Brazilian Cheese Puffs Recipe (gluten free)

Brazilian Cheese Puffs (Portuguese: pão de queijo) is one of the most popular types of bread in Brazilian cuisine. These delicious bites are very popular not only in Brazil but also abroad. For example, in Portugal, you can buy cheese bread in any supermarket, both fresh and frozen. And by the way, Brazilian cheese puffs recipe is easy to cook!

Yes, frozen. And this is one of the reasons why this bread deserves your attention. But more on that later.

You’re probably wondering, “Why should I make this cheese bread? What is it even, and why are you, Marina, writing about it?”

The main feature of cheese bread is its texture, and that’s the reason it’s really worth making. After baking, pão de queijo has such a crispy crust and such a soft, fluffy, tender center that it’s simply impossible to describe with words. It melts in your mouth just like fresh cotton candy you tasted as a child. It’s no surprise pão de queijo is popular among millions of people (seriously, Brazil alone has over 200 million people, and cheese bread has gained popularity far beyond its borders).

Brazilian cheese bread doesn’t crumble, doesn’t dirty your hands, is nutritious, and therefore, it’s super convenient as:

• a snack
• breakfast
• a quick bite on the go, for a hike, in a plane … (fill in your own occasion)
• a treat with tea or coffee.

Another interesting and appealing feature of Brazilian cheese bread is its versatility. This bread can come in different shapes and sizes, from small balls to large rolls. It can also be prepared with various fillings, such as olives, garlic, herbs, or even sweet additions like chocolate.

And another convenience of this cheese bread: it can be frozen as a semi-finished product before baking.

Ingredients for Making Brazilian Cheese Puffs

The main ingredients of cheese bread are cheese and tapioca starch. You’ll also need eggs, milk mixed with water, vegetable oil, and salt. That’s all the ingredients, nothing too complicated. What? Tapioca starch? I’ll explain everything now 🙂

The first two ingredients give the bread its proper taste and texture. So it’s important to pay a little attention to them.

Cheese

Cheese gives the bread its unique flavor and aroma, as well as the desired softness. So choose a medium-soft cheese like mozzarella, but not the one in liquid, a simpler one, like for pizza. Any similar cheese will do, like Gouda, Dutch, Radamer, Cheddar, or even Parmesan (although it’s hard).

I recommend starting with mozzarella because it has a mild taste and is the softest among the mentioned cheeses.

Tapioca Starch (or Tapioca Flour)

Though it’s not a common product in our kitchens, it’s not such an exotic ingredient anymore, thanks to the growing popularity of gluten-free baking. Tapioca starch is one of these ingredients.

In South America, particularly in Brazil, this product is very common and even comes in two different forms: sweet (polvilho doce) and sour (polvilho azedo). If you’re in Brazil or Portugal, polvilho azedo is exactly what you need.

Tapioca starch (or flour) is made from cassava, a root vegetable of the tropical manioc tree native to South America. Manufacturers wash the cassava root, grind it into a soft pulp, and then squeeze out the liquid. Once the liquid evaporates, a fine white powder (which is pure starch) remains, known as tapioca flour.

Tapioca starch has a neutral flavor, is gluten-free, and is a vegan product. This makes it a gluten-free alternative to many other types of flour. It’s often found in gluten-free flour blends combined with other starches and gluten-free flours.

Where to Buy Tapioca Flour?

Sometimes you can find it on the baking products shelf in stores with a large selection of gluten-free baking ingredients. But the easiest way is to order it online, for example here.

So, now that we’ve sorted out the ingredients, it’s time to start cooking.

Ingredients:

grated mozzarella
tapioca flour (or tapioca starch)
egg
water
milk
vegetable oil
salt

Preheat the oven to 200ºC.

In a small saucepan, combine the milk, water, oil, and salt and bring to a boil over medium heat.

Pour the tapioca flour into a bowl, and as soon as the milk mixture boils, pour it over the flour. Stir well with a spoon or mixer.

Add the egg and mix again.

Add the cheese and mix everything together.

Form balls weighing about 20-25 g (about the size of a ping-pong ball).

Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put them in the preheated oven.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until they are golden and puffy. As always, keep an eye on your oven 🙂

Serve the cheese rolls warm.

To freeze the cheese bread, form the balls, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment, and put them in the freezer. Once they’re frozen, transfer them to a zip-lock bag or airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you want to bake the cheese bread, preheat the oven to 200ºC and bake the frozen balls for 25-30 minutes until they’re golden and puffed.

If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Share your experience or any creative twists you made in the comments below. Let me know if you have any questions. Your feedback helps me create even more delicious content. Enjoy your homemade treat and happy baking!