Cheese balls

🧀 Brazilian Cheese Balls (Pão de Queijo) — A Taste of Travel at Home
It’s been a long time since I’ve had cheese bread for breakfast, and today feels like the perfect moment to bring back that comforting ritual. Whenever I’m in Brazil for work, I always start my day with Pão de Queijo—crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and best enjoyed with a cup of coffee. My husband and I affectionately call them “cheese balls,” and they never fail to bring a smile.

 
🇧🇷 What Is Pão de Queijo?
Pão de Queijo is a beloved Brazilian snack made with tapioca flour and cheese. It’s naturally gluten-free and has a unique chewy texture thanks to the starch. Traditionally served warm, these little bites are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat.

 
🥣 Ingredients (Makes 24 cheese balls)
200g tapioca flour
6g salt
1 egg
100g butter, melted
30ml milk
100g semi-hard cheese (e.g., Gouda), cut into small cubes
100g hard cheese (e.g., Grana Padano or Parmesan), shredded
 
🔄 Instructions
Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F).
Mix the base: In a bowl, combine the tapioca flour and salt.
Add wet ingredients: Mix the melted butter and milk together, then pour into the flour. Add the egg and stir until combined.
Add the cheese: Fold in the cubed Gouda and shredded Grana Padano.
Knead the dough: Finish mixing by hand until the dough comes together into a smooth ball.
Shape: Roll the dough into a long log and cut into 24 equal pieces. Shape each into a ball.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden and puffed.
Serve warm with coffee or tea—and enjoy!
 
💡 Baking Tips
Tapioca flour is key for the chewy texture. You can find it in South American or Asian grocery stores. You get the best results with the original brazilian tapioca starch.
Use flavorful cheeses: A mix of mild and sharp cheeses gives depth.
Don’t overbake—they should be lightly golden, not hard.
Freeze-friendly: You can freeze the shaped dough balls and bake them fresh when needed.
 
Even though my garden isn’t quite like the beaches of Brazil, these cheese balls bring a little sunshine to my morning.