Tiny bites of heaven!! That’s the best way I know how to describe the deliciously sweet confections sold by this wonderful little bakery on Sullivan Street in New York’s SoHo district.
Founder and Executive Chef Mariana Viera opened Brigadeiro in 2014. I had heard of the bakery on a popular TV show, and decided to search them out during one of my daily walks. Finding the shop turned out to be easy. Getting out of there without loading up on fabulous baked treats turned out to be a little more difficult! There were different flavors of the tiny Brigadeiros; essentially bonbons made of sweetened condensed milk, butter, egg yolk, a pinch of salt, flavoring elements like cocoa, banana, guava, coconut or other variations…and magic! There were also cakes - some conventional and others in plastic “cake jars” made for easy transport…and eating! There were cookie bars, little bread rolls, jars of Dulce de Leche and more! I literally wanted one of EVERYTHING!
When I walked into this charming women-owned spot, the first thing to hit me was the intoxicating aroma of cheese baking. One of their specialties is Pão de Queijo - Brazilian cheese bread. I had known I wanted to sample the brigadeiros themselves, but now I just KNEW I needed to get one of those lovely cheesy rolls!
So, on my first visit, I bought two of the Pão de Queijo, one of their chocolate chip cookies - one of my husband’s favorite treats - and a box of three of the classic chocolate brigadeiros.
The tiny bonbons were smooth and creamy - literally melting in our mouths. The unsweetened cocoa balanced out the sweetness of the condensed milk, which meant that it was sweet, but not TOO sweet. Perfection! The cookie was soft-baked, with a wonderful, moist texture - not dry or crumbly at all. There was also an underlying nuttiness to the dough that made us think there might have been some peanut butter in the mix, but I’m not exactly sure of that. Finally, the cheesy bread was a fabulous surprise! Made with tapioca flour, they’re gluten free, but they had a slightly crispy texture on the outside and a delightful springiness inside. The other remarkable thing about these cheese rolls, was the fact that if you really savored each bite, the flavor of the cheese - Parmesan, if I’m correct - was amplified! These rolls were not meant to be wolfed down, but eaten slowly to enhance the enjoyment! SO good!
On my second visit - the very next day, actually - I decided to try a few more goodies! This time, I bought an assortment of three different brigadeiros - Black & White, Banana Cinnamon and their limited edition flavor for that month, Guava! I also indulged in one of their Cake Jars - this one was a Dulce de Leche cake topped with the Dulce and a sprinkle of candied nuts. And lastly, I bought a Palho - a cookie bar made with the chocolate brigadeiro cream, layered with crispy Maria cookies - a slightly sweet shortbread-like biscuit.
All three of these new bonbons were delicately flavored - the Banana Cinnamon brought to mind the best banana bread you’ve ever tried. The filling in the Black & White brigadeiro had the same subtle sweetness as the classic chocolate had had, just without the cocoa. It reminded me a bit of white chocolate, but without that artificial bite that white chocolate can sometimes have. And the little crispies on the outside gave it a lovely crunch. Finally, the Guava! OMG! The lovely ladies behind the counter recommended it, as it was a limited flavor and wouldn’t be around much longer. I’m so glad I decided to try one. It was, again, slightly sweet, but with a big punch of fruity guava flavor! Just delicious!
The Dulce de Leche cake had yummy cinnamon undertones which helped cut the sweetness of the Dulce. The texture of the cake was soft and slightly crumbly, and the Dulce itself was the chef’s kiss on a fabulous little baked marvel! I actually have to admit, I ate practically the entire thing!
I think our favorite treat of this particular bunch was the Cookie Bar! The chocolate brigadeiro cream gave it a decadent, luxurious creaminess that was irresistible, while the Maria cookies lent it a crispy crunch. We both fell head over heels for this Palho, and I can definitely see myself returning to the shop to get a few more, now and then!
I was terribly impressed with Brigadeiro Bakery - not just the baked goods themselves, but by the reasonable prices, the fact that everything sold is made in-house, and especially by the warmth and friendliness of the women who run the place! If you’re looking for some delicious, unconventional desserts or even small snacks or breakfast treats, Brigadeiro should definitely be on your radar! To the ladies of Brigadeiro, I’d like to say “obrigado!” (That’s thank you, in Portuguese!)
Brigadeiro Brazilian Bakery and Açaí Shop is located at 156 Sullivan Street. Their phone number is (917) 740-5772. Their website is brigadeirobakery.com
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