Cheese Puffs

Party snacks don’t get much more classic than cheese puffs, but why wait for an occasion? These savory bites work just as well as a home-alone treat. Their crispy exterior and cheesy interior make them a hit with both kids and adults, but if you want to raise your cheese puff game, this recipe for cheese puffs with Swiss cheese or Gruyere and a hint of Dijon mustard will take your snack to the next level.

Ingredients for Cheese Puffs

• Water, butter and flour: These are the main ingredients needed for cheese puff dough, and they’re easily found in most kitchens.
• Salt and cayenne pepper: Salt and pepper are the only spices needed for this recipe, but they make a big impact, taste-wise.
• Eggs: You’ll need four large room-temperature eggs to make the cheese puff dough light and fluffy and help it puff up.
• Cheese: Cheese is what gives cheese puffs their cheesiness. We especially love shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese to complement the mustard and cayenne in this recipe, but other Alpine cheeses would work well too.
• Mustard: The secret sauce to the best-ever cheese puffs is a tablespoon of Dijon mustard for umami-level flavor.
• Parmesan cheese: More cheese! These are cheese puffs, after all. You’ll add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan at the end for good measure.

Directions

Step 1: Make the dough

In a large saucepan, bring the water, butter, salt and cayenne to a boil. Add the flour all at once, and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove the pan from the heat, and let it stand for five minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until the mixture is smooth and shiny. Stir in the Gruyere and mustard.

Step 2: Form the cheese balls

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Drop the dough by 1-inch balls, 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Sprinkle them with the Parmesan cheese.

Step 3: Bake the cheese balls

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve the cheese balls warm or cold.

Cheese Puff Variations

• Make them truffled: For fancy cheese puffs, pipe a black truffle cheese sauce into the middle of the dough ball after it comes out of the oven.
• Add bacon: A little bacon makes everything better. Toss in some bacon bits (the crispy, homemade kind) when you add the shredded cheese, before baking.
• Try them spicy: For kicked-up puffs, swap the cayenne for chipotle chile powder, or add a few dashes of hot sauce to the dough.

How to Store Cheese Puffs

Cheese puffs are one of those snacks that go fast, so plan to double or triple cheese puffs recipes if you want extras on hand for a party or holiday.

Can you freeze cheese puffs?

You bet! Cheese puffs freeze incredibly well. After letting them cool completely, stack them on layers of waxed paper in a freezer-safe container, and store them for up to three months.

Can you make this cheese puff recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can make these puffs up to a day in advance. If you choose to fill them, leave that step for right before serving.

Cheese Puff Tips

What makes cheese puffs puffy?

How can you make cheese puffs your own?

Mix up the cheeses to your personal taste, and add bits of crumbled cooked bacon or diced ham. These cheese puffs are called gourgeres by the French, and they are basically a savory version of a cream puff made with choux pastry called pate a choux.

How do you serve cheese puffs?

To really elevate your cheese puffs, why not split them open and add a delectable filling such as ham salad or smoked trout pate? Or do like the Parisians and pipe these into larger bun-sized puffs and fill them with roasted chicken or your favorite deli meats. They make a delicious sandwich.