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Gougères, (Goo-ZHAIR) are a classical preparation often served at wine tastings in France with their Burgundy wines. These are great with any wine or champagne.

A gougere is a savory cheese puff made with pate a choux dough, the same dough used for cream puffs and eclairs. These make wonderful appetizers or hors d'oeuvres for a party. They are very addictive, so make a large batch.

Check out more of Linda's Appetizer Recipes

Gruyère Cheese Gougères

1 cup bread flour*
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, optional
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large room temperature eggs, beaten
2 room temperature egg whites**
3 1/2 ounces of unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup (about 3 ounces) freshly grated French or Swiss Gruyere cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano) cheese
1 cup water
Egg Glaze (optional)
Coarse salt (fleur de sel or kosher salt), to sprinkle on top

NOTE: Prepare all your ingredients in advance, as preparation will go quickly once you start cooking.

• In a small bowl, combine flour, cayenne pepper, dry mustard, and salt; set aside.

• In a small bowl, add eggs and egg whites; Whisk until mixed together; set aside.

• Cut up butter into small pieces; set aside.

• Grate Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses; set aside.

In a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the water and butter; bring mixture to a full rolling boil (make sure the butter has all melted). Remove pan from the heat and add flour mixture all at once, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon until blended. NOTE: The flour absorbs the liquid rapidly, and must be mixed thoroughly until there are no lumps left. Reduce heat to medium; return pan to heat and continue stirring until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan and forms a ball, stir approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute to evaporate excess moisture. Remove from heat and transfer the dough to the bowl of an electric mixer.

Using your mixer with the paddle attachment, mix at low speed until the dough has cooled slightly. It should be about 140 degrees F. (use your digital thermometer to test the dough).

At medium speed, beat the eggs/egg whites mixture in a little at a time. Add no more than a quarter of the eggs at once; wait until eggs are completely absorbed before adding more (at first the eggs will act like they don't want to mix in, but they will). When all the eggs are absorbed, the dough is ready to use. The dough should be soft and a little sticky, but be able to hold its shape. Stir in the grated Gruyere and parmesan cheeses until well incorporated.

Time to make the gougeres. Following are some of the different techniques that people use to form the balls. 

Using two teaspoons: With one spoon, scoop up about 2 to 3 teaspoons for a cocktail-size puff (walnut size). With other spoon, push batter off first spoon and drop in a mound onto prepared baking sheet.

Using plastic bag: Place dough into bag. Cut the end off one corner with scissors, to make an opening about 1/4 inch. Squeeze the mixture onto the pans.

Cookie scoops: Cookie scoops can also be used.

Using pastry bag: Put a 1/4-inch star tip into your pastry bag. Fill the bag with the dough. Squeeze the dough out in a circle motion to create small silver dollar-sized circles.

Finger and spoon:  This is how I do it. It is easy and goes fast.

Leave about 2 inches between the gougères on the baking sheet, as the mixture will spread during baking. Don't worry if they don't look neat, they tend to round out as they rise in the oven. NOTE: to smooth out any parts that stick up when you squeeze out the dough, just wet your finger in water or milk and smooth out.

When gougères are ready to bake, sprinkle a few some coarse salt on top of each gougère.

Bake for a total of about 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through (switch pans so the top one is on the bottom rack and vice versa). Do not overcook the gougères, they are better when slightly undercooked. Remove from oven, using a thin spatula remove from baking sheet, and let cool slightly before serving.

Makes approximately 36 gougères.

NOTES:

• The dough can be prepared 2 to 3 hours in advance. Make the dough balls, cover, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, remove from refrigerator, and bake them into a pre-heated oven.

• The dough may be made a day ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator. When ready to use, remove from refrigerator, make balls, and then bake in a pre-heated oven.

• You may also bake and freeze them. Thaw at room temperature and refresh in a 350° F. oven for about 10 minutes.

• For best results, use puffs with 24 hours, or wrap airtight and freeze.

• If you're making and baking gougères ahead of time, poke the bottoms after you remove them from the oven, turn upside down, and let dry out on the baking sheet.

• Gougère are easy to travel with to. You can bring them to a dinner party and re-heat them (5 minutes at 350 degree F.) on a baking sheet when you arrive.

• Blue Cheese or Cheddar Cheese may be substituted for the Gruyere cheese. Actually any hard cheese may be substituted.