Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe (Pão de Queijo)

May 26, 2021 | Updated September 13, 2022 by Ryan 45 Comments

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This Brazilian cheese bread recipe aka Pão de Queijo is a gluten-free bread/snack that basically is a chewy cheese puff made with tapioca flour.

Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe (Pão de Queijo) - Chisel & Fork (1)

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a young kid that was super picky and not looking forward at all to going to Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. I mean I was a kid, so what did wine do for me? And I didn't think I could eat anything as the food was from all these countries that I had never had anything from!

That was until we happened upon Brazil. My mom saw they were serving Brazilian cheese bread and said I would like it. Seeing cheese and bread, I was intrigued and willing to try it! After one bite, I was hooked. I can't remember how many I ate that day, but I do know it was more than 10!

We came back over the years and I always looked forward to the Brazilian cheese balls - as I called them. Even as my pickiness subsided, what I was most excited about didn't change.

The past two years, Lauren and I actually went to the Food & Wine Festival. And while Lauren isn't the biggest fan (although they're growing on her), I like them as much as ever. She thinks the consistency is strange, almost like they're underdone, but that's exactly what makes the bread so great!

I had always said I would make my own Brazilian cheese bread at some point and today is the day I'm sharing what will be one of my go-to recipes moving forward.

It tastes exactly like the bread I fell in love with at Epcot. So hopefully you'll be like me and not my wife, and love these as much as I do.

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Ingredient Notes
Ingredient Notes
Step-by-Step Photos
FAQs
Muffin Tin Option
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
Other Bread Recipes
Brazilian Cheese Bread

Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe (Pão de Queijo) - Chisel & Fork (2)

Ingredient Notes

Milk - adds some fat and helps with the consistency of the bread.
Tapioca flour - the key to Pão de Queijo and what makes it gluten-free. When baked, it helps create the crust outside and gooey inside.
Cheese - adds flavor and helps create the consistency you expect.

Ingredient Notes

Like any recipe you can mix up some of the ingredients. Some variations include:

While I like whole milk, you can use coconut or even almond milk as a substitute.
Unsalted butter is my go-to for the needed fat in this recipe, but olive oil works too.
I like the nutty flavor of Parmesan cheese, but you can use any cheese you like - from mozzarella to cheddar.

Step-by-Step Photos

Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe (Pão de Queijo) - Chisel & Fork (3)

Heat milk, butter and salt in pan and remove from heat as soon as bubbles form. Stir in the tapioca flour with wooden spoon until combined.

Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe (Pão de Queijo) - Chisel & Fork (4)

Beat dough in a stand mixer with paddle attachment for 3-5 minutes, or until it has smoothed out. Then add the eggs one at a time, before adding the Parmesan and mixing until combined.

Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe (Pão de Queijo) - Chisel & Fork (5)

Scoop the dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes.

FAQs

What is Pão de Queijo?

SoPão de Queijo or Brazilian cheese bread, originates from shocker - Brazil! These slightly sour mini bread buns have a cracked, crunchy toasted cheese exterior but soft, spongy interiors.

Although the rations vary, the general list of ingredients stays the same. The Tapioca flour is what gives the bread a slightly tart quality and undercooked interior. Great thing is these are gluten-free!

Why is My Dough Runny?

Every once in a while the dough doesn't turn out exactly right. If it is a little runny make sure you have beaten it long enough so that everything comes together.

If all else fails, just place in the fridge for a couple of hours before scooping out. Don't keep adding flour.

How Long Will They Last?

Like most breads, they are best the day of baking but you can keep at room temperature for 2-3 day or in the fridge for up to a week. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can I Make Ahead?

Yes. You can keep the dough in the fridge for up to a week. You can also actually freeze the bread before baking. Just portion out the dough onto the baking sheets and freeze until solid.

Transfer to freezer bags and freeze for up to 1 month. You then bake them frozen for the same amount of time.

How Do I Reheat?

Heat oven to 375°F and place bread on baking sheet. Place in oven 5-10 minutes or until bread is heated through.

Do not heat in microwave as outside of bread will turn soft. By reheating in oven, you keep the outside crispy but the inside gooey.

Muffin Tin Option

If you prefer to use a mini-muffin tin, just add all of the ingredients to a blender of food processor and pulse until smooth.

Spray mini-muffin tin with cooking spray and pour batter evenly throughout.

Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until puffy and browned.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

Heat the milk, butter and salt just until bubbles start to form. You don't want it too hot when you mix the dough.
Do not replace the tapioca flour as it gives the Brazilian cheese bread its crisp crust, but chewy interior.
Usefreshly grated Parmesan. Never buy pre-shredded Parmesan cheese as it contains wood pulp. Blocks of Parmesan cheese are also cheaper.
Use ice cream scoop so you have consistently sized bread.
Dip scoop in water so the dough doesn't stick.

Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe (Pão de Queijo) - Chisel & Fork (6)

Other Bread Recipes

Cheese Rolls
Pepperoni Bread
Honey Beer Bread
Jalapeño Cheddar Bread

If you’ve tried this Brazilian cheese bread recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow meonFacebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

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