These Brazilian cheese bread rolls are made simply with tapioca starch, some oil, cheese, and milk. With a thin outside crust and a chewy center. Naturally gluten free!
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Why buy a mix for Brazilian cheese bread?
There are lots of different recipes for pão de queijo, or Brazilian cheese bread. This is simply my favorite way to make it.
I set out years ago to replicate the recipe for the original cheese bread dry mix that shall remain nameless since they sent me an e-mail telling me to remove reference to their product. That box contains little more than tapioca flour and salt.
This original mix has “modified manioc starch” as one of its lesser ingredients, which it claims is necessary for binding the wet and dry ingredients. Since both the dough and the bread are extremely chewy and stretchy without any modified manioc starch, I can't for the life of me imagine how that is necessary.
Baking mixes have their value
I have come to understand the power of buying a boxed mix for gluten free baking, particularly when you're new to gluten free baking. In fact, I've even developed recipes that replicate that experience, like gluten free cake mixes.
But buying a box of essentially one type of flour and salt just seems different to me. Remember, when you buy the boxed mix, you still have to add all of these other ingredients (eggs, oil, cheese, water or milk – I used milk instead of water and dry milk, like in this mix, so you don't have to go hunting for dry milk).
A note about cost-savings
This nameless company sells its 7.5 ounce original cheese bread mix for more than $3.00 (on average, being kind). The gluten free tapioca starch/flour necessary for this recipe costs about $1.12 (on average).
If you like that mix, then by all means keep buying it. But if you're ready to break out of the box, this recipe is for you.
Should you chill the dough for these rolls?
In my recipe directions, I recommend your chilling the dough before baking it, but really it isn't entirely necessary. Chilling the dough simply makes it stiffer, which allows you to make a slightly more round roll.
But a truly spherical pão de queijo would require a different, somewhat more complicated method entirely. So I chill the dough, but I consider that an optional step.
Don't overbake
Keep in mind that Brazilian cheese bread essentially has only one dry ingredient (other than salt), and that dry ingredient is a starch. That means won't brown much unless you seriously overbake it.
They should have a thin crust on the outside, and be quite chewy and stretchy on the inside. These are not intended to be light and fluffy rolls.
They're kinda fun and quick and easy to throw together, though, and when you make it yourself without the mix, it costs about half as much.
Ingredients and substitutions
Since this is a very simple recipe that relies upon the unique properties of cheese, eggs, and tapioca starch/flour, I'm afraid substitutions are not easy. Here's my best information and educated guesses:
Dairy: Cow's milk can easily be replaced by unsweetened almond milk, or your favorite unsweetened nondairy milk. The cheese is an entirely different story.
Pão de queijo is similar to pan de bono, a Colombian cheese bread made with a similar combination of crumbly cheese, corn flour, tapioca starch, and egg. And when my oldest daughter was briefly dairy-free, I successfully made a dairy-free version of that recipe.
If you review the Ingredients and substitutions section of that recipe, you'll find the exact modifications I made to that recipe to make it successfully dairy free. You may be able to use that as a guide for how to make dairy free Brazilian cheese bread.
Eggs: Since there are two eggs in this recipe, you can try replacing each of them with a “chia egg” (1 tablespoon ground white chia seeds + 1 tablespoon lukewarm water, mixed and allowed to gel). Since this is such a simple recipe, and relies heavily upon eggs for rise, I simply can't promise results.
Tapioca starch/flour: Tapioca starch/tapioca flour (both the same product; the names are used interchangeably for reasons unknown) has uniquely stretchy qualities. It has no appropriate substitute, particularly in a recipe like this which is made with no other flour.
Brazilian Cheese Bread | Quick Pão de queijo
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature, beaten
- 3 tablespoons (42 g) extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅔ cup (5 ⅓ fluid ounces) milk at room temperature
- 6 ounces sharp, hard cheese grated (I used a blend of sharp cheddar and Parmigiano Reggiano)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 ½ cups (300 g) tapioca starch/flour
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a blender or food processor, place the eggs, oil, eggs, milk, cheeses, salt, and about 1/2 cup tapioca starch and blend or process until smooth and well-combined.
