Have you tried Brazilian Cheese Bread yet? Also called cheese buns or cheese puffs, the Brazilian name, is Pão de Queijo.
Made from tapioca starch these cheesy, chewy buns have a unique texture. They're a popular snack and breakfast food in South America but gluten free cooks make endless variations of them.
Learn the tricks for this recipe then bake them in any size or shape and season them to your liking.
Is Tapioca Starch the Same as Tapioca Flour
There's no Gluten Free 101 that prepares you for all you need to know about gluten free flour. It certainly gets easier but the learning curve is steep. My best advice is just start cooking and learn as you go.
If tapioca starch is new to you here's the first thing you need to know. Tapioca starch is sometimes called tapioca flour but they are the exact same ingredient. In contrast corn flour and cornstarch are not the same ingredient and neither is potato flour and potato starch...
My friend would say, "you can't make this stuff up!"
When I was new to gluten free I put this kind of information right on the label of the new containers I was organizing in my kitchen. To this day the label says "Tapioca starch (AKA tapioca flour)".
Technically there is a difference between starch and flour. Tapioca starch is removed from the cassava plant leaving no protein. Flour contains both protein and starch but you don't need to remember this. You just need to a basic understanding of flour to decrease frustration and use the right ingredients in recipes.
If you want to learn more check out my virtual cooking class called Understanding How To Use Gluten Free Flour. I offer it every other month and it's slightly different depending on the problems people are trying to solve and the questions they bring. Visit the CLASS CALENDAR for details.
If you want to read more check out my post, How To Use Starch in Gluten Free Baking.
Ingredients for Brazilian Cheese Buns
Like many recipes there are local and regional variations. In Brazil these are made with Minas cheese, a soft white cheese from the state of the same name, Minas Gerais. In North America most recipes include Parmesan cheese with either cheddar or mozzarella.
These are the basic ingredients for my Brazilian Cheese Bread but you can change the cheese and add seasoning like I did in this version for Pizza Cheese Buns.
Where Can I Buy Tapioca Starch
Tapioca starch is available in Asian markets, grocery stores with a well stocked Asian section or wherever you buy gluten free flours. I'm sure it can also be found in Latin American markets but I haven't even looked since there are several places I can buy it.
I found these brands online in the same packages I see in stores.
- Erawan brand
- Buddha Brand
- Pilling Foods Good Eats line of gluten free flours, including tapioca starch, is rolling out across Canada.
I have made your Brazilian Cheese Bread several times now and I keep getting asked to make more. They are super easy to make and so delicious!
From cooking class student Julie
Tips for Making Cheese Bread/Buns
I bake the whole recipe and freeze what we don't eat. Some people prefer to leave the batter in the fridge and bake a few each day over three or four days. I agree these cheese buns are best served warm but I'm happy to reheat mine in the microwave.
Cooling is the crucial step in gluten free baking so pay attention. Most baked goods eaten immediately after cooking taste slightly gooey and under done.
Since the texture of these buns may be new to you it's important to wait at least ten minutes before eating them. If you're curious do a taste test yourself at five, ten and then fifteen minutes after cooling.
FAQ's
Yes, a blender is perfect for this recipe. My blender is a little too small so I make it in a food processor but both work well. If you're mixing the batter in advance or only baking half at a time you can easily put the blender cup in the fridge.
Yes, I freeze them and like to put a frozen bun in my lunch. By the time I eat it's thawed and on a good day I have access to a microwave to warm it up.
Yes. I reheat one bun (thawed) on half power (level 5 on my microwave) for 30 seconds. Experiment with your microwave to find the perfect setting and time to give you a warm, chewy bun.
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Organize For Success
Part of what makes any recipe easy is having the right tools and being organized. Then making the same recipe over and over, even just three times, streamlines the process and you suddenly call it easy.
For me these are the tools that make this recipe easy.
- I use my food processor but I've used my Magic Bullet blender too.
- I use a metal scoop to portion the batter quickly and evenly into a 12-count silicone muffin pan.
- If you like small bites use a mini scoop (1½ tablespoon size) and a 24-count mini muffin pan.
What variation of Brazilian cheese bread will you create? My friend Shirley, over at Gluten Free Easily, inspired me to make these when I saw her variation she calls pizza bombs.
Recipes like this, made with a single flour or starch, are gems for gluten free bakers so I hope you'll give them a try. Let me know in the comments below if you made these and what you thought.
Previously posted 2018, updated April 2023.
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Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo)
Ingredients
- 2 cups tapioca starch (or cassava flour)
- 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded or crumbled (115 g)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (about 85 g)
- ⅔ cup whole milk
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-count muffin tin with silicone muffin liners (best option!) or grease.
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until evenly mixed, about 1 minute. Scrap down the sides as needed and mix once more. (At this point the batter can be refrigerated and cooked later or even the next day or two.)
- Using a metal portion scoop fill each muffin very close to the top.
- Bake in preheated oven 17-20 minutes until golden and puffed.
- Place on baking rack and let cool in the muffin pan for a few minutes. Transfer all buns to cooling rack and let cool 5-10 minutes longer.* Serve warm.
- These cheese buns freeze well. Thaw at room temperature. Reheat in microwave on 50% power for a warm, stretchy, chewy treat.
Julie Clarry
Hi Cinde, I have made your Brazilian Cheese Bread several times now and I keep getting asked to make more. They are so super easy to make and so delicious! I will have to make a double batch next time. And...they freeze very well. I just warm them up in a very low oven. Thanks for another great recipe.
Cinde Little
Thanks Julie, I'm glad these are a hit for you! I put these in my lunch right out of the freezer and enjoy them with a salad. Let me know if you make any variations of these, I did a pesto-cheddar version a long time ago and of course the pizza version I have posted. So many possibilities! Happy baking!