Bem Casado: Delicious Brazilian Wedding Cookies

Easy and delicious, bem casado is a delightful Brazilian wedding cookie filled with dulce de leche that tastes like more!

In Brazil, bem casado is often served at weddings, bridal showers, anniversary parties, and special occasions.

Still, because they are delicious and easy to make, you can simply make this Brazilian dessert to celebrate Valentines with your significant other. No need to wait for a wedding to try it.

Bem casado translates to happily married, by the way, and it is a traditional Brazilian recipe.

Whether you’re getting married and want to add a Brazilian touch to such a special moment or simply want to munch delicious cookies, this bem casado is sure to bring you lots of joy!

Bem casado, the Brazilian wedding cookie

I’ve said many times by now that bem casado is a cookie. However, it is, in fact, two mini sponge cake discs filled with dulce de leche.

Beyond that, of all our Brazilian wedding traditions, the bem casado is one of the most important ones.

Bride and grooms usually give each guest a bem casado wrapped in delicate crepe paper before leaving the party.

In fact, I haven’t been to a single wedding in Brazil where that didn’t happen.

Bem casado and Brazilian weddings belong together.

Confession: I might even have smuggled one or two to take home. Don’t worry. The bride and the groom are always prepared for that situation because everybody knows how delicious these treats are!

Beyond, it’s common to find a table at the entrance hall of a wedding party with a tall tower of bem casado. It usually has 2-3 times the number of guests in cookies.

Why bem casado?

The legend has it that the bem casado represents two parts united by cooperation, commitment, respect, and a lot of happiness – literally, a happily married couple.

Some people believe that not serving bem casado on their wedding day might bring bad luck.

All-purpose flour or potato starch?

While you can make your Brazilian wedding cookie with all-purpose flour, I recommend using potato starch as described below.

It makes the batter airy and lighter, which is exactly the texture you need to achieve.

Can I use other fillings for this Brazilian wedding cookies?

Absolutely! I’m using dulce de leche in this recipe because it is the most traditional flavor in Brazil.

Still, you can be as creative as you wish.

For instance, you can use a brigadeiro or a beijinho filling – both are Brazilian recipes.

What you will need for bem casado

• Hand mixer
• Piping bag
• Round piping tip (nozzle)
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• Round cookie cutters – 2 inches/5 centimeters
• Cooling rack

Tips for making perfect Brazilian wedding cookies

• Don’t let it become a cookie! Although the name of this recipe is “Brazilian wedding cookie,” bem casado is more of a mini sponge cake.
• You might want to get my recipe on how to make dulce de leche at home. It tastes much better than canned options, and it is straightforward to make!

For how many days can store the bem casado?

You can keep your bem casado for up to a week at room temperature, 15 days in the fridge, or 60 days in the freezer.

For that, put the cookies in an air-tight container and let the bem casado thaw in the fridge overnight.

Detailed explanation on how to make bem casado

Batter

Pre-heat the oven to 392F/200C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. (Always recommended for cookies.) Set aside.

Using a hand mixer, mix the egg whites until stiff on medium-high speed. Gradually, add the sugar and mix it well.

Decrease the speed to low and add the baking powder.

Next, add the potato starch using a sifter. Once you’re done adding the potato starch, turn off the hand mixer and gently whisk it by hand.

You will want to mix it just until the potato starch is incorporated, no more. This way, the gluten won’t develop, and your bem casado will continue to be fluffy rather than elastic.

Place the piping bag with a round tip–I usually use a 12 tip–inside a tall glass and fill it with the batter.

Pipe onto the silicone baking sheet fixed on a baking sheet. Pipe the cookies perpendicular to the surface and try to be consistent with the sizes.

When you’re finishing the piping motion, stop squeezing the bag and pull up with a circular motion.

Arrange 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.

Put them immediately in the oven for about 5-7 minutes or until they are light beige.

Once they are done, remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Next, cut each cookie into shape using a 2-inches/5-centimeters round cookie cutter. Set aside.

Filling

In Brazil, we use dulce de leche for the filling. You can either buy a ready-to-use can or make your own dulce de leche in an instant pot. It’s easy and safe. I’ve tried myself.

Glaze

In a medium-sized bowl, dissolve the powdered sugar in warm water and stir it well. It should become a thick sauce.

Assembling your Brazilian wedding cookies

Using a spreader, spread a little more than a teaspoon of dulce de leche onto the back of half the shells.

Form a sandwich and dip each assembled bem casado into the glaze using a fork. You might have to push it down with your finger.

Let them dry on the cooling rack for about 30 minutes, then turn each bem casado upside down and let them dry for another 30 minutes.

Your Brazilian wedding cookie is ready to serve.

If you would like to wrap these Brazilian cookies for an actual wedding (yay, so exciting!), follow the next steps.

Wrap the cookies in an 8-inch piece of cellophane paper to avoid leaking.

Then, wrap them with an 8-inch crepe paper and tie a ribbon with either a satin ribbon (for a fancy look) or bakers twine (for a rustic look).

Distribute them to the wedding guests and enjoy your party! Congratulations to the couple! Parabéns!

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