepan, preferably non-stick.

Step 2

Step 2

Add the butter in pieces.

Add the butter in pieces.

Step 3

Step 3

Also add the coconut sprinkles.

Also add the coconut sprinkles.

Step 4

Step 4

Cook over a low heat, stirring, for 7-8 minutes, until the dough begins to detach from the sides of the pan, then remove from the heat.

Cook over a low heat, stirring, for 7-8 minutes, until the dough begins to detach from the sides of the pan, then remove from the heat.

Step 5

Step 5

Transfer the mixture to a plate, spreading it over the entire surface, so that it cools. It will take about 10 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a plate, spreading it over the entire surface, so that it cools. It will take about 10 minutes.

Step 6

Step 6

Once very cold, proceed by taking small portions of dough and rolling them between the palms of your hands, to form spheres.

Once very cold, proceed by taking small portions of dough and rolling them between the palms of your hands, to form spheres.

Step 7

Step 7

Pass them in more coconut sprinkles, until they're covered entirely.

Pass them in more coconut sprinkles, until they're covered entirely.

Step 8

Step 8

Finally, decorate each beijinho as per Brazilian tradition, that is, with a clove, place them inside the baking cups and enjoy.

Finally, decorate each beijinho as per Brazilian tradition, that is, with a clove, place them inside the baking cups and enjoy.