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brazilian cheese bread recipe

Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings: 24 Cheese Puffs
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: Brazilian

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups  tapioca starch also called tapioca flour — not regular flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/3 cup  neutral oil or melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon  salt
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 cup  grated parmesan or cotija cheese
  • 1/2 cup  shredded mozzarella for stretch and melt

Method
 

  1. Combine milk, oil, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring just to a simmer. Pour the hot liquid over the tapioca starch in a large bowl and stir immediately until it comes together into a shaggy dough. Let cool 5–10 minutes.
  2. Add beaten eggs to the cooled dough and mix well with your hands or a wooden spoon until fully incorporated. Add parmesan and mozzarella and mix until evenly distributed. The dough should be soft, sticky, and slightly stretchy. If too loose, refrigerate 15 minutes to firm up.
  3. Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Lightly oil your hands. Roll tablespoon-sized portions into smooth balls and place on the tray with 1.5 inches of space between each. Do not flatten.
  4. Bake at 400°F for 20–25 minutes until golden and visibly puffed. Do not open the oven door during the first 15 minutes. They are done when the surface looks dry and golden, not pale or shiny.
  5. Eat within 5–10 minutes of coming out of the oven for the best texture. Serve plain, with butter, or alongside a dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Use tapioca starch only — wheat flour, cornstarch, or rice flour will not produce the right texture
  • Let the dough cool before adding eggs — hot dough will scramble them
  • Do not open the oven in the first 15 minutes — the temperature drop can cause deflation before the structure sets
  • Freeze raw dough balls on a tray then transfer to a bag — bake from frozen at 400°F for 25–28 minutes
  • Frozen raw dough keeps for up to 2 months — the best make-ahead approach
  • Baked puffs keep at room temperature for up to 2 days — reheat at 350°F for 5 minutes
  • For a blender version: blend all ingredients cold until smooth, pour into a greased mini muffin tin, bake 20–22 minutes