Air Fryer Colombian Pan de Yuca {Cheesy Bread}

Colombian Pan de Yuca, is a puffy, airy, cheesy and somewhat chewy bread, made with Tapioca Four/Starch and cheese from Southern Colombia or Ecuador.

Colombian Pan de Yuca

Similar in texture to a Popover or Yorkshire Pudding, Colombian Pan de Yuca is made with Oaxaca Cheese, which is a melting cheese.

There is a terrific Colombian grocery store called Bodegon in Lake Worth, Florida. Besides groceries, there is a meat counter, cheese counter, cafe, bakery and seating area.

Bodegon made wonderful food, bread and pastries and we frequently had lunch or dinner inside the store.

Because of my cats and ebay business, I became friendly with the owner, Juan.

One of the bakery items, I would bring home (or eat in the store) was the Pan de Yuca. The billowy, puffy, cheesy, chewy bread was so delicious. Juan was kind enough to share the recipe with me, as he knew I loved to cook and wanted to eat Pan de Yuca all the time!

What is Colombian Pan de Yuca?

• It is a bread, mostly enjoyed with coffee and for breakfast.
• Pan de Yuca is airy and chewy. The texture that of a Popover or Yorkshire Pudding, but the taste is very cheesy.
• The bread puffs up and is firm on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.

Tapioca Flour is made from the Yuca Root and is also known as Cassava or Tapioca Starch.

The are slight variations of the Pan de Yuca in many Latin countries. In Brazil, they are known as Pao de Queijo and made with Parmesan Cheese. Since the Brazilian version, Pao de Queijo uses Parmesan Cheese, which is dry, milk and butter are usually added. My preference is the Colombian Pad de Yuca.

Cast of Ingredients for Colombian Pan de Yuca

What are the ingredients for Colombian Pan de Yuca?

• Tapioca Flour
• Oaxaca or Queso Fresco Cheese (I like to use a little Swiss too)
• Eggs
• Heavy Cream

What is Tapioca Flour?

Tapioca Flour comes from the Cassava Root.[1]

It is native to the Northeast Region of Brazil.

Tapioca Flour is also referred to as Tapioca Starch. I get mine from Amazon, as I make these puffy treasures, all the time. You’re going to want to buy a lot, once you taste these yummy, chewy, cheesy, puffs.

Plus, it is gluten free and can be substituted for flour and used as a thickening agent.

I use it in my Pressure Cooker Almond Fudge Cheesecake recipe.

Properly Measure the Tapioca Starch

How much does a cup of flour weigh?

• It depends.
• Each type of flour has a different weight, so it is important to weigh each type of flour.
• There are many types of Whole Wheat Flour, all with different weights.
• A cup of Tapioca Flour weighs 113 grams.
• A cup of All Purpose Flour weighs 125 grams.
• So, you can see the discrepancy in just those two types of flour.

A good Baker’s Math Scale is important to own.

Please check my article on How to Properly Measure Flour.

Whip the Eggs until Frothy

Can I use a Food Processor?

• Yes, you sure can use a Food Processor. It is the recommended and easiest way to make Pan de Yuca!
• You can even put chunks of the Oaxaca with the eggs right into the Food Processor and let it rip, until the cheese and eggs have completely combined.
• Then toss in the Tapioca Flour and Baking Soda and Cream and process until combined.

It is so easy.

Can I use an Electric Hand Mixer?

• Yes, but if you use an Electric Hand Mixer, there is more work, as you first have to grate up the cheese..
• Beat the Eggs first and then add the rest of the ingredients.

The Oaxaca Cheese in the Colombian Pan de Yuca, gives the dough it moistness.

Sometimes to change up the flavor, I use a little little Swiss Cheese in addition to the Oaxaca. It gives it a sharper taste.

Turn out Yuca Dough to a Board

Lightly sprinkle your Bread and Pastry Board with a little Tapioca Flour.

Turn out the dough to the Bread and Pastry Board and knead the Dough until soft and pliable.

If the Dough is too wet, add in a little Tapioca Flour. If the Dough is crumbly and dry, add in a little more Heavy Whipping Cream.

Heavy Cream is the same thing. The only difference is the fat content.

Form the Dough into a Ball

What is the texture of Pan de Yuca?

• Like, Pao de Queijo, the texture is chewy, cheesy and oh so delicious.
• The ratio of cheese to flour to egg is quite different than in regular dinner roll recipes.
• The Oaxaca (you can use Queso Fresco too) is a melting cheese, much like Mozarella.
• The Tapioca Flour, also called Starch, is very light weight.

The moisture from the cheese and the whipping of the eggs, allows the Pan de Yuca to puff up quickly in a hot oven or Air Fryer.

