Sweets and desserts

Queijadas de Sintra

Small tarts filled with fresh cheese, eggs, sugar and cinnamon.

RegionSintra
DifficultyMedium
Total time1 h
Yield12 pieces
Photo of Queijadas de Sintra — traditional Portuguese recipe
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

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

About the recipe

Queijadas de Sintra are part of the town’s sweet memory, with thin pastry and a fragrant filling.

Fresh cheese gives a distinctive texture, while cinnamon and sugar bring comfort.

The home recipe aims for the spirit of the sweet, without claiming to be an original historic pastry formula.

Ingredients

  • 250 g flour
  • 80 g butter
  • Cold water until it comes together
  • 300 g mashed fresh cheese
  • 200 g sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Optional lemon zest

Method

  1. Make a dough with flour, butter and water, resting it before rolling out.
  2. Line small molds with thin pastry discs.
  3. Mix cheese, sugar, egg yolks, cinnamon and lemon.
  4. Fill the molds without going over the rim.
  5. Bake until the filling sets and lightly browns.
  6. Let it cool slightly before unmolding.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • Thin pastry balances the filling.
  • The fresh cheese should be well drained.
  • Cinnamon should perfume without dominating.

Possible substitutions in Brazil

  • Well-mashed fresh ricotta can stand in for fresh cheese in an adaptation.
  • Cold butter makes the pastry easier to roll.

Pairing

Coffee, tea or a gentle dessert wine. Content intended for adults 18+. Drink responsibly.

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.

Do you have a Portuguese family recipe?

Send it to the Empório Portugal community. Submitted recipes are reviewed before any publication.

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Quick facts

Prep
35 min
Cooking
25 min
Total time
1 h
Yield
12 pieces
Difficulty
Medium
Occasion
Coffee, dessert

Pairing

Coffee, tea or a gentle dessert wine. Content intended for adults 18+. Drink responsibly.

Empório tip

Thin pastry balances the filling.

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