Best Brazilian Cheese Bread Waffles (Gluten-Free)

Pão de queijo, the beloved Brazilian cheese bread, is becoming increasingly popular. It’s a kids’ favorite in Brazil, and in recent years, it has found its way into non-Brazilian stores. I have been eating them since I was a little girl, and it is always a hit at home when I make them. Today, I’m excited to share a unique twist on this classic. These are the best Brazilian Cheese Bread waffles. These cheesy waffles capture the essence of pão de queijo but in a waffle shape. They are deliciously crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside just like pao de queijo.  Growing up, I don’t remember these waffles being popular, but now they’re everywhere. The best part? You can make a batch, freeze them, and toast them whenever the craving strikes. 

Why should you make this recipe?

• They are EASY to make. Just dump everything into your blender to make the batter and use a waffle maker to make the waffles. YUP! THATS IT! 
• Pão de queijo waffles are a game-changer, perfect for gluten-free breakfasts, lunch, or as a snack. 
• I think these are the best gluten-free waffles since they are made with naturally gluten-free tapioca flour. 
• The best part? You can make a batch, freeze them, and toast them whenever the craving strikes.
• Uses simple ingredients (well, for the most part, the only thing you might need to purchase is tapioca flour, everything else you probably already have at home. 

What is tapioca flour and where can I find it?

Tapioca flour (also known as tapioca starch) is made from the cassava root. It is very popular in Brazil, and there are many dishes made with it, one of them being Pão de Queijo, and these delicious waffles.

I can usually find it at the grocery store. It is typically placed together in the aisle that has all the alternative flours. The Bob’s Red Mill brand sells tapioca flour, so usually, if you find where they are selling that, you can find tapioca flour near that section. Another alternative would be to order it through Amazon. If I do order it, though, I prefer to buy it through BrazilianMarket.ca as the Brazilian version of it is usually cheaper than the one you find on Amazon. If you want to try that, then you would be looking to buy ‘polvilho doce.”

Equipment:

• a blender, 
• spoon,
• and a trusty waffle maker. 

FYI: I bought a mini waffle maker thinking they were cute…. and cheap. But, now I am incredibly annoyed every time I need to make them one-by-one. So if you have not bought a waffle iron yet, and you are shopping around, that is something to keep in mind.  While a mini waffle maker works wonders, consider your needs – a larger waffle maker may save you from having to make one at a time and the whole process taking forever. And while using a blender ensures best results you can also use a whisk and a bowl if you do not have a blender. 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups tapioca flour
• 200g mozzarella cheese : It is best to grate it yourself, but honestly these days I buy the pre-grated ones myself. I will go back to grating cheese when I have older kids, I don’t need to torture myself this way, I just need to get things done.  lol 
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup of Oil: any flavorless oil will do, normally I use sunflower oil, but you can use any other vegetable oil.
• 1 cup of Milk: I have used 1%, 2% and lactose free Milk and did not notice any difference. I am sure if you wanted to try whole  milk it would also turn out fine. 
• 1 tsp of table Salt

Directions:

Variations:

For a nutrient boost, add a tablespoon of chia seeds and blend it with all the other ingredients. It won’t alter the taste or texture, making it a sneaky yet healthy addition.

Substitutions:

-While I have only made these waffles using mozzarella cheese, I think it might work with other kinds, but I would try to stick to the ones that have a similar consistency to mozzarella cheese. If you experiment, let me know how it turns out! I think it would probably work if you were to use parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese ( but again I haven’t tried it myself so do it at your own risk!). In the case of parmesan, though, you might need a little less salt since parmesan is a very salty cheese. 

– I have not tried using all the variations of milk one finds at the store these days. I think it would probably be okay, but again, I have not tried it myself.

How to serve:

These tasty waffles can be served as breakfast, lunch, or snack. They taste great as is (that’s how I like to eat them) or you can spread some butter on them (that’s the way my husband liked to eat his). 

Storage:

– You can store these in an airtight container and pop them into your toaster to reheat them. However, I do love to make a batch of these and freeze any leftover waffles. That way, whenever  I want to eat I can just take it out of the zip-lock bag and reheat it using my toaster just as you would with a store-bought waffle. 

How many waffles does this recipe make?

That will depend on the size of your waffle maker.

-With my mini waffle maker I get at least 12 waffles.

-But, with a larger waffle maker you can make 8 waffles with this recipe. 

Troubleshooting:

I made these and they turned out to be soggy waffles. They turned out chewy, not crispy like you said. What did I do wrong? That just means you need to cook them longer to achieve the perfect texture. See the pictures for reference. 

I have an old blender that usually struggles to blend things. What should I do? You can try adding the wet ingredients first before adding the dry ingredients on top. That usually helps. You can also leave the cheese out and just mix it into the batter using a spoon, or mix the whole thing together using a spoon and a bowl.

FAQs:

I hope you like this gluten-free waffle recipe for super cheesy and crispy waffles. Let me know what other recipes you would like to see? and do you normally enjoy gluten-free recipes? I’m sure you’ll fall in love with the delightful fusion of Brazilian flavors and breakfast convenience, but please don’t forget to follow tasty recollections on Instagram’s and if you tried the recipe leave a comment below.

Until next time,

Claudia

Looking for more Brazilian recipes? Try these!

• Best Brazilian Farofa with Eggs
• Brazilian Baked Kibbeh (Quibe)
• Make Ahead Brazilian Cappuccino
• Brazilian Carrot Cake Recipe
• Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff (Estrogonofe de Frango)

Or just have a look at our Brazilian category:

• Brazilian