Divide up the Dough

A good Bench Knife makes it easy to quickly divide up the Dough.

Because I am a perfectionist, I weigh the Dough and divide it by eight.

Then I weigh each piece.

I really do. 🙁

Sometimes I roll them into balls

I wasn’t kidding. They all weigh exactly the same.

After rolling into balls, I like to roll them into a cylinder.

That is how Bodegon does it, so that is how I do it.

If you are near Lake Worth, stop in and tell Juan that Jill sent you. The butcher used to cut up chicken for us to make raw cat food.

My cats eat raw food and I was able to arrange to have the butcher skin and cut chickens for me, to grind for my cats.

Crescent Moons Pan de Yuca

No need to oil your Cookie Sheet..

Parchment Paper works really well.

Easy in the Air Fryer. The balls take up less room

You can make Colombian Pan de Yuca in your Air Fryer too!

These 8 inch Parchment Paper Rounds come in really handy.

You can make more Colombian Pan de Yuca, if you leave the Dough in ball form.

Plus, this Stackable Pan Insert Set set is great to use in Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cookers.

That’s my “Pot in Pot” Rice pan that you will see throughout my recipes.

Cuban Cortadito with Colombian Pan de Yuca

How do I eat Colombian Pan de Yuca?

• With a hot Cuban Cortadito! Yum.
• Break apart the Bread and dip it right into the Cuban Coffee!
• Hot Chocolate is another popular morning drink.

While shopping at Bodegon, we loved to take a break and sit down in their dining area. It is right between the Bakery and the Hot Food Counter.

I sure miss that place and other places like that, which are found all over South Florida. Would you believe that there is a gas station on the corner of 441 and Southern, that is a very popular place to sit down with a cup of coffee and Cuban Bread or Pastries?

There is a fresh Coffee Counter and Pastry display and tables and chairs. Yep. Enjoy!

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

• GoWISE USA 5.8 Quart Air Fryer or Mealthy Crisplid
• Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
• Culina Stackable (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
• Ekovana Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Stackable Pans Set
• Lock N Lock Small Container
• KitchenAid 11 Cup Food Processor
• Bread and Pastry Board
• 1/2 Cookie Sheet
• Tapioca Flour
• Bench Knife

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Here is your handy printable recipe:

Colombian Pan de Yuca

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Bread, Breakfast

Cuisine: Brazil, Latin, South America

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Resting Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 12 pieces

Calories: 138

Author: Jill Selkowitz

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Tapioca Flour (plus a little extra for kneading)
• 1.5 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 10 ounces Oaxaca Cheese (see notes)
• 2 large Eggs
• .75 ounces Heavy Cream

US Customary - Metric

Equipment

• Food Processor
• Air Fryer or Air Fryer Oven

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and process until a ball forms.
• Sprinkle a little Tapioca Flour onto a bread board and turn out the dough.  Lightly knead the dough until smooth and no longer sticky.*
• Divide the dough into 12 even pieces and shape into Half Moons or roll into 16 Balls.  

Oven

• Line Cookie Sheet / Baking Pan with Parchment Paper. Place on cookie sheet, about an inch apart.  Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 10-13 minutes, or until puffed.  The Pan de Yuca should be a pale golden color.  Do not let them brown.  Remove from oven and cool on a Bakers Rack for 10 minutes.

Air Fryer & CrispLid

• Line basket with Parchment Paper Round.  Cook at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.   The Pan de Yuca should be a pale gold color. Do not let them brown.
• Remove from Air Fryer and cool on a Bakers Rack for 10 minutes.

Notes

I find it easier using grams when baking, as the measurements are much more accurate.

If you own a baking scale, please weigh in grams:

• 113 grams Tapioca Flour
• 1.5 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 282 grams Oaxaca cheese
• 2 large Eggs
• 21 grams Heavy Cream

*If the dough is crumbly or seems too stiff, add a 1/4 teaspoon of cream.  If the dough is overly sticky, knead in a little Tapioca Flour, until the dough comes together and feels soft and pliable.

Delicious warm or room temperature.

Queso Fresco, Mozzarella or other melting cheese can be used in place of Oaxaca.

To add sharpness to the Pan de Yuca, change recipe as follows:

• 199 grams Oaxaca
• 85 grams Swiss Cheese

If you want Balls of Pan de Yuca, rather than half moons, just pinch off pieces of dough and roll into Balls.

Pan de Yuca is especially delicious dunked into your morning espresso or Cuban coffee.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Colombian Pan de Yuca

Amount Per Serving

Calories 138 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 50mg17%

Sodium 176mg8%

Potassium 69mg2%

Carbohydrates 10g3%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 135IU3%

Calcium 93mg9%

Iron 0.3mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Air Fryer/Oven Pan de Yuca