This candy is as Brazilian as it gets. The original paçoca (Pa-SSO-ca) is made with peanuts, sugar and cassava flour and it is ground in a mortar. The name paçoca comes from a Brazilian Native Dialect (tupi-guarani) and it means "to crumble". That is because this candy crumbles down easily either in your hands or in your mouth.
This candy is found at just about any grocery store, street markets and school's cafeterias around Brazil. There are two types of paçoca. One that is drier and crumbles easily and normally comes in a cork shape. The other one is slightly denser, moister and it is normally shaped into squares. The last one was always my favourite and it's the one posted here.
There is an old tradition amongst Brazilian Christians of eating paçoca during lent or on Good Friday, since peanuts are naturally high in energy. My grandmother used to mashed them with bananas (for moisture) and eat it with a fork.
You can make this candy using salted peanuts too, it will lend a slightly salty bite to it, which is common in many Brazilian paçocas. If you just like it sweet, go ahead and make it just like I did, and you'll end up with a sweet, peanuty treat.
The best part: The whole thing comes together in minutes and there is no baking or cooking involved at all.
Brazilian Peanut Squares Recipe:
makes about 36 squares
You will need:
9 oz (250g) of roasted, skinless peanuts
1 1/2 packages of Maria Cookies **(see note bellow)
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons of sugar
In the food processor, combine peanuts, cookies and pulse until it's well combined and even. It should resemble a coarse flour. Add the sugar and pulse. Add the condensed milk and process until it forms a ball of dough. Transfer to a 9 inch square baking dish lined with wax or parchment paper. Using your hands, press it very well to form an even layer. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes up to overnight. Remove from the baking dish and cut into squares. Keep it in airtight containers.
** Maria cookies are round, flat cookies found at the Ethnic aisle of most grocery stores near the Latin foods, or at Latin and sometimes Mediterranean food stores.
Easter treat bags.
18 comments:
Found you through Tastespotting, not sure if those are helicopters or whales but it's cute.
As I have tried yesterday, I can say they are delicious! My husband almost ate them all watching tv. Thanks, Rita. I loved it and I will try to make it sometime.
Delicious! I love the fact that they are so easy too!
These look so tasty! Can't wait to try and make these at home. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
What a tasty looking gift! I cant wait to try making them!
Thanks for sharing!
I would love to try your recipe, but I'm from Belgium and I dont know if our cans of condensed milk contain the same amount as where you live. Can you tell me how much ais in a can please?
Thanks for sharing, I love to collect quick and easy recipes :o)
Tanja.
So easy and your pictures are so inviting and beautiful! A winning combo, and I'll be making these.
I love Pacocinhas. In fact, I have some in my kitchen; my husband got them for me for my birthday. Are you a Brasileira? I lived in Brasil for 5 years. Love it! Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Rita!
Oh, I love to see your paçocas! They remind me my childhood! I have yet copied the recipe and will do it soon! Thanks for sharing!
Tanja - I used a 14 oz can of condensed milk, which is about 400g.
Lori- yes, I am Brazilian, from the south. Where did you live?
Hi Rita, Regina told me about those. I'm not crazy about paçocas but... hmm, home-made paçocas... they look good. :-)
I'm so excited to see this! My brother lived in Brazil for a bit (in the south) and when he came home, this is what he brought. I got hooked fast -- and then they were gone! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
These peanut squares sound really good!
So glad you posted this! I have been trying to perfect my pacoca and I can't quite get the texture right. There is a lady that sells it at the feira and it is amazing. I can't wait to give your recipe a try. What a great Easter gift!
I have made them today and they taste so good and crunchy. I have written the recipe in my favorite recipes book. Thank you for sharing :o)
Tanja.
Oh goodness I tried these a few years ago and had completely forgotten about them. I was searching for the recipe...thank you!
I would love to try out this recipe. Could you please let me know the weight out 1 1/2 packages of Maria cookies?
Thanks.
@ Anonymous: 1 package is 200 g, so you will need 300g for a package and half. Hop eyou try it, it' s delicious and simple to make.
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