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Authentic & Easy Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread)

A small plate holding five freshly baked, golden brown brazilian cheese bread puffs with crispy tops.
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Make this naturally gluten-free Brazilian Cheese Bread, Pão de Queijo, for a snack or appetizer. You achieve a crispy exterior and a wonderfully chewy, cheesy interior using simple tapioca flour.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups tapioca flour (sweet or sour starch)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, oil, and salt. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat.
  3. Remove the saucepan from the heat immediately. Add all the tapioca flour at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a thick, sticky dough ball.
  4. Let the dough cool for about 10 minutes until it is warm enough to handle.
  5. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated. The dough will look loose at first, but keep mixing until it comes together.
  6. Stir in the Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. The final dough should be sticky but manageable.
  7. Scoop rounded tablespoons of the dough and roll them into small balls, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each ball.
  8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese puffs are golden brown and have expanded.
  9. Serve warm for the best chewy texture.

Notes

  • For the most authentic texture, use sour tapioca starch (polvilho azedo). If you only have sweet tapioca starch (polvilho doce), the result will still be good, but slightly less chewy.
  • You can prepare the dough ahead of time, roll the balls, and freeze them on a tray. Bake directly from frozen, adding 5 to 7 minutes to the baking time.
  • This recipe is naturally gluten free, making it a great option for gluten free baking needs.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/brazilian-cheese-bread-recipe-pao-de-queijo/