Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão-de-queijo)

Details: Written by Cynthia Presser

Cheese bread is a Brazilian staple! Gooey and fluffly, this typical snack is a crowd pleaser: kids and adults love it! Many different versions are available, but this one is the easiest - and just equally delcious! All ingredients are widely available at the major grocery stores, including the tapioca flour. Serve warm, right off the oven. I dare you to have only one!

Yields 12 to 16 units

Ingredients:

3 cups tapioca starch
3 eggs
1 cup milk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Grated Parmesan cheese, for sprinkling

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Add tapioca starch, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, salt, mozzarella cheese, and shredded Parmesan cheese to a blender. Blend for 40 seconds, or until mixture is smooth.

Spray a muffin pan (12 cups) with vegetable oil (you might end up with some extra batter, which could be enought to an extra 2 to 4 units.) Divide cheese bread mixture into the the cups of muffin pan (3/4 of the way full). Sprinkle grated Parmesan on top. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until top turns golden brown. If using a convection oven, preheat to 325 degrees F and bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until top turns golden brown.

Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Cook's notes:

Standard size for muffin pan is 12 cups. If you end up with extra batter, fill up a second muffin pan with remaing batter - or make a second smaller batch.

cheese-bread-brazil-pao-de-queijo