Sweets and desserts

Queijadas da Madeira

Madeiran queijadas made with fresh cheese, eggs and thin pastry.

RegionMadeira
DifficultyMedium
Total time1 h 10 min
Yield16 units
Photo of Queijadas da Madeira - traditional Portuguese sweet
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

Editorial content from Empório Portugal. Traditional recipes may vary by region, family and cook.

About the recipe

Queijadas da Madeira are small sweets, with a creamy filling and a delicate dairy flavour.

The thin pastry encloses the creamy filling, eggs and sugar, making them ideal with coffee.

Ingredients

  • Thin pastry for queijadas
  • 300 g fresh cheese or ricotta
  • 180 g sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • Lemon zest
  • Cinnamon (optional)

Method

  1. Mix the cheese, sugar, egg yolks, flour and lemon zest.
  2. Roll out the dough thinly.
  3. Line small moulds.
  4. Add the filling.
  5. Bake until set and golden.
  6. Leave the queijadas to cool before serving.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • Cheese needs to be well drained.
  • Thin pastry balances the filling.
  • Serve at room temperature.

Possible substitutions in Brazil

  • Sifted ricotta replaces fresh cheese.
  • Orange zest can replace lemon.

Pairing

Coffee or black tea. No alcoholic drink is required.

Editorial note from Empório Portugal

This recipe is part of the editorial curation of Empório Portugal, developed from Portuguese culinary tradition. Like every traditional recipe, it may vary by region, family and cook.

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Quick facts

Prep
45 min
Cooking
25 min
Total time
1 h 10 min
Yield
16 units
Difficulty
Medium
Occasion
Regional sweet, coffee

Pairing

Coffee or black tea. No alcoholic drink is required.

Empório tip

Cheese needs to be well drained.

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