Gougères (French Cheese Puffs)

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 450F.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, bring the water, butter, and salt to a simmer over high heat.

Step 3

Reduce the heat to medium and add the flour. Stir hard. The dough will clump and pull from the sides of the pan, continue cooking and stirring for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for 2-3 minutes.

Step 4

Once the dough is warm, but not hot, add the eggs, one at a time, stirring hard or beating with an electric hand mixer after each addition to fully incorporate each egg before adding the next. (The batter will first become lumpy, but after a minute or two, it will become a smooth batter again.)

Step 5

Add the grated cheese. Stir or beat until well-mixed.

Step 6

On a parchment or silicone lined baking sheet, spoon or pipe roughly a tablespoon of batter. Wet your finger with water and pat down any peaks that form. (These will burn more easily.)

Step 7

Bake the Gougères for 10 minutes at 450F, then turn the oven down to 350F and bake for an additional 17-23 minutes, until they are nicely golden brown and feel firm when tapped.

Step 8

Let the Gougères cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. (The Gougères are best served warm.)