Gougères

This post may contain affiliate links. Oh brother, are these tasty! Gougères  (pronounced "goo-ZHAIRS") are puffy, savory, and very hard to stop eating, especially when they are warm from the oven. They are an excellent appetizer, not just because of the tastiness but because they are quick to put together.

The traditional gougère is made with Gruyère cheese, and my version here uses Swiss cheese.

Gougères are basically a savory version of a cream puff shell, and the dough comes together with the same choux pastry method. The dough can be piped onto a baking sheet, dropped by spoonfuls, or you can do like I did and use a small ice cream scoop.

The scoop makes the process quick and neat, and gives you tidy round balls of dough that puff up beautifully. (My purchase of small, medium, and large spring-loaded ice cream scoops was one of the best investments I have made. I use them for everything!)  You will be surprised at how fast the dough for these pastries comes together. Give it a try!

The Gougères are delicious served on their own, or you can also use them to hold savory fillings like ham or chicken salad, or a dollop of Boursin herbed cheese. 

Gougères

Nancy Mock

Gougères are puffy, savory, and very hard to stop eating, especially when they are warm from the oven. 

5 from 1 vote. Tap stars to vote

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Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Appetizer

Servings 10 servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 ¼ cups water
• ½ cup butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• ½   teaspoon black pepper
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup grated Swiss or Gruyere cheese

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter, salt, onion powder, thyme and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat: once the mixture boils remove the pan from the heat. Add in the flour and stir until the flour is no longer visible in the mixture. Return the pan to medium heat and stir the dough constantly for 2-3 minutes: the mixture will be drier and will pull away from the sides of the pan.
• Transfer the dough to the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix it on low speed for 2 minutes to cool it down - this is important because if the dough is too hot it will cook the eggs when you add them. Test the dough with your finger: if it's still too hot to touch let it sit for a few minutes longer. Once the dough has cooled enough, add the eggs in one at a time and mix each at medium speed until incorporated. Touch the batter - when you pull your finger away a small peak should form. Add in the grated Swiss cheese and mix the dough on low just until the cheese is incorporated.
• Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls or use a small, 2 teaspoon-sized ice cream scoop to make one-inch balls on the prepared sheet. Or if you prefer, transfer the dough to a pastry bag with a large fluted tip and pipe it onto the prepared sheets.  Bake the gougères for about 18-20 minutes until they are puff ed and golden brown. Serve them warm if possible! If you are planning to fill them, allow them to cool before splitting them open to do so.
• Makes about 40 Gougères.

Notes

Create, Be Curious, Celebrate... with Food!

 

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 7gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 384mgPotassium: 51mgVitamin A: 515IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 1.1mg

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment, tell me what you think!