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Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo)

April 6, 2020 by Milk and Pop

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If you’re Brazilian, you probably grew up eating these little pieces of heaven. If you’re not, it will only take one bite for this bread to win your heart. Brazilian cheese bread – also known as pão de queijo – is probably the best gluten-free snack in the entire world, and you are minutes away from learning how to make this deliciousness.

a stack of cheese bread with a cup of black coffee

What is Brazilian cheese bread?

Brazilian cheese bread is a gluten free cheese snack. It’s like a choux pastry combined with a cheesy dinner roll.

This bread is stretchy and chewy, but somewhat puffy and light at the same time. Tapioca starch is one of the 2 main ingredients of the recipe, and what gives this snack its unique characteristics.

What is tapioca starch?

Gluten-intolerant, rejoice, this recipe is especially for you! These cheese balls are made exclusively with tapioca starch, cheese, vegetable oil and water, nothing else. But what is tapioca starch?

Tapioca starch is a very fine white flour made from the crushed pulp of the cassava root. Here in Canada, as well as in the United States, tapioca starch can also be sold sometimes as tapioca flour. You can see a photo of the tapioca starch below to make sure you’re using the right ingredient.

Tapioca starch is a great gluten-free alternative for baking, as it creates a crisp crust and gives a chewy texture to baked goods. This ingredient is what gives these cheese puffs their stretchy texture.

Classic Brazilian cheese bread always uses tapioca starch, and it’s always gluten-free. You can’t substitute this ingredient for any other kind of starch or flour.

  • tapioca starch
  • cheese breads just out of the oven

How to make it

Brazilian cheese bread is not a difficult recipe, but it can be a bit tricky if it’s your first time doing it.

  • Boil water and oil. Start by boiling water with oil and a pinch of salt.
  • Scold the tapioca starch. Pour the hot mixture over the tapioca starch and mix it using your mixer or a spoon. Mix until the dough looks crumbly and all the liquid is incorporated into the starch.
  • Let the dough cool. Let it cool for 10 minutes or until you can hold your finger against it. You need to do that to avoid cooking the egg when mixing it into the dough.
  • plate full of classic brazilian cheese bread with a black coffee on the side
  • breads just out of the oven
  • Preheat the oven. Preheat it to 350° F, rack in the middle.
  • Add the egg. Mix until it is incorporated into the dough. It will look like it won’t combine, but it will. If you don’t have a mixer and find it too hard to do it with a spoon, you can use your hands.
  • Add the cheese and knead the dough until it’s fully incorporated. The final dough will be similar to a cookie dough in consistency, not too sticky and easy to shape with your hands.
  • To shape the dough into balls, use a spoon or a scoop and shape them a bit smaller than a golf ball. If you find the dough is too sticky to shape, wet your hands with cold water or pour some oil in your hands to help.
  • Place the cheese balls on a baking sheet. Line it with parchment paper or a silicone mat to avoid a too brown bottom. Leave about 1/2 to 1 inch of space between each one.
  • Bake for 25 minutes on 350°F. Bake them until they’re puffed and golden on top.

If your dough is too sticky to work with, refrigerate it for 1 hour. That happened to me when I used a different brand once.

Now I stick with Bob’s Red Mill tapioca starch (this is not a sponsored post). This recipe never fails with it.

  • dough
  • stand mixer mixing dough
  • cheese bread dough

What kind of cheese should I use?

About the cheese: you can make this recipe with lots of different cheeses. But I would stick with cheddar, Parmesan, and mozzarella.

Choose always a more ripened cheese: fresh cheese like ricotta is no good for this bread. In this recipe, I use a combination of Parmesan and old white cheddar.

Tips for always getting the best cheese bread

  • Choose good quality ingredients. It seems obvious, but in this recipe, good ingredients make all the difference – especially when it comes to the cheese. Choose a brand you really like, because your bread is going to taste like it. Bland cheese makes bland Brazilian cheese bread.
  • Don’t under-mix. After adding the hot water and oil to the starch, you have to mix it until everything is well combined. Do it again after adding the egg, and again after the cheeses. A homogeneous dough is essential for a great Brazilian cheese bread. You can see what the dough looks like below.
  • Preheat your oven. For this snack to have a crispy crust, it needs an already hot oven. Turn it on at 350° F and preheat it for at least 15 minutes before baking your cheese bread.

Storing and Freezing

Brazilian Cheese Bread is best when fresh out of the oven! But they’re also great when reheated. Store in an airtight container after they have cooled, and use your oven on low temperature or microwave to reheat them. They’re good for up to 2 days.

You can make the dough in advance and store it covered in your refrigerator – or store it already shaped if you prefer. Just make sure it’s well covered. For baking, just place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and don’t forget to preheat your oven.

You can also freeze these cheese balls. But freeze them already shaped, stored inside a freezer safe bag. For baking, just place the frozen shaped dough in a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 1 to 2 minutes longer than you would bake unfrozen dough.

After baked, you don’t need to refrigerate Brazilian cheese bread.

Can I substitute any of the ingredients?

Although I follow this recipe most of the time, there are days I bake my cheese bread using butter instead of vegetable oil, and milk (whole milk or skimmed) instead of water.

You can also bake using only Parmesan cheese, or the cheese of your choice. Just don’t substitute the tapioca starch, nor the egg.

  • dough ready to go to the oven
  • classic brazilian cheese bread with a black coffee on the side
  • breads on a sheet tray

What to serve with pão de queijo?

If you’re asking what goes well with Brazilian cheese bread, my answer is: EVERYTHING!

I love to spread butter or dulce de leche on them, and I love having my cheese bread along with a large cup of black coffee. Hubby likes it with cream cheese and always saves some for dipping in his soup – if there’s any left for dinner.

