A casadinho begins as a pair: two small cookies, filling between them and sugar on the outside. Its appeal is the mix of delicate pastry and a sweet center. In the photo, each pair and its filling are easy to see.

Why the name casadinho?

The name describes the shape: two cookies joined as a pair. Guava paste is one familiar filling in Brazilian recipes, but other fillings are used too. The name refers to the way the cookies are assembled, rather than one particular flavor.

From the oven to the table

The cookies are baked separately and cooled before the filling is added. Then they are joined in pairs and may be rolled in sugar. Their small size makes them easy to serve with coffee or on a dessert table.

Casadinhos from our kitchen

This tray was photographed at Meritíssimo. The filling shows between the two cookies, with sugar on the outside. Ask at the counter about today's flavors and availability.

Preparation references: Globo Recipes and a UFMG recipe book. These sources describe assembly; we do not assign an undocumented origin date.