What do you get when you cross a handsome Brazilian politician with a wartime squeeze on international imports and an ever-present need to fundraise? Besides a pretty stressful situation, you also get brigadeiros, a popular treat sweet made from condensed milk with a dense, smooth consistency.

History claims that sales of Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes’ favorite dessert during his run for presidency in 1946 and again in 1950 helped fund a portion of both of his presidential campaigns, while also cementing the popularity of the dessert in Brazil. That, and they are so darn good. Word has it that Gomes himself was pretty fond of brigadeiros, too.