- Pour the relatively thin mixture into a large bowl and add about another 1 1/2 cups tapioca starch. Mix to combine.
- If the mixture still sticks to the spoon, add more tapioca starch by the tablespoonful and mix in until it pulls away from the spoon.
- The dough should be tacky to the touch, but not gooey.
- Divide the dough into 8 to 12 portions, depending upon the size you want.
- Put about 2 inches apart on a prepared baking sheet and chill in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes if you’d like a rounder roll.
- Roll into rounds and replace on baking sheet.
- Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake until puffed and beginning to brown (15 to 18 minutes, depending upon size).
- Serve immediately.
Notes
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Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
Pjc says
Made these today and as many other comments, they did not rise. They are tasty, but definitely not like in the picture, more like flat discs.
I followed the recipe and got good quality tapioca starch, so not sure what happened.
Nicole Hunn says
Did you measure by weight, PJC? In these tapioca based recipes, deviation from the recipe as written usually comes from using a poor quality tapioca starch (which I understand you say you didn’t), making ingredient substitutions in such a simple recipe (like using a cheese with more moisture than that called for in the recipe), and not measuring by weight. Tapioca starch is nearly impossible to measure properly by volume, since it’s so incredibly light.
Heather says
Arlene, I had the same problem! I’ve made this recipe three times now. I bring everything to room temperature, I use my food scale that I’ve used for years
and has never steered me wrong before. They flatten out in the oven and turn into cheese pancakes. We still eat them, and they’re still delicious, but I wish they’d come out like the photos. I’ve never had problems with my tapioca flour before (I used Bob’s Red Mill), but maybe I got a bad bag – don’t know how I’m supposed to be able to tell if it’s not good quality though. I’m clearly doing something wrong though. I’ll buy a different kind of tapioca flour next time I get paid and maybe try again.
Nicole Hunn says
Heather, Bob’s Red Mill tapioca flour is one that I strongly recommend against. I can’t be sure that has been your issue, but their tapioca flour is of very inconsistent quality. Beyond that, are you making cheese substitutions? Some types of cheese have much more moisture, and that will cause exactly the issue you’re describing. Often, we have little quirks in the kitchen that we think aren’t a problem, but can be with a particular type of recipe. In addition, you should be adding most of the tapioca flour after blending the wet ingredients, which can make a big difference in texture.
SUSAN says
Hmm… mine didn’t rise either. I used BRM Tapioca Starch and eggs. Well they smell great, were easy to assemble and I’m sure will be inhaled. Thank you!!
Nicole Hunn says
I’m afraid I don’t like Bob’s Red Mill tapioca starch at all. It’s of very inconsistent quality. But my guesses are usually the same, without knowing more: did you measure by weight, or by volume, did you follow the instructions relating to ingredient temperature. Did you follow the instructions, or go your own way? We all have little quirks in the kitchen that we don’t think matter, but often they do.
Sylvia says
I made these for my grandchildren and us ( 4 people in all) They had disappeared by bedtime. A great success, very tasty. Loved the stretchy inside after cooking. Will definitely make again ( but request)
Highly recommend these.
Love your web site.
Nicole Hunn says
I love that stretchy, chewy inside, too, Sylvia! Thank you for the kind words.
Alex says
Hi,
I see the salt in the ingredient list, but didn’t see in the directions when to add it.
Nicole Hunn says
You’re absolutely right, Alex! I’m so sorry for the omission, and I’ve clarified everything in the recipe now. The salt goes in to the blender in the first active step.
Eric Grundeman says
Just made these and they didn’t ride…BUT, they still taste delicious, like little flat breads!
Nicole Hunn says
Please be sure to measure by weight, not volume, and use a good quality tapioca starch. You also need to add the tapioca starch until the dough no longer sticks. Have a look at the video to see what I mean.
Arlene says
Hi Nicole,
I made this Brazilian Cheese bread today and unfortunately they did not rise. Very disappointed as they are not edible and sad I wasted all that cheese and flour. I followed recipe to a tee as I know in gf baking the slightest deviation can cause problems. Weighed ingredients and brought them to room temperature.
