Gougères

French cheese puffs that melt in your mouth

Servings: 8 cocktail servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup diced Gruyère cheese

• 1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese

• 5 eggs

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 8 TB unsalted butter

• 1 1/2 tsp salt

• freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Combine the water, butter, and a teaspoon of salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the butter melts. Remove the pan from the heat, let cool slightly, then stir in the flour and mix well.

3. Return the pan to the heat and stir with a wooden spoon over high heat until the mixture comes away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the heat.

4. Stir in the eggs, one at a time until well combined. Add the diced cheese, the remaining 1/2 tsp of salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.

5. Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto a well-buttered baking sheet. Smooth the top and sides of each gougère with a knife, and sprinkle with the grated cheese.

6. Bake in batches for 25 minutes, or until puffed and golden.

7. Serve immediately.