Brazilian Cheese Rolls Recipe (Pão de Queijo) (2024)

By Christina | Food Apparel 2 Comments

Brazilian Cheese Rolls (Pão de Queijo) are cheesy and chewy little nuggets of goodness! A couple different versions here for cheese lovers and gluten-freepeeps!

When my husband and I got married (oh so many years ago, it seems!), we went to an all-inclusive resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (just north of Puerto Vallarta) for our honeymoon. I am kind of in love with that place! My favorite memories of that trip are walking along the beach in the middle of the night with the smell of blossoms in the air, our amazing sand dollar adventure (literally hundreds of live ones all in one spot), and eating some good Brazilian churrasco(I know – Brazilian food in Mexico….. but hey, it is what it is). Man, I’d better stop reminiscing because now I’m just wanting to drop everything I’m doing and go back right now!

Anyway, I ramble…..the reason I even thought about this is because every time I make these Brazilian Cheese Rolls (Pão de Queijo), it reminds me of that trip. These rolls are delicious and addictive little nuggets of chewy goodness! The thing about these cheese rolls that make them really different from any other roll is the use of tapioca flour for the base. In their most simplistic form, these cheese rolls can be made in a blender like this version at Simplyrecipes.com. I’m dying to try this method because it looks so fast and easy.

The recipe that I’m giving you today is our favorite (to-date) gourmet version that has come after a lot of trial and error. This method uses a technique of partially cooking the dough before adding the eggs and cheese, kind of similar topâte a choux.This version is chewy on the inside, crusty on the outside. Although Brazilian cheese bread is traditionally made solely of tapioca flour, we add a little all-purpose flour in this version to achieve this result. I like me some crusty bread! (If you are looking for a gluten-free version, just see the recipe notes to easily make that change.)

One more quick note: I highly recommend using this particular brand and type of Queso Fresco: Cacique Ranchero. We have used other brands or even different styles of the Cacique brand, but somehow this one just always turns out better! We also love adding a good dose of Parmesan cheese to give it a nice zing of cheesy flavor!

Be careful when making these! It has been, ahem, reported that consumption of the whole batch by one or two people in one sitting is highly likely……..

Brazilian Cheese Rolls

Brazilian Cheese Rolls with a Parmesan Kick!

CourseBread

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 24 rolls

Author Ben Lakey

Ingredients

  • 1/2cupmilk
  • 1/4cupwater
  • 1/4cupcanola oil
  • Dash of salt
  • 1cuptapioca flour
  • 1/3cupunbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1large egg
  • 1/3cupcrumbled queso frescoI recommend Cacique Ranchero brand, packed
  • 1/3cupgrated Parmesan cheesepacked

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. Spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray.

  3. Combine milk, water, oil and salt in a medium pot.

  4. In a small bowl, combine tapioca flour and all-purpose flour and stir until well-blended. Set aside.

  5. On the stove, over medium heat, warm up milk mixture until it just begins a low boil. Remove from heat immediately.

  6. With a wooden spoon, stir flour mixture into milk mixture as fast as possible until mixture is all moistened and forms a sticky ball (mixture will be very sticky!). Set aside until cool enough to handle (about 10 minutes).

  7. Transfer dough to a large bowl, and, using hands, knead the egg into the dough (mixture will still be very sticky).

  8. Add cheeses and knead until well-incorporated. Dough will appear slightly lumpy.

  9. Lightly coat your hands with canola oil (I like to have a small bowl of it sitting by for me to coat my hands as needed during this process).

  10. Form dough into rounded one-inch balls and drop one in each muffin tin.

  11. Bake for about 29-32 minutes, or until golden brown.

Recipe Notes

Make it Fit (Gluten-Free):
Eliminate the all-purpose flour, and increase the tapioca flour from 1 cup to approximately 1 1/4 cups. (Tapioca flour absorbs more moisture, so when substituting for all-purpose flour, you need to scale it down a little).
Change it Up:
Substitute a different type of your favorite hard cheese for the Parmesan (such as Romano or Asiago).
Use all Queso Fresco (will tone the flavor down as this cheese is very mild), or all Parmesan. You will most likely need to make some minor adjustments on your flour and cooking time, (up and down, respectively), as altering the amount of Queso Fresco will change the moisture content in the recipe.

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Brazilian Cheese Rolls Recipe (Pão de Queijo) (4)

Christina | Food Apparel

I'm Christina and I'm a self-proclaimed foodie and chocoholic! I am a real estate broker by trade. I have a wonderful husband, 3 girls 4 and under (crazy!!!) and a hyper dog. Want to know my quirks? Go here for a little Q&A.

