Description
Quick Brazilian cheese puffs blend cheesy goodness with crisp exteriors and tender centers. Pão de queijo offers a delightful gluten-free snack that welcomes you to savor Brazil’s culinary charm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 oz (280 g) tapioca flour
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Liquid Preparation: Combine milk, oil, and salt in a saucepan, heating until bubbles emerge, then immediately remove from direct heat.
- Dough Formation: Rapidly integrate tapioca flour into the hot liquid, stirring energetically until a smooth, cohesive dough develops, transforming the mixture into a unified consistency.
- Mixer Integration: Transfer the warm dough to a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment to blend and equilibrate the texture, working at medium speed to create a uniform base.
- Egg Incorporation: Methodically add eggs, one at a time, ensuring complete integration and developing an elastic, glossy dough that becomes progressively smoother with each addition.
- Cheese Blending: Gently fold cheese into the prepared dough, distributing evenly to create a slightly textured mixture with consistent cheese throughout.
- Portioning and Arrangement: Scoop uniform dough portions onto parchment-lined baking sheets, positioning mounds with slight separation to accommodate expansion during baking.
- Baking Process: Position baking sheets in a preheated oven, strategically placing racks to ensure balanced heat distribution and optimal golden-brown transformation.
- Final Presentation: Bake until cheese puffs achieve a crisp exterior and pillowy interior, developing a rich golden color that signals perfect doneness, approximately 15-20 minutes. Allow brief resting before serving to enhance texture and flavor.
Notes
- Precise Flour Handling: Use tapioca flour exclusively; regular wheat flour won’t create the signature light, airy texture of Brazilian cheese puffs.
- Temperature Control: Remove milk mixture from heat immediately after bubbles form to prevent scorching and maintain precise dough consistency.
- Egg Integration Technique: Add eggs gradually and mix thoroughly to achieve a smooth, elastic dough that guarantees perfect puff structure.
- Cheese Selection Matters: Choose a sharp, aged cheese like Parmesan or Cheddar for maximum flavor intensity and authentic Brazilian cheese puff experience.
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Brazilian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 22
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 117 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 33 mg