Almojábana is a traditional Colombian cheese bread. They are delicious with coffee or hot chocolate for breakfast or a snack. Almojábanas are very easy to make and don't require a lot of ingredients. They are made with corn flour, cheese, butter, eggs and milk.
These Colombian Almojábanas are delicious for breakfast or for an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee.
Almojábanas (Colombian Cheese Bread)
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups of masarepa or precooked cornmeal
- 3 cups queso fresco
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 4 tablespoon whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F.
- Mix the masarepa and cheese in a food processor.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Divide into 8 equal-size portions and shape into a ball.
- Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until they are golden. Serve warm.
Video
Nutrition
I published an almojábana recipe several years ago and it’s loved by many readers, but I was not completely happy with the recipe. I am not a baker, but, I’ve certainly improved my baking skills over the years! I want to share my new and improved version including the step by step video. Baking is truly a science and I’m happy to continue to deliver you tested and improved recipes!
Well, to tell you the truth I am always scared of baking, but sometimes I crave my favorite Colombian “parva”, so I bake. Parva is what we call our baked goods in the region of Antioquia. Although this recipe is very easy to make, the problem I have is that in the USA, I don’t find “cuajada”, a fresh white cheese made with non-pasteurized milk, and this is the base for Colombian Almojábanas. So, I have tried this recipe at least 4 times with various kinds of cheese and although the bread is not quite the same as I make in Colombia, it is pretty close and delicious!
Random Creativity
These were amazing! I used a soft cheddar cheese, that I shredded and then stirred some sour cream into to make the texture of cottage cheese. The constancy reminded me of a drop cookie dough, so I used my small disher to make 50 small balls instead of 8 large rolls. I've never tried the 'real' thing, so I don't know how these compare, but we really enjoyed snacking on them, and my husband asked me to 'definitely repeat this recipe.' Thank you so much for sharing!
miriam
one more question sorry,,what is the crumb texture supposed to be like...dry and light or a bit wet soft?
miriam
i made them anyway..very good..but they stuck to sheet pan...even though i greased it..do u use parchment paper?
miriam
hi i want to make these ..any cottgae cheese you would recommend?
Gloria
Erica what is the difference between Colombian almojábanas and Pande Bono? In Jackson Heights and other Colombian bakeries in NY they always used both names for the same product.
Erica
Almojabanas are made with masarepa and Pandebonos are made with a mix of yuca starch and masarepa. The taste and the texture is different.
Lucia
Could we use feta cheese instead?
Erica
Lucia-Yes, but add more milk.
Scott
Erica -
So do you find cottage cheese the best substitute for cuajada. My sons love arepas boyacenses, which also requires cuajada and which I also cannot find in the United States. I have substituted many different cheeses with great failure. I have never tried cottage cheese though.
Pablo
I made these yesterday and they were delicious and very easy to make!
Billy
Used to eat these all the time in Bogota and Medellin. I also miss natilla and bunuelos at Christmastime!!! AY La vida PAISA
solene soto
hello,
i am a frenchy married to a colombiano !!!
In France everyone cooks, and we don't really have a particular food ( except for breads, cheeses and wines ^^). I, like millions other frenchies, love cooking !!!
i have introduced my hubby to our french cuisine, and he loves it but i decided it might be time that i try to "take him back home".
I don't have my mother in law around to help me with Colombian delicacies so i was happy to find your website.
i have just tried to make almojabanas for my husband, and happily i found cuajada.
Unfortunately it turned out pretty bad. In fact the almojabanas were very dry !!! nothing like the ones we buy at the colombian bakery. I used the same measure for cuajada than cottage cheese... maybe there is the mistake ??? i want to try again, do you have any advice ?
thank you
solene
Erica
Solene- Maybe the cuajada was dry.
conny
Hola Erika estuve intentando las almojabanas con maseca y cottage cheese, pero me quedaron muy aguadasy aqui en este pueblito no encuentro masarepa ni cuajada, yo estoy a3 horas de Panama City y no se si encuentre esos ingredientes alla, pero mi familia quiere que yo haga almojabanas y pandebonos, tambien arepa de choclo, gracias por tu ayuda, tienes una receta facil de empanadas de dulce de leche? y de guayaba? yo estoy haciendo de carne y de pollo y los americanos estan felices, pero me pidieron de dulce, perdona si te molesto mucho ,gracias
conny
Hi Erika, i'm will be going to try la almojabana, el pandebono y banana orange bread, I really like cooking and baking, thanks for the recipes , I'm from Colombia too y ahora vivo en un pueblito pequeño en Alabama, no se si voy a encontrar yuca flour o cassaba starch, pero quiero intentar los tres, puedo preguntarte si tienes la receta de la arepa de choclo? gracias, felicidades
Erica
Conny,
Here is the link:
https://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/arepas-de-chocolo-con-quesito-colombian-corn-cakes-with-fresh-cheese/
Liz
I love all of these recipes and I am so excited to make these! I was able to find cuajada today, would all the measurements be the same?
Erica
Liz-Yes!
amanda
Hi Erika: thank you for the information! I would like to make these and found a company here in the east coast that sells cuajada! it is called tropical . how would the recipe change if you had cuajada? thanks!
Marian
Gracias Erica. Hoy voy a intentar otra vez:)
Marian
oh mine didn't come out so good...la masa estaba muy aguada:(
Erica
Marian- La masa es un poco aguada por lo del queso.....por que normalmente se hacen con cuajada, pero si cuelas el cottage cheese la proxima vez a lo mejor te salen mejor. Esta receta me dio mucha dificultad la trate como 4 veces con differentes quesos y esta fur la mejor aunque no igual que con cuajada!