Delightful plain, or use a paring knife to slit the bottom and stuff with any savory morsel
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
20 minutes
Servings:
Ingredients
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut up
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
  • 1 cup flour
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup grated gruyère (other hard cheeses, including sharp white cheddar, are also nice)
Directions
  1. Step 1: In a large pan, heat 1 cup water, 1 pinch kosher salt and 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter (cut up). Bring to a boil.
  2. Step 2: Dump in 1 cup flour, all at once. Stir with a wooden spoon to a big soft lump that looks something like mashed potatoes. Stir another minute to cook the flour.
  3. Step 3: Scrape dough into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium, slowly pouring in 4 lightly beaten eggs. Sprinkle in 3/4 cup grated Gruyère (other hard cheese). Dough will look like thick vanilla pudding.
  4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 400 F.
  5. Step 5: Scrape dough into a pastry bag fitted with a plain 1/2-inch tip. Pipe about 48 (1-inch) diameter mounds onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Two spoons or a tiny ice-cream scoop also work. Gougeres are made from a dough called "choux," which means cabbage; not aiming for pretty here. Sprinkle the little lumps with remaining cheese.
  6. Step 6: Slide pans into oven; bake until gougeres are golden and puffed, about 20 minutes. Pull one out, break open and check: the inside should be steamy and creamy, but not wet. If need be, bake another minute.
  7. Step 7: Gougeres are delightful plain, or use a paring knife to slit the bottom and stuff with any savory morsel—even a pistachio, chunk of brie or wisp of salami.