Description
Gougères are classic French savory cheese puffs made from airy choux pastry dough mixed with Gruyère cheese and baked until golden and crisp. Light, fluffy, and full of rich cheesy flavor, they make an elegant appetizer, brunch addition, or party snack.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups grated Gruyère cheese
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives or parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously until the dough forms a smooth ball and pulls away from the pan sides.
- Continue cooking the dough for 1 minute to remove excess moisture.
- Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl and let it cool for 3–5 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition until smooth.
- Stir in the Gruyère cheese, Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, and herbs if using.
- Spoon or pipe small mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 22–25 minutes until puffed and deep golden brown. Do not open the oven during baking.
- Remove from the oven and cool slightly before serving warm.
Notes
- Gruyère is traditional, but Comté, Emmental, or cheddar also work well.
- Avoid opening the oven door during baking to prevent collapsing.
- Reheat in the oven to restore crispness before serving.
- Fresh herbs, garlic, smoked paprika, or cayenne add extra flavor.
- Gougères can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Pipe evenly sized mounds for uniform baking.
- Serve warm for the best texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 gougères
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
