Pão de queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread)

These Brazilian cheese breads are cheesy, soft, and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter* 

• 2/3 cup of milk

• 1 1/2 cups of tapioca flour

• 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese

• 1 egg

• 3/4 cups of mozzarella 

• 1/2 teaspoon of salt (or less) 

  *some folks use a neutral oil, which is an okay substitute but I find that butter makes them silkier and they keep their shape better. 

Preparation:

On medium (or mid-to-low) heat, warm up your milk and butter in a saucepan. (If you’re using oil, use about 1/3 cup). Bring it to a gentle boil and make sure the butter fully melts and combines with the milk. Once that happens, remove from the heat and set aside. Next place your flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Slowly stir in the milk-butter mixture. Make sure everything is well combined, then add the cheeses. And lastly mix in the egg. Let the mixture rest and cool down for about 15 minutes. This makes it easier to handle the dough later.

Cooking:

While the batter is cooling, preheat your oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to avoid sticking. Using two spoons, scoop out about a tablespoon of the batter and place on the baking sheet. Try to keep it a round shape and do this 11 more times. You should get a dozen balls.