These palitos de queso or cheese sicks are a popular Colombian snack. They are perfect for everything from parties to after school snacking.
Palitos de Queso are sticks of white cheese (queso blanco), wrapped with dough and fried until golden. A family party in Colombia was not a party without Palitos or Deditos de Queso.
We hardly ever made them from scratch, mainly because it was easier to go to the market and buy them already assembled, then we just needed to bring them home and fry them for breakfast, snacks or store them in the freezer for party appetizers.
These Palitos de Queso are also served all over Colombia at coffee shops and school cafeterias. I have many wonderful memories associated with these delicious cheese sticks.
Ingredients You Need
The printable recipe card with exact amount and cooking directions to make Colombian Palitos de Queso is below.
Cheese: I recommend using queso blanco to make this recipe, but mozzarella will work.
Flour: You need all purpose flour to make these cheese sicks.
Baking Powder: Always check that your baking powder is not expire for the best result.
Oil: I recommend using vegetable or canola oil to fry them.
Butter: I like to use unsalted butter.
Sugar: Adds sweetness to the dough and great texture and golden color.
Salt: Adds flavor.
Water: To mix the dough.
How to Make Palitos de Queso
To make the dough: Place the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor or mixer. Add the butter and water until a dough forms.
- Form a ball, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for about 40 minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a thin rectangle.
With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough into strips about three times the size of the cheese sticks.
Wrap the cheese stick using one strip of dough overlapping the dough. Fold and seal the edges.
Repeat this process with the remaining cheese and dough. Cover and freeze until frozen, about 2 hours and up to 2 days.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Working in batches, fry the cheese sticks until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer the palitos de queso to a plate lined with paper towel and eat immediately.
More Appetizer Recipes
Papas Rellenas (Colombian Style Stuffed Potatoes)
Palitos de Queso (Cheese Sticks) Recipe
Ingredients
- Oil for frying
- 2 about 8-ounce blocks of queso blanco for frying white cheese cut into 4 by ½-inch sticks
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 4 teaspoons of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 5 tablespoons of butter
- 6 tablespoons of sparkling water or ice water
Instructions
- To make the dough: Place the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Add the butter and water until a dough forms.
- Form a ball, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for about 40 minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a thin rectangle.
- With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough into strips about three times the size of the cheese sticks.
- Wrap the cheese stick using one strip of dough overlapping the dough. Fold and seal the edges.
- Repeat this process with the remaining cheese and dough. Cover and freeze until frozen, about 2 hours and up to 2 days.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Working in batches, fry the cheese sticks until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer the palitos de queso to a plate lined with paper towel and eat immediately.
Margarita
I have been trying for four years to find this recipe. When I moved from Miami I thought I'd never get to eat these again but now I can. A million thank you's.
Susana
Hola Erica!
Soy Colombiana, de origen Libanes. Adoro todo lo que tiene que ver con la comida Colombiana, y pues ya que no vivo en Colombia siempre trato de hacer las comiditas ricas de mi pais! Mi mami siempre me hace deditos y los ponemos en el freezer, pero ya que se me acabaron y ella no esta a mi lado, pues me toca hacerlas sola, y ya que no tengo receta me alegra haber encontrado la tuya! tambien relleno dediros con salchica, salen ricas! las hago mas que todo para mi hijo pal colegio! te contare como saldran. Un beso!
Susana
Erica
Con salchicha deben quedar deliciosos,Susana! Muchas gracias por tu comentario!
lina
great recipe!
can I use the Pillsbury crescents or pizza dough mix instead of making it from scratch?
Erica
The dough will be different,but you can try it!
Erica
Thank you all for your comments!
Joanna
This site has the best Colombian recipes. I love Colombian food and you are always posting the best food here. I made your palitos de queso and they are wonderful.I ate 10 ....:)
Danielle
Oh wow...those look so good! Definitely marking them in my reader to make in the future.
rebecca
wow these look divine nice little treat
Chris
I pinned, posted on FB, and stumbled this and then forgot to comment. Too funny. Great post, Erica, love these.
Krystle
This looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing Colombian recipes!
Tatiana-QueCocinar
Erika:
Esto es lo mas deliciosoooooo del mundo, voy a ver si consigo este queso, no lo conocia, para poderlos hacer. Me muero de ganas por comerlos.
Gracias por recordarmelos...
Jeannie
Oh my! I love this! Look at the amount of cheese in those sticks! super yummy!
grace
what an awesome trick, erica! i love how they roll apart like that, revealing all that gooey cheese. bravo!
Miriam
How beautifully yumm!!
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
AdrianaG
esto me lleva a la epoca de la U....donde consigues el queso Erica?
Erica
En cualquier mercado Latino o busca en tu supermercado en la parte de los quesos. Si no lo encuentras utiliza mozarella.
Diana
Sooo many memories .... yummmmm !!! ...But I don't have a place where I can find the Queso de Freir, so would it be possible to use mozzarella sticks instead?
Erica
Yes.
Belinda @zomppa
Oh my gosh - these are the most tempting cheesy warm beauties!