Cheese puffs are light and fluffy on the inside with the perfect crunch on the outside. This little appetizer is bursting with cheesy flavor!
These cute little puffs make a great addition to any appetizer spread. They are bite-sized, making them perfect finger food. They could also go well as a side to soup or salad. Try pairing these with Italian Sausage Soup, Arugula Salad, or Easy Chicken Caesar Salad.
American Recipes • Appetizers • Bread • Cuisines • Recipes
AKA Gougeres
Kristyn Merkley
March 10, 2021
Gougères is the French term for these cheese puffs. They are a savory cheese puff made with pate a choux dough that is mixed with cheese. Think cream puffs, but instead of cