Gougères (French Cheese Puffs) Recipe

Gougères are delicate miniature cheese puffs from France. Usually made with Gruyère cheese, they have many variations, but they all boil down to an airy cheese pastry based on a deliciously seasoned choux dough. Our recipe for classic gougères is pretty straightforward and doesn't require a lot of technical knowledge, so don't be intimidated by the choux dough requirement as it is fairly easy to make. These measurements make 15 to 20 cheese puffs, and you can double the amounts, although we recommend making the batches separately to ensure that the choux is thoroughly mixed. Use these cheese pastries as an appetizer during cocktail hour or as a pretty accompaniment to a cheese and charcuterie board. Delicious in lieu of bread rolls, the gourgères make great doughy sides to soups and stews. Eaten on their own when hot and straight from the oven, this fantastic French import has an unbeatable cheesy and buttery flavor.

If you've never made choux pastry, or pâte à choux, there are a few tips that can help you in achieving perfect consistency. First, sift your flour. This helps bring air into it and also makes mixing it in the dough a lot easier. Secondly, don't be afraid of incorporating the flour into the liquids with purpose. The choux will be airy regardless and a vigorous stir will ensure everything is well mixed and the gluten will develop appropriately for the gourgères to hold their shape. When adding the eggs, do it one at a time so it can be mixed in properly. Finally, choux needs heat, so the oven must be heated up with enough time to achieve the recommended temperature. Choux is more commonly used to make cream puffs and eclairs, but many savory baked goods are made using this type of dough.

For classic gourgères, we recommend using Gruyère cheese. Named after a town in Switzerland, this is a cheese that is aged between five to 12 months, producing a cheese that varies in flavor depending on its age. Usually described as creamy and nutty, Gruyère is a favorite of bakers because it adds flavor without taking over the whole dish as stronger cheeses might. In supermarkets, you'll find Swiss and French Gruyère, the difference being the origin because both cheeses are produced under strict supervision of standards that need to be met in order to be considered true Gruyère. Our gourgères achieve a tangy and salty kick thanks to shredded Gruyère and a few tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.