Chef John’s Party Cheese Puffs

Description

These beautiful cheese puffs, gougeres, are as easy as they are delicious. Usually Gruyere cheese is used but I had some very sharp farmhouse Cheddar cheese in the fridge, so I decided to use that. As long as you are using a very sharp, full-flavored cheese I don’t think you can go wrong. I love gougeres with Gruyere, but I think the extra-sharp Cheddar was just as good.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1 pinch salt
  • ½ cup flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
  2. Stir water
  3. butter
  4. and salt together in a pot; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and whisk flour into butter mixture until a paste-like dough forms
  5. 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer dough to a bowl to cool until warm
  6. 5 to 10 minutes.
  7. Whisk 1 egg
  8. thyme
  9. and black pepper into cooled dough until egg is completely incorporated. Add remaining egg and whisk until completely incorporated into dough. Stir 3/4 the cheese into dough until combined. Scoop 1-inch balls of dough onto prepared baking sheet. Top each with remaining cheese.
  10. Bake in the preheated oven until golden and puffed
  11. 15 to 20 minutes.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

Servings: 12

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