Happy New Year everyone! And what better way to start the new year than celebrating the arrival of 2012 with Bem Casado, a classic Brazilian pastry?
When you think about Brazil, one of the first words that comes to mind is — party. Yes, indeed Brazilians are always celebrating life and we are known to love parties. There is a whole industry catering to the party business turning in millions of Reais (the Brazilian currency) every year. And from the time I was growing up in Rio, to this day, the only thing that changed is that the party industry has grown bigger and stronger.
In one recent visit to Rio, I met with Elvira Bona, a Maranhense (someone born in the state of Maranhão) who now lives in Rio de Janeiro, and is the authority in the subject of Bem- Casado, a celebration pastry.
The literal translation for Bem Casado is “well-married”, meaning that one cookie should be perfectly fitted to the other, similar in concept to Alfajores, Whoopie Pie, or French macaroons. Essentially, they all are sandwich-cookies or cookie-sandwiches, but in this case the “ cookie” part is more a cake than a cookie. A genoise batter is piped and baked until lightly golden brown. Then the two “cakes” are filled with dulce de leche, lemon cream, passion fruit curd, doce de ovos (egg yolk sweets, Portuguese style), walnuts, chocolate ganache, or apricot paste.
“ Bem casado é uma celebração! Bem-Casado is a celebration!”, Elvira Bona says, while explaining the steps involved in the making. First, the dough is prepared, piped into 2-inch circles and baked. Then, the cake circle is filled and sandwiched. Next, the whole “cookie” is enrobed in a super thin sugar coating (made of confection sugar and water), trimmed, and dried on a cookie rack.
And finally comes the wrapping stage.
Elvira worked many jobs in Rio before venturing into the party business. Always entertaining family and friends, the Bem-Casado business started when she got a phone call from a friend who actually wanted to order some. Reluctant, she accepted. From that day on, mouth-to-mouth recommendations snowballed into a real business as one the top producers of Bem-Casados in the country.
Based in Copacabana, a popular neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, she and her staff of 16 prepare up to 5,000 Bem-Casados every week, shipping all over the country.
“Eu vivo disso! , I make a living out of this! ” she says, proudly showing the many different types of wrapping. “For baby showers, we suggest this, for Brazilian themed parties, we suggest that”, as she goes on showing me an incredible variety of beautiful wrappings, papers, and ribbons available to dress up the sweet.
I would love to conclude this article with a recipe, but Elvira wasn’t about to give her secret recipe away, which we totally respect.
If you really want to make Bem-Casado, I highly encourage you go to the kitchen and create your own recipe. It’s really easy! Here is how to: find a recipe for genoise cake, pipe, and bake. Buy a jar of top quality dulce de letche to use as the filling ( That of course, is the easiest shortcut. If you are more adventurous, make your own filling; lemon curd, passion curd, chocolate ganache, are great options). Sugar coating: place a cup of sifted confection sugar in a bowl, thin it out with warm water, by eye, whisking well. Bingo!
Let me know how it comes out.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and a very sweet 2012, with lots of Bem Casado to celebrate!