The Brazilian cheese buns in the air fryer, the famous pan de queijo, made with grated cheese, are a true explosion of flavor.
The classic version of Brazilian buns is baked in the oven, but we wanted to experiment with air fryer cooking and the success was sensational, a perfect cooking, a nice golden color.
The Brazilian cheese buns are GLUTEN-FREE, making them perfect for celiacs or people with gluten intolerance.
This recipe is made with tapioca flour, which you can easily find online on amazon or in bio stores or ethnic shops.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 19Pieces
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Brazilian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
Ingredients for Brazilian Cheese Buns:
- 1 medium egg
- 2 cups tapioca flour
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
Tools for Brazilian Cheese Buns:
- 1 Air Fryer
- 2 Bowls
- 1 Kitchen Scale
Preparation and Cooking Steps for Brazilian Cheese Buns:
In a small saucepan, put the vegetable oil, milk, and salt and bring to a boil, then turn off the heat, add the tapioca flour, and mix well to obtain a homogeneous mixture.
Let the mixture cool slightly, then add the egg, work it well into the mixture and then add the grated Parmesan cheese. Transfer the mixture to a work surface and knead it well as if it were a dough, until you have a smooth and homogeneous mixture.
Take pieces of dough about 40 grams (1.4 oz) each, form balls, and place them on the grill of the air fryer previously lined with perforated parchment paper. Cook at 284°F (140°C) for 6 minutes, then at 320°F (160°C) for about 8 minutes, they should be slightly golden.
If your air fryer is small like ours, make multiple batches.
In total, you get 19 Brazilian cheese buns in the air fryer.
Notes
As an alternative to tapioca flour, you can use rice flour using half the weight of tapioca flour; the taste remains the same, only the texture changes (they are flatter and less puffy).