Any ideas as to what I did wrong??
I appreciate any insight you might have.
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Arlene, I’m afraid I can’t really know where you deviated from the recipe as written in method or ingredients, but the recipe will work when made as written. I’ve been making it for years, and it’s also just generally a time-worn recipe concept. I understand that you believe you followed the recipe exactly, but home bakers often have little quirks in their process that they may think nothing of but can have a significant impact on end results. Readers often think that a substitution is no big deal, but it makes all the difference. The rise comes from the eggs. If you replaced or omitted them, then your bread simply won’t rise. The only other possibility is the source of your tapioca starch/flour, as very poor quality tapioca starch/flour tends to behave poorly. Of course, any other substitutions or deviation from the ingredients list, etc.
Chell gf mom says
My daughter loves Brazilian cheese bread, one of the first things I learned to make when she had to go gf. One of the things she really missed was garlic bread when we had a pasta dinner so I sometimes make these with garlic and parmesan cheese and they are amazing. I haven’t tried your recipe yet but I definitely will soon!
Karen says
Going to try these tonight! Can’t wait! In your email, you talked about starting a blog for vegans. Though we aren’t vegan, we do avoid dairy (except Parmesan) , so I would love to subscribe to that blog.
Nicole Hunn says
I did talk about that, Karen! I bought a domain name, so I’m going for it. But it will be some time before it’s up and running. I will be sure to share when it is, though!!
Janet T says
I’m also wondering if this might make a good pizza crust, toppings could go on before or after baking.. It sure sounds like the right texture for very good pizza crust.
Nicole Hunn says
I know what you mean, but I think it’s a bit puffy for a pizza crust, Janet. I would recommend using this recipe for Against The Grain Style Pizza Crust instead. It’s very similar, but the method and proportions are different.
Franee says
I made buttermilk biscuits yesterday. They didn’t rise, and tasted very dense. I followed the recipe exactly, what did I do wrong? They were also heavy. Called for two and a half flour…I was very disappointed.
Nicole Hunn says
Franee, I’m afraid I don’t know what recipe you’re referring to, or even whether or not it was mine. If it was my recipe, I’m afraid there’s no way for me to know where you deviated from the recipe as written. I understand that you are saying you followed the recipe precisely, but there are often small differences that home bakers don’t believe matter, but do, and can dramatically affect outcome. For biscuits, generally my guess is temperature of ingredients (everything for pastry must be kept cold) and always how you measured your ingredients (by weight, not by volume) or if you made substitutions.
Janet says
Thank you! This is my daughter’s favorite.
Nicole Hunn says
You’re so welcome, Janet. They are irresistibly good!
Norma McBride says
I keep meaning to make these as they are so expensive to buy frozen. Now I have no excuse with your recipe in hand.
Nicole Hunn says
It’s tempting, I know, Norma! But yes, they really are so expensive to buy frozen.
Tania Jones says
Would dampening your fingers to smooth down the dough before baking impact the crust? Can they be split and toasted too?
Lastly, just wondering if you can switch off the ‘subscription’ notice that pops up every time I click a link on one of your emails? Can the system omit subscribers from getting that message at all?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Tania, my instructions direct you to chill the dough then roll the pieces into rounds. You can definitely use damp hands/fingers. That won’t negative affect the texture as baked.
And I do have the subscription box set so that it doesn’t pop up if you’ve already signed up for my email list. Sometimes, if you use an ad blocker, though, it can get in the way of that working. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Pamela Stack says
This recipe sounds amazing and easy. I’ve been meaning to ask why you use unbleached parchment paper. Is bleached parchment paper bad for Celiacs?
Nicole Hunn says
Oh my gosh, no, Pamela! Definitely not. I prefer unbleached parchment paper because it’s thinner and more flexible than bleached parchment paper, so you can line a pan with it and not have it stick up and get burned in the oven! ?
Linda says
Wow, loved the quick video! I can do this!
Nicole Hunn says
So glad you feel a sense of possibility, Linda! You absolutely can do this. ??