Cheddar and Chive Gougères are delightful French cheese puffs that make for an excellent addition to your holiday gatherings. These light and airy pastries are perfect as Christmas Eve appetizers, offering a savory flavor that pairs wonderfully with festive drinks.
This recipe is straightforward and utilizes basic ingredients like cheese, flour, and eggs. You can easily whip up a batch to impress your guests with these delicious bites.
Easy Cheddar and Chive Gougères Recipe
These gougères are made with a choux pastry base, combined with sharp cheddar cheese and fresh chives for added flavor. The recipe takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and yields approximately 24 cheese puffs.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Grated cheese for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the Choux Pastry: In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, and salt. Bring to a boil, then add flour all at once, stirring vigorously until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
- Incorporate Eggs: Remove the pan from heat and let it cool slightly. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until the dough is smooth and glossy.
- Add Cheese and Chives: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, chopped chives, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using.
- Pipe the Dough: Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe small mounds (about 1 inch in diameter) onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with additional grated cheese if desired.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the gougères are puffed and golden brown. Do not open the oven door during baking.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving warm. Enjoy your Cheddar and Chive Gougères as a festive appetizer!
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 24 cheese puffs
- Calories: 80kcal
- Fat: 5g
- Protein: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
