Queijadas de Sintra are classic Portuguese pastries from the lovely town of Sintra. These small, sweet tarts have been around for ages. People love them for their tasty mix of flavors and textures.
The filling includes fresh cheese, sugar, and cinnamon, all wrapped in a crispy pastry shell. Each bite is creamy and sweet, making them a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
They are usually made with requeijão, a type of fresh cheese from Portugal. If you can’t find it, ricotta cheese works great. Queijadas are wonderful as a snack with coffee or tea, or as a tasty dessert.
Ingredients:
For the Pastry:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/3 cup cold water
For the Filling:
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese or requeijão
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions:
- In a big bowl, mix the flour and salt.
- Add the cold butter and rub it in with your fingers until it looks like crumbs.
- Slowly add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until the dough forms.
- Wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Add the egg yolks one by one, mixing well after each.
- Then stir in the flour, cinnamon, and lemon zest until everything is well mixed.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Grease a muffin tin or use small tart pans.
- Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to about 1/8 inch thick.
- Cut out circles that are a bit larger than the muffin tin or tart pans.
- Press each circle gently into the tin, making sure the edges are even.
- Spoon the filling into each pastry shell, filling them nearly to the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the filling is set and slightly golden, with crisp edges on the pastry.
- Let the queijadas cool in the tin for about 10 minutes, then move them to a wire rack.
- Serve them warm or at room temperature.