Brazilian Cheese Rolls Recipe (Pão de Queijo) (5)

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Brazilian Cheese Rolls Recipe (Pão de Queijo) (2024)

FAQs

What if pao de queijo batter is too runny? ›

**If your dough is too runny or soft to scoop, just chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer to let it firm up before scooping! Bake at 350F/177C for approximately 20 minutes or until lightly golden. Pao de queijo are best when warm but can easily be reheated in a toaster oven.

Why is my pao de queijo gummy? ›

The biggest difference is that pão de queijo are made with sour cassava flour or tapioca flour instead of all-purpose flour. Tapioca flour is decidedly strange stuff. When mixed with the hot milk in these pão, it turns gelatinous and sticky, closer to wallpaper paste than something you'd put in the oven.

What do Brazilians eat with pao de queijo? ›

In Brazil, people traditionally eat pao de queijo for breakfast or as a snack – often with jam, honey or other sweet condiments for breakfast, or with savoury accompaniments and as a side to stew-like dishes.

How would you describe pao de queijo? ›

Pão de queijo (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpɐ̃w dʒi ˈkejʒu], "cheese buns" in Portuguese) or Brazilian cheese buns is a small, baked cheese roll or cheese bun, a popular snack and breakfast food in Brazil. It is a traditional Brazilian recipe, originating in the state of Minas Gerais.

What if my dough is too watery? ›

Another method: add flour. You don't want too much—start mixing with one tablespoon and slowly increase from there. This will help your ingredients adhere to one another. While it may not be as firm as you'd like, it'll work well enough to bake.

What if batter is too dry? ›

First, try adding more liquid to the dough. This could be milk, water, or even just additional eggs. If that doesn't work, you could also try melting some butter and adding it to the dough. Sometimes all your dough needs is a little extra fat to help it come together.

What is the difference between pan de bono and pao de queijo? ›

Pao de queijo is made with cassava starch, milk, cheese, eggs and butter or oil, and pandebono is made with corn flour, cassava starch, cheese, eggs, and a little sugar. We've found that pandebono also tastes a little sweeter than pao de queijo, thanks to the sugar.

Is Brazilian cheese bread supposed to be gooey? ›

Our Brazilian Cheese Bread is made with tapioca flour, which gives the dough a natural gooey quality even when cooked. This crispy, golden brown crust and soft inside is what has made Brazilian Cheese Bread (pão de queijo) beloved around the world, but we know the distinct texture is not for everyone.

What is the difference between pao de queijo and chipa? ›

These are made in different countries in South America: the main difference would be the cheese used in this bread. Pao de Queijo uses cheese(s) from Brazil, Chipas calls for cheese(s) from Argentina… what these breads have in common is the use of yuca starch.

Is pao de queijo unhealthy? ›

They're made with only 8 ingredients that are all lower carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free. So while Pao de Queijo tastes incredibly rich and “naughty,” they are actually quite simple and healthy!

Is pao de queijo a breakfast food? ›

Pão de queijo is a classic Brazilian snack and breakfast bread. Light and airy, with a delightful chew and savory, cheesy flavor, each puff has a lightly crispy exterior and a tender, bubbly center.

What does pão pão queijo queijo mean? ›

Pão, pão, queijo, queijo

Literal translation: Bread, bread, cheese, cheese. Figurative translation: Call a spade a spade. Explanation: This is the expression used whenever you need to tell someone how simple something is, in a very honest way.

Do Brazilians love cheese? ›

The inhabitants of the state are known as cheese eaters and for their pride in the food. You can eat cheese with everything and all day in Minas Gerais: from breakfast to dinner, pure or in recipes, with coffee, cachaça, beer, or wine.

What can I add if batter is too wet? ›

A good recipe will tell you what the batter should look like, if it is out if the ordinary. If you've added to much oil or water to your mix then you'll need to compensate with extra dry ingredients. You'll need to add some additional flour to even out your mix. About a tablespoon per unit of flour you added should do.

Why is my batter so thin? ›

If the batter is too thin, you can try adjusting it by adding more dry ingredients like flour or reducing the amount of liquid. However, it's best to consult the specific recipe or seek guidance from a baking expert for the best course of action.

Why is my pastry dough too wet? ›

If Your Dough Is Too Wet, Rosemary Says...

“Other times it's too much water. It [also] depends on how much butter is in the pastry. It can be solved by putting it into the fridge for a few hours!”

How do you thicken bread batter? ›

You can make the batter thinner by adding a few tablespoons of milk or water, and you can make the batter thicker by adding a few more tablespoons of flour.

References

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