Crispy Tapioca Pancakes with Cheese and Coconut
Popular Brazilian snack 'tapioca' pancakes made from hydrated tapioca starch, filled with melted cheese and shredded coconut for a delightful sweet-savory balance. This Brazilian-inspired snack recipe (gluten free), ready in about 20 minutes, layers tapioca starch (goma de tapioca), water, grated mozzarella cheese into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup tapioca starch (goma de tapioca)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 tsp salt
The griddle we’d cook this on → Best Griddles for 2026: Stovetop and Electric Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, gradually add 1/4 cup water to 1 cup tapioca starch while stirring until the starch has a grainy but moist texture that can be sifted.
- Step 2: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and lightly grease with 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter.
- Step 3: Sift a thin, even layer (about 2 tbsp) of the hydrated tapioca starch into the skillet, forming a 6-inch round pancake. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the starch granules bind and the edges lift.
- Step 4: Sprinkle 2 tbsp grated mozzarella cheese and 1 tbsp sweetened shredded coconut over half of the pancake, then fold the other half over to cover the filling.
- Step 5: Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts and the tapioca pancake is crisp on the outside.
- Step 6: Transfer to a plate, brush with remaining 1/2 tbsp butter, and sprinkle 1/4 tsp salt evenly over the top. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 3 more pancakes.







