From tortillas to pizza crust to cookies and brownies, you won’t believe how versatile tapioca is. Banana bread, brownies, churros – these all sound amazing, but if you’re gluten-intolerant, they must be avoided at all costs. But with tapioca, nothing is impossible. A product of cassava, tapioca is a fine powdery substance used primarily in South America as a flour alternative. It can thicken soups and stews, bake cookies and cakes, and be used as a breading for deep-fried delights. Tapioca is also the key ingredient for boba! If you love those chewy pearls, great news, there is a recipe for them on this list, along with many more awesome treats. From classic chocolate chip cookies to the exotic pan de yuca, here are 21 tapioca recipes you should definitely try.
1. Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread)
Pao de Queijo is Portuguese for “cheese bread.” These small, round cheese rolls are very popular in Brazil, consumed either as a breakfast side dish or an afternoon snack. Apart from the cheesy center, what makes them soft and chewy is tapioca flour. It seems like a chore, but it’s not. This bread doesn’t require yeast, so there’s no kneading, rolling, or resting involved.
2. Gluten-Free Tortillas
Don’t miss out on burritos, quesadillas, taquitos, and soft shell tacos! With these gluten-free tortillas, you can have your fill of Tex-Mex delights. These tortillas aren’t only gluten-free, but also easy to make. They only require two ingredients and come together in as fast as 15 minutes. The hardest part is deciding which tortilla-based treat to try first!
3. Gluten-Free Crepes
Crepes are great, no matter what filling you put in them. Whether it’s jam, fresh fruit, and berries, or ham, bacon, and cheese, these tender vessels are always such a fun treat. So why not whip up a fun crepe bar for the family to enjoy? Have an elaborate spread of fillings and toppings and let people get creative with their DIY gluten-free crepes.
4. Pan De Yuca
Pan de yuca is a Colombian bread made with tapioca flour and cheese. Pair this cheesy bread with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate for a hearty breakfast. It’s a lot like Brazil’s pao de queijo, but with a few subtle differences. This recipe, for instance, is much simpler with only five ingredients. It also uses queso fresco, while pao de queijo calls for parmesan and cheddar cheese. Try both recipes and let me know which one you like more!
5. Tapioca Flour Popovers
Similar to Yorkshire pudding, popovers are golden brown morsels of puffy bread. They’re hollow in the middle, which makes them a perfect vessel for fillings. You can also dunk them in soups and stews, or just enjoy them on their own. And with this easy recipe, you get to enjoy incredibly delicious popovers without triggering a gluten allergy!
6. Pizza Crust
This pizza crust is just as crispy and chewy as any, but it’s 100% gluten-free. The recipe was inspired by pao de queijo, so think of this pizza crust as cheese bread, but flatter and wider. That said, the crust itself is already tasty and cheesy. Imagine how awesome it would be once you’ve added your favorite toppings!
7. Cheese Sauce
I will never run out of things to put cheese sauce on. Burgers, pizza, burritos, nachos, pasta – you name it! Cheese sauce is a must-have at my home. If you love it as much as I do but suffer from gluten intolerance, you’re in for a treat. Made with coconut milk, nutritional yeast, tapioca flour, and seasonings, this cheese sauce is thick, silky, and outrageously delicious. It’s not only gluten-free but also vegan and paleo-friendly.
8. Banana Bread
This banana bread is just as soft, moist, and full of flavor as any you’ve had from a bakery. It’s so good, you’ll be surprised to learn it’s gluten-free and paleo-friendly. It’s a basic banana bread recipe, so don’t expect any nuts, chocolate chips, or a cinnamon sugar topping. But don’t be fooled by its plainness, because it surely delivers, both in flavor and texture.
9. Blackberry Blueberry Cobbler
Crisp, crumble, and cobbler – honestly, I get these three mixed up a lot. If you’re like me, here’s a quick lesson: A crisp has a crisp topping made with oatmeal, hence its name. A crumble has a buttery and crumbly topping, hence its name. A cobbler, on the other hand, has a crisp, ooey-gooey topping. How did it get its name? Well, look at those cracks on top – don’t they look like cobblestones? While their toppings differ, they’re all the same inside: fresh fruits or berries cooked in sweet syrup. In this recipe, you’ll get a combo of blackberries and blueberries kissed by cinnamon for a hint of spice.
10. Gluten-Free Brownies
These brownies may be gluten-free, but they can match any “gluten-full” brownies out there. Made with tapioca starch, butter, and chocolate, these brownies are ridiculously fudgy and chewy. Besides being gluten-free, they’re also Paleo-friendly! With this recipe, everyone can get in on the fun.
11. Chocolate Chip Cookies
These chocolate chip cookies are crispy around the edges and soft and chewy in the center. Of course, they’re ultra-loaded with melty chocolate chips, just like any good chocolate chip cookie would be. Unlike average chocolate chip cookies, these guys are gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. How awesome is that?
12. Pie Crust
Looking for the perfect pie crust to hold your sweet and savory fillings? This recipe is calling your name. Why settle for store-bought when you can make a flaky and buttery crust in your own kitchen? It’s super easy, and gluten-free.
13. Peach Cobbler
This peach cobbler is crispy and fluffy on top, and oozing with sweet juicy peach filling in the center. Served warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this cobbler is a sure winner.
14. Dinner Rolls
If you’re looking for a hearty but gluten-free side dish for your soups and stews, these dinner rolls are exactly what you’ll need. It’s amazing how tapioca flour can also make bread! With this healthy flour alternative, there are endless gluten-free possibilities!
15. Churros
They’re crispy and crunchy on the outside, and soft and creamy in the middle. These deep-fried treats may be simple, but they taste like no other, especially when dunked in thick chocolate or sweet caramel.
16. Sandwich Bread
White bread is essential in my household. Quick and easy sandwiches are the perfect solution for busy mornings or weeknights. While it’s so much easier to just buy bread at your local bakery, you’ll get more bang for your buck if you make it yourself. It’s better in both flavor and texture, and budget-friendly, to boot.
17. Chocolate Cake
It’s your best friend’s birthday, and you badly want to bake them a cake, but they’re gluten-intolerant. No worries, tapioca starch is here to save the day. This gluten-free, paleo-friendly chocolate cake is moist and fudgy and loaded with chocolatey goodness. I love that it’s so decadent, especially with that luscious chocolate frosting, yet it’s not too sweet.
18. Naan Bread
Are you craving Indian food? Give your stew a hearty accompaniment: this naan bread recipe is all you’ll need. Naan is a traditional flatbread used in middle Eastern cuisines. The versatile bread can be used the same way as bread, crepes, or tortilla. I love it most when dunked in curry, though! So if that’s what you’re having for dinner, this recipe is a must-try.
19. Baked Donuts
Gluten-free donuts sound too good to be true, but they are. These beauties are just as good as Krispy Kreme donuts! They’re pillowy, fluffy, and so soft they melt in your mouth. Whether covered with powdered sugar or chocolate glaze, these donuts are certified crowd-pleasers.
20. Burger Buns
Is it grilling season already? Take care of the burger patties, I’ll handle the buns. These gluten-free burger buns have the perfect texture – soft, yet not too fragile that they’ll fall apart; sturdy, yet not tough and rubbery. In short, they’re the perfect vessels for your patties.
21. Tapioca Pearls
Yup, I’ve saved the best for last. If you’re a sucker for boba, you’ll love this recipe for tapioca pearls. These soft and gummy little pearls are what make boba so addictive. Fortunately, they’re easy to make, and a lot of fun, too! Click on a star to rate it!
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