Cheese Empanadas Recipe
These Cheese Empanadas feature a buttery, flaky crust filled with a delicious blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Perfect as a savory snack or appetizer, they are baked until golden and crispy, offering a delightful combination of creamy cheese and tender pastry.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 empanadas 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Latin American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (cold and cubed)
- 1/3 cup ice cold water (plus more if needed)
For the Filling
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
For Assembly
- 1 large egg (beaten for egg wash)
Instructions
- Mix dry: In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt thoroughly to create the dry base for the dough.
- Cut butter: Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry blender or your hands, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs to ensure a flaky crust.
- Form dough: Gradually pour in the ice cold water while mixing until a dough forms. If it’s too dry, add more water one tablespoon at a time. Once combined, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to rest and chill.
- Mix cheese: In a separate bowl, mix together the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses evenly for the filling.
- Roll dough: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to a thin 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 5-inch round cutter, cut out circles from the dough.
- Fill empanadas: Place a spoonful of the cheese mixture on one half of each dough round. Moisten the edges with water, fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon, and seal the edges tightly using a fork to prevent the cheese from leaking.
- Egg wash: Brush each empanada with the beaten egg using a pastry brush to ensure they develop a golden, shiny crust when baked.
- Bake: Arrange the empanadas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until they are puffed up and golden brown on top. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is very cold to achieve a flaky pastry texture.
- If the dough is too sticky to work with, chill it longer in the refrigerator.
- You can substitute different cheeses such as Monterey Jack or pepper jack for a spicier flavor.
- Empanadas can be frozen before baking; just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking from frozen.
- For a dairy-free version, consider using vegan butter and plant-based cheeses.
Keywords: cheese empanadas, baked empanadas, cheesy snack, Latin American pastry, mozzarella empanadas, cheddar empanadas
Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/cheese-empanadas-recipe/
