Description
Classic French cheese puffs made with a light, airy choux pastry filled with savory Gruyère cheese. Perfectly golden and puffed, these cheese puffs are an elegant appetizer or snack that’s easy to make and delightfully cheesy.
Ingredients
Scale
Choux Pastry
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 Tbsp. butter
- 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. freshly ground white pepper (optional)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
Cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Gruyère cheese, plus more for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Make the Dough: In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, kosher salt, granulated sugar, and white pepper if using. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until a smooth dough forms. Keep cooking and stirring until the dough pulls away from the pan, forms a ball, and a thin film develops on the bottom of the pot, about 2 minutes.
- Cool and Add Eggs: Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl and stir for about 1 minute using a wooden spoon to cool slightly. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition until the dough is smooth and thick enough to fall slowly when lifted with a spoon.
- Incorporate Cheese: Fold the freshly grated Gruyère cheese into the dough gently but thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
- Shape the Puffs: Transfer the batter to a piping bag or use a small cookie scoop (about 2 teaspoons capacity) to place small, roughly 1-inch wide mounds onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart. Optionally, press the tops lightly with a wet fingertip to smooth any peaks. Sprinkle additional Gruyère cheese on top for extra flavor and a golden crust.
- Bake: Bake the cheese puffs in the preheated oven until they are puffed up and golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Avoid opening the oven door during baking to maintain puffing.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm as delightful appetizers or snacks.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Gruyère cheese for best flavor and melting quality.
- If you don’t have a piping bag, a cookie scoop works well to maintain uniform size.
- Make sure to cook the dough long enough in the saucepan to develop the film on the pot’s bottom, ensuring proper texture.
- Do not open the oven door during baking or the puffs may collapse.
- These puffs are best served fresh out of the oven but can be briefly reheated.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cheese puff
- Calories: 55
- Sugar: 0.3g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 3.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 37mg
