Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo)

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Hi Bold Bakers!

Pão de Queijo is a chewy, cheesy, yet soft and moist little roll that’s great on its own or served alongside any meal — that’s what this is! This Brazilian Cheese Bread is traditionally served with dinner or lunch instead of plain bread rolls. While I have lots of love for dinner rolls, these are on another level.

If you like cheese, and you like bread, you will LOVE pão de queijo.

What is Brazilian Cheese Bread?

Brazilian cheese bread is a cross between a choux pastry and a cheesy dinner roll. Made by combining tapioca starch, eggs, and oil, then mixed up with loads of savory cheddar, this bread has stretch and chew from both the cheese and the starch, yet is puffed up as light as air. After the dough is mixed it’s piped with a piping bag like choux pastry making for the perfect little cheese puff.

Is Brazilian Cheese Bread Gluten-Free?

Yes, thanks to using tapioca starch, this cheesy Brazilian bread is 100 percent naturally gluten-free.

Do I Have To Use Tapioca Starch?

Tapioca starch is what creates the stretchy texture of Brazilian cheese bread. This may sound like an unusual ingredient, but it’s super common these days and is actually used in many of our gluten-free bread-like our 3 Ingredient Gluten-Free Flat Bread. Tapioca starch is made of a root vegetable called cassava root. It is super important in this recipe and can not be substituted with another kind of starch or flour.

What Kind Of Cheese Do I Use For This Pão De Queijo Recipe?

Well, in my house whenever cheese is required I use Dubliner Irish Cheddar — I’m loyal like that. I love how sharp and rich Irish cheddar is. It’s perfect in this Brazilian cheese bread recipe adding lots of salty flavors and bite. You can use any cheddar you like, but you can also use parmesan or pepper jack cheese, making this recipe very versatile in that way.

What You’ll Need To Make Brazilian Cheese Bread

• Two baking sheets and parchment paper
• Medium saucepan
• Wooden spoon
• Piping bag
• Measuring Cups

How To Make Brazilian Cheese Bread

Once you make this bread, you won’t be able to stop — you’ll be making it for every meal! Here’s how (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):

1. Preheat the oven and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Add milk, oil, and salt to a medium saucepan. Boil over medium heat.
3. Once boiling, add tapioca flour and mix with a wooden spoon.
4. After one or two minutes, remove from heat.
5. Transfer dough to a piping bag. Pipe batter onto a baking sheet. Top with additional cheese.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Allow to cool slightly and enjoy.

How Do I Store Brazilian Cheese Bread?

This bread is really best when fresh out of the oven. That said, it is great the next day and can be covered and reheated in a low oven or even the microwave. To store the cheese bread, just put it in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 2 days. I KNOW they will not last that long though…

Try These Other Bread Recipes!

• 1-Hour Dinner Rolls
• Crazy Dough: One Easy Dough With Endless Variations
• Traditional Irish Soda Bread

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!

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