Chef John's Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pao de Queijo)

Brazilian cheese bread is very easy to make, and features a chewy, cheesy, bready center, encased in a beautiful, thin, pastry crust. It also happens to be gluten free, thanks to tapioca flour, which is also responsible for the very unique texture. Happily, the ingredients are fairly inexpensive, which means you can play around with a few batches and see for yourself.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 109 Calories

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup milk
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 ounces finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 2 ¼ cups tapioca flour, or more as needed
• ½ cup mild olive oil
• 2 ounces freshly grated mozzarella cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Place tapioca flour in a mixing bowl. Combine milk, olive oil, and salt in a pan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Immediately remove from heat and pour into the bowl with the tapioca. Mix until a shaggy dough starts to form. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Step 3

Add mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, eggs, and cayenne. Stir with a fork until thoroughly combined. Use an ice cream scoop to portion dough onto a silicone-lined baking sheet. Poke down any jagged bits using a wet finger if desired.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve warm.