Easy Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe

Light, crispy shells with a gooey, cheesy center, this Brazilian cheese bread or Pão de queijo, is also gluten free.

Quick and easy to make, these little cheesy puffs are irresistible straight from the oven (bet you can't eat just one). They also make a great snack for the buffet table.

There are actually a number of ways to prepare these, but I think this is the easiest, especially if you have an electric mixer handy. Another way is to make the cheese puffs in a pan, in a similar manner to choux pastry.

There is no messing about with lots of different gluten free flours here; the only one used is tapioca starch.

Ingredients

2 cups / 10oz / 250g tapioca starch
1 tsp salt
1 cup / 4oz / 100g grated cheese*
2/3 cup (160ml) milk or rice milk
2.5tbsp vegetable oil
1 large egg, whisked gently

Easy method for making brazilian cheese bread

Preheat the oven to 200^oC, 400^oF, Gas mark 6.

Sieve the tapioca starch into a bowl (I use my mixer bowl) and add the salt and grated cheese.

Pour in the milk, oil and egg.

Mix (by hand, or on a slow speed in your mixer) until the dough comes together and knead it until it is a pliable dough such as play or salt dough. Break off small pieces and roll into balls. As a guide to size, this recipe will make about 24 cheese puffs or breads.

Place the balls, an inch apart, on a baking sheet and cook for 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown. They should have puffed up to at least twice their original size.

Cool on a wire tray. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

You can freeze the balls before cooking. Lay them out on a tray so they don't touch each other, then freeze. Once frozen pack in containers or freezer bags and use within 2-3 months.

Note

* Traditionally grated parmesan is used for these snacks, but you could ring the changes and use cheddar instead. It would also make them more economical.