pay de queso (mexican "cheesecake")

Great Falls, MT
Updated on Oct 30, 2025

This recipe was given to me by my Mexican "mom" Redi, the mother of an exchange student I went to school with. Ninive, the exchange student, and I became great friends while she was here in the US and I have been to Mexico several times to visit her family. I loved the texture of Pay de Queso and requested it on every trip to Mexico. Redi happily obliged and gave me a copy of her family's recipe.

prep time 15 Min
cook time 45 Min
method Bake
yield 8 serving(s)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups maria's cracker (or graham) crumbs
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 12 ounces evaporated milk
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 - eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces cream cheese

How To Make pay de queso (mexican "cheesecake")

  • Step 1
    Preheat oven to 350*.
  • Step 2
    Mix together the cracker crumbs and butter. Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of a 9" pie plate. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Step 3
    Beat together the remaining ingredients. Beat on med-high for about 1 minute. Pour into prepared crust.
  • Step 4
    Bake 40-45 minutes, until the middle is almost set and jiggles slightly. Refrigerate 3 hours before serving.
  • Step 5
    Serve plain, with fruit, or cajeta.

Nutrition Facts

(per serving*)
calories: 486kcal, carbohydrates: 43g, cholesterol: 140mg, fat: 30g, fiber: 0g, protein: 12g, saturated fat: 17g, sodium: 414mg, sugar: 34g, unsaturated fat: 13g
*Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is estimated.

Discover More

Culture: Mexican
Category: Cakes
Category: Pies
Keyword: #queso
Keyword: #mexican
Ingredient: Dairy
Method: Bake

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