About
There's never been a puff we didn't love, but the French Cheese Puffs are definitely in our top five favorites. They're just so light and airy with the perfect portion of melty cheese found on top and within. It almost feels like you find a little hidden treasure within every bite. These fluffy, savory delights are what snack dreams are made of. Make them all come true with French Cheese Puffs!
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- nutmeg, to taste
- ground pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, shredded, divided
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 2 -Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 3 -In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the water, the salt, and the butter and cook, while stirring, until it is combined and the butter is melted.
Step 4 -Transfer the saucepan from the heat. Add the flour to the butter mixture and stir until it is completely incorporated.
Step 5 -Place the saucepan over low heat and cook the flour mixture, while stirring, until it begins to pull away from the sides and bottom of the pan, about 1 minute 30 seconds.
Step 6 -Transfer the saucepan from the heat and let the flour mixture cool, about 5 minutes.
Step 7 -Add the eggs, 1 at a time, to the flour mixture and mix well after each addition.
Step 8 -Add the nutmeg and the ground pepper to the dough mixture and stir to combine.
Step 9 -Add 1 cup of the cheese to the dough and stir until it is well-combined.
Step 10 -Add the dough to a pastry bag with a 1-inch-wide opening.
Step 11 -Pipe out 1-inch-wide dough mounds onto each of the prepared baking sheets, ensuring there is about 1 1/2 inches between each mound.
Step 12 -Evenly place the remaining cheese on top of each of the dough mounds.
Step 13 -Transfer the baking sheets to the oven and bake the cheese puffs, about 10 minutes.
Step 14 -Reduce the temperature to 375 degrees F, then bake the cheese puffs until they are puffed and a rich, golden color, about 20-25 minutes. Note: Do not open the oven until they are done baking so they do not deflate.
Step 15 -Turn off the oven and keep the baking sheets in the oven.
Step 16 -Carefully pierce each of the cheese puffs with the tip of a knife to let out steam, then let them sit with the oven door slightly open, about 15 minutes.
Step 17 -Serve.
