Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pao de Queijo) Recipe
This Brazilian Cheese Bread, known as Pao de Queijo, is a delightful, chewy, and cheesy snack made from tapioca flour and a blend of sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Ready in just 30 minutes and baked to golden perfection, these mini cheese breads are crispy on the outside and irresistibly soft and chewy inside, perfect for any time of day.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 48 mini cheese breads 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Brazilian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups tapioca flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil (avocado oil or light olive oil)
Cheese
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare several mini muffin pans by spraying them generously with nonstick cooking spray or brushing them with oil to prevent sticking.
- Blend Ingredients: In a blender, combine the tapioca flour, whole milk, eggs, vegetable oil, shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, salt, and garlic powder. Cover and puree the mixture until it is smooth and frothy, which ensures a light and airy dough.
- Portion the Batter: Use a spoon to fill the wells of the prepared mini muffin pans about ¾ full with the batter, ensuring even portions for uniform baking.
- Bake: Place the muffin pans in the preheated oven and bake undisturbed for 19 to 20 minutes, until the cheese breads are golden brown and puffed up.
- Repeat if Needed: If you have remaining batter after the first batch, blend it again for about 30 seconds to reincorporate air and create froth. Then, re-spray the muffin pans, refill with batter, and bake as before. Serve all cheese breads warm for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- Using tapioca flour is essential as it gives Pao de Queijo its characteristic chewy texture.
- For best texture, use a blender to ensure all ingredients are fully blended and the batter is frothy.
- Serving warm enhances the cheesy flavor and texture.
- Mini muffin pans help create perfectly bite-sized cheese breads.
- Vegetable oil substitutes like avocado oil or light olive oil add a mild flavor and keep the recipe vegan friendly if using plant-based cheese.
Keywords: Brazilian cheese bread, Pao de Queijo, tapioca bread, gluten free snack, cheesy bread, mini muffins, Brazilian recipe