cheese puff tigers

Light, airy and full of cheese, these puffs make a wonderful appetizer. Serve alongside red wine for an elegant party bite.

[IMAGE] In case the name is unfamiliar, “gougères” are cheese puffs, essentially choux pastry (the same base used for eclairs and profiteroles) infused with Gruyère cheese. With no rising agents, volume is achieved through steam produced by the high moisture content. Many recipes specifically command you to stir the dough with a wooden spoon. I asked celebrated baker Simon Blackwell (Blackbird Baking Co.), who told me the wooden spoon is unnecessary, and that professionals make choux pastry in a mixer. While gougères are traditionally piped, the finished shape is expected to be a rough sphere, so the technique doesn’t require the finesse of piping rosettes. If you don’t own a piping bag (or, like me, your kitchen is mostly packed in preparation for a move), a Ziploc bag with a hole cut in one corner will do. Served warm, these French cousins of the cheddar biscuit will be gone within minutes. Gougères ​By Corey Mintz

These gouda cheese puffs are made from flaky puff pastry, sautéed onions, and shredded cheese. Little appetizers with yummy flavor!