Crispy French Cheese Puffs (Gougères)
Delightful French cheese puffs with a crispy exterior and airy interior, perfect for entertaining or satisfying cravings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 20 gougères 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (cut into cubes)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs (room temperature)
- To taste: nutmeg (freshly grated)
- To taste: ground pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese (shredded, divided)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, salt, and butter. Cook while stirring until melted.
- Remove from heat and add the flour all at once. Stir until incorporated, then return to low heat, stirring until dough pulls away from sides (about 1 minute 30 seconds).
- Transfer dough to a bowl and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Add each egg one at a time, mixing well until smooth and glossy.
- Stir in nutmeg and ground pepper, then fold in 1 cup of the Gruyère cheese.
- Transfer dough to a pastry bag and pipe 1-inch mounds onto baking sheets, topping with remaining cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, reduce temperature to 375°F and continue baking until golden (about 20-25 minutes). Do not open the oven door during baking.
- Once golden, pierce each puff with a knife to release steam and let rest in the oven with the door slightly open for 15 minutes.
- Serve warm.
Notes
Make sure eggs are at room temperature for easier incorporation. Don’t rush the resting step after baking; it’s vital for texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg