Go Back
+ servings
A bunch of Brazilian cheese bread rolls in a basket
Print Recipe
4.94 from 91 votes

Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pao de Queijo)

Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pan de Queijo) is SO easy to make and is the perfect addition to any meal. You will love the chewy bread and cheesy center.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time28 minutes
Total Time58 minutes
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Brazilian
Keyword: Brazilian Cheese Bread
Servings: 24 2 inch rolls
Calories: 96kcal
Author: Erica Walker

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups tapioca flour (I used Bob's Red Mill -- I found mine in the gluten-free section of the grocery store)
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese get a small block of Parmesan and shred it yourself... it makes a BIG difference
  • 3/4 cup sharp or medium cheddar cheese shredded (shred yourself, just like the Parmesan)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    Combine the milk, oil, and salt in the saucepan, and whisking occasionally, bring it to a gentle boil over medium heat. Remove from heat as soon as you see big bubbles coming through the milk.
    Milk being poured into a mixing bowl
  • Add all of the tapioca flour to the saucepan and stir until you see no more dry tapioca flour. The dough will be grainy and gelatinous at this point.
    A mixing bowl with oil, milk, and tapioca flour being mixed together
  • Transfer the dough to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. (Alternatively, you can do the next few steps by hand. Be prepared for a work-out.) Beat the dough for a few minutes at medium speed until it smooths out and has cooled enough that you can hold your finger against the dough for several seconds.
    A mixing bowl with dough being scraped down
  • Whisk the eggs together in a small bowl. With the mixer on medium, beat the eggs into the dough in two additions. Wait until the first addition has been fully incorporated into the dough before adding the second. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    A bowl containing two eggs
  • With the mixer on medium, beat in the cheese until fully incorporated. The resulting dough will be very sticky, stretchy, and soft with a consistency between cake batter and cookie dough.
    Brazilian cheese bread dough in a mixing bowl
  • Using an ice cream scoop, a tablespoon measure, or a dinner spoon, scoop rounded portions of the dough into mounds on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
    A cookie scoop scooping up Brazilian cheese bread dough
  • Space the mounds an inch or two apart. Dip your scoop in water or spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
    Brazilian cheese bread dough balls on a baking sheet
  • Transfer the sheet with the puffs to the oven and bake for 25-28 minutes, until the puffs have puffed, the outsides are dry, and they are JUST starting to color. Do not over bake! Cool briefly and eat.
    Brazilian cheese bread that has been baked on a baking sheet

Video

Notes

  • Do not over bake! The texture on the outside is more dry and "bread" like and the inside is more soft and chewy.
  • Don't worry if the inside is a bit gooey. Because the rolls are made with tapioca flour it has a natural gooey quality even when they're cooked. They will taste delicious!

Nutrition

Calories: 96kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 23mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 0.2mg