Queijadas de Leite: Delicious Portuguese Egg and Milk Cupcakes

Queijadas de Leite: Delicious Portuguese Egg and Milk Cupcakes

Since I was a little girl, I have always had a love for Portuguese baked sweet treats. A family function and get together at my Vavo’s house just wasn’t complete without a fresh plate of queijadas being ready for the taking. Besides malasadas, queijadas de leite were and still are my all time favorite Portuguese baked good. My urge to want to make them was really sparked the other day when I ate one in memory of my father’s soul after his remembrance mass.

My father who recently passed away in December at 51, was from St. Miguel Azores and migrated to America when he was just 8. The American culture caught up to him quickly and he became pretty Americanized. He became an official citizen in 1999, and was a union carpenter for 15 years. My mom who is survived by him has Portuguese in her, but is not a native of the country— nor much of a baker. She can make delicious Portuguese food, but never once did any traditional Portuguese baked goods come out of her oven!

Anyhow, after speaking with some family members, I was given a great recipe for Queijadas de Leite which are again Portuguese egg and milk cupcakes.There are several versions of these out there. Some recipes use puff pastry, a few are really custardy, and others are more dry and fluffy. This Queijadas de Leite recipe is in the middle. It has a bouncy texture, the perfect amount of custard, and lemon–too good!!! So far 2/24 were eaten by your’s truly! hahaha

Want to make Queijadas de Leite? Here is what you will need:

*Makes 24*

• Cupcakes tins (2 – 12 counts)
• 24 paper liners
• Spray butter, or a pastry brush and additional 2 tablespoons melted butter
•  2 cups of white sugar
• 1 cup of flour plus 1 tbsp.
• 3 large eggs
• half stick of unsalted butter melted
• 3 cups of whole milk-almost fully boiled *be sure to remove from heat to prevent scalding
• 1 tablespoon of finely grated lemon = about one medium lemon

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350

Line cupcake pan with lightly buttered liners

Bring your milk to almost a boil, remove from heat before scalding

In a stand mixer, cream the melted butter sugar, eggs, and lemon

Slowly add in the flour and milk, mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes

Pour into cupcake tins about 1/2 way to 3/4 way

Bake for 45 minutes..the Portuguese Queijadas de Leite center will be slightly wiggly, but that is normal. You will also notice that they will sink ion the middle, and that is exactly what they are suppose to do. These are better than I imagined and perfect with a hot cup of coffee or tea!

Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for more recipes!