Got a question about Brazilian cheese bread? Let me know in the comments!

More bread recipes

Drop Cheddar Biscuits
Sourdough English Muffins
Homemade Pumpkin Bagels
Whole Wheat Breakfast Rolls
Perfect Sandwich Roll

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Continue to Content
Yield: 20 small cheese breads

Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo)

a stack of cheese bread with a cup of black coffee

Brazilian cheese bread - also known as pão de queijo - is probably the best gluten-free snack in the entire world, and you are minutes away from learning how to make this deliciousness.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cup tapioca starch
  • 1 cup packed grated parmesan
  • 1 cup packed grated cheddar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

    1. Start by boiling the water with the oil and a pinch of salt.
    2. In a large bowl, add the tapioca starch and pour the hot water mixture. Watch the recipe's video if you're having any doubt.
    3. With a spoon, or using your stand mixer on medium-low, mix it until there’s no more dry tapioca starch left. The dough should be grainy and gelatinous. Let it cool for 10 minutes or until you can hold your finger against it.
    4. Preheat the oven to 350° F, rack in the middle.
    5. Add the egg, and mix with your mixer on medium-low or with a spoon until it is incorporated into the dough. It will look like it won't combine, but it will. If you don't have a mixer and find it too hard to do it with a spoon, you can as well use your hands.
    6. After the egg is incorporated, add the cheese and knead the dough until the cheese is fully mixed. The final dough will be similar to a cookie dough in consistency, not too sticky and easy to shape with your hands.
    7. To shape the dough into balls, use a spoon or a scoop and shape them a bit smaller than a golf ball. If you find the dough is too sticky to shape, wet your hands with cold water or pour some oil in your hands to help. Don’t add more tapioca flour!
    8. Place the cheese balls on a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper or a silicone mat, leaving about 1/2 to 1 inch of space between each one.
    9. Bake for 25 minutes on 350°F until they’re puffed and golden on top.
    10. Serve them warm.

Notes

You can add more or less salt if you find your cheese is not as salty as you would like, or too salty. Just don't forget to add at least a pinch.

You can substitute the parmesan and white cheddar for any type of firm cheese you like.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

20

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 138mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g

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© Milk and Pop
Cuisine: Brazilian / Category: Bread

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Country Kitchen

    October 3, 2020 at 9:41 am

    I love Brazilian Cheese breadand yours was so good! My whole family loved them and have already asked me to make them again. Your directions were so easy to follow..Thanks so much!

    Reply
  2. Sheelah

    July 27, 2020 at 2:34 pm

    Is the temperature 350 for fan oven? Thanks

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      July 28, 2020 at 9:03 am

      Hi Sheelah! Yes it is – just keep an eye on them after 15 minutes, as they might bake faster in a fan oven.

      Reply
  3. Natalie

    June 22, 2020 at 2:54 am

    I LOVE these cuties. They look delicious. And cheese… oh I love the cheese inside. I must make this for my family. Such a simple yet delicious treat.

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      June 22, 2020 at 10:12 am

      Hope you like them, Natalie!

      Reply
  4. Sam

    June 21, 2020 at 11:00 pm

    OMG this Brazilian cheese bread looks so good! I love that they are in little bite-size pieces, so cute! The step-by-step photos and thorough tips make it to easy to follow along. Pinning to try soon!

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      June 22, 2020 at 10:12 am

      They are delicious, Sam!

      Reply
  5. Debbie

    June 21, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    This Brazilian Cheese Bread was so good warm out of the oven. I am a sucker for any kind of bread and have been looking for more gluten free options and I love this . So Good!

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      June 22, 2020 at 10:14 am

      Glad you like them, Debbie!

      Reply
  6. LaKita

    June 21, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    This cheese bread looks absolutely delicious and I would love to dip a few into a bowl of soup or spread on a little cream cheese.

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      June 22, 2020 at 10:14 am

      They are absolutely delicious with cream cheese!

      Reply
  7. GUNJAN C Dudani

    June 21, 2020 at 12:48 pm

    These looks so delicious and droolworthy. I can imagine the softness in every bite and the amazing flavors in it.

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      June 22, 2020 at 10:25 am

      They are delicious!

      Reply
  8. Kushigalu

    June 20, 2020 at 6:57 pm

    Love that this bread is gluten free. They look so delicious. I have something new to try!

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      June 22, 2020 at 10:25 am

      Yeah, they are my favorite gluten free snack ever!

      Reply
  9. Erin

    June 20, 2020 at 4:19 am

    I use SO much tapioca starch and have never made Brazilian cheese bread! It’s ridiculous. I’m saving this recipe to make soon! It looks incredible

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      June 22, 2020 at 10:27 am

      Hope you like them, Erin!

      Reply
  10. Sara

    June 19, 2020 at 10:30 am

    I’ve never heard of Brazilian cheese bread, but now I can’t wait to make it!! I don’t have tapioca flour, but this is a really good reason to purchase some. Everything else I keep on hand – which is so convenient! Can’t wait to have these as little snacks this weekend!

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      June 22, 2020 at 10:31 am

      Hope they turn out amazing! We’re always baking these!

      Reply
  11. Amy Liu Dong

    June 19, 2020 at 6:42 am

    I like making bread a lot and I am to learn a new bread recipe from you. It looks delicious and I am so excited to make this for my kids on this weekend. Thank you very much for sharing this with us.

    Reply
    • Milk and Pop

      June 22, 2020 at 10:30 am

      Hope you like them, Amy! Cheese bread is one of my favorite snacks!

      Reply

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Hi there! I’m Tati, coffee lover, self-taught baker and food photographer. Here at Milk and Pop you’ll find breakfast and brunch recipes that work.

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