Cheddar Gougeres
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: French
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2 dozen
 
A make-ahead appetizer perfect for holiday entertaining
Ingredients
  • 4 oz. (8 TB) unsalted butter
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 5 eggs at room temperature
  • 6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
  1. If baking right away, preheat oven to 425.
  2. Place the water, milk and butter in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring mixture to a boil and turn heat down to low. Add salt and cayenne pepper.
  3. Add flour and stir mixture with a wooden spoon until it comes together.
  4. Continue to stir for two more minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste.
  5. Remove pan from heat and pour dough into the bowl of a standing mixer or a large bowl.
  6. Using a standing mixer, handheld electric mixer, or a lot of elbow grease, beat the eggs into the dough one at a time. Make sure the egg is fully incorporated before adding the next one.
  7. By the time you add the last egg, the mixture should be smooth and shiny.
  8. Add the grated cheese to the mixture and stir to combine.
  9. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat baking mats.
  10. Using two soup spoons, place golf ball-sized mounds of dough on the baking sheets. (It is okay if they are not perfectly round.)
  11. If making ahead, freeze the mounds of dough on the trays until hardened. Then remove to a plastic freezer bag for storage.
  12. If using right away, place the trays in the oven and immediately turn down the heat to 375.
  13. Bake the gougeres for 26 minutes, rotating the trays 180 degrees halfway through. Make sure the gougeres are puffed and golden brown before removing from the oven.
  14. Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or room temperature.
Recipe by West of the Loop at https://www.westoftheloop.com/2014/12/15/holiday-entertaining-gougeres/