What is Queijadinha?

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Queijadinha is a delicious pastry dessert similar to tarts and cheesecakes. Small cakes are a staple in Brazilian and Portuguese cuisine and follow those traditions using egg yolks, sugar, coconut, milk and cheese. After baking, many chefs place the desserts in decorative paper cups.

Queijadinha can be classified as a type of pastry, with items resembling tarts and cheesecakes. Desserts are baked goods that often have a light, sweet taste with a crumbly breaded texture. The queijadinha can also have these characteristics, as well as a soft cheesecake-like filling. Like a tart, this filling is often fruity and strong and may or may not be covered with a pastry topping. Some cooks and dessert aficionados compare it to another popular Brazilian desert called hencem, as the latter also contains sugar, egg yolks and coconut as main ingredients.

The queijadinha tradition consists of a few simple and common ingredients. Most recipes call for sugar, shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, and cheese. Due to the importance of the cheese, many times the recipe is considered a cheese plate and a dessert. The finished product is obtained by mixing the ingredients together and cooking for about 15 minutes. Measurements for each ingredient vary by recipe, as do recommendations for preparing and serving the dish.

Different types of desserts are made. A favorite type created in Sintra, Portugal is the Queijada de Sintra. This type of confection has been made since the eighth century and is recognizable by its frequent use of cinnamon and a cottage cheese-like cheese called reiqueijao. Popular brands include Casa do Preto, Sapa and Periquita. Other variants of queijadinha are found in Brazil and Portugal. Some may have different fillings from fruit to puddings.

The queijadinha began in early Portugal. The dish must rely on egg yolks and sugar to traditional Portuguese cooking styles. Cooking in Portugal is also known for its richness and fillings, all of which are elements of the queijadinha. Spices like vanilla and cinnamon can add another layer of Portuguese flair to this dish, as can heavily flavored goat or sheep’s milk.

The Brazilians probably added sugar and coconuts, as both are or were abundant in the region. Some historians attribute the finishing touches to the dish to 17th-century African slaves in Brazil, who spent their days in the sugar cane fields. Queijadinha has survived over the centuries and has become a fixture in bakeries and children’s parties in Brazil and Portugal. The dish is also served as an end-of-course dessert with popular Brazilian dishes such as shrimp and beans. The popularity of this dessert has since grown all over the world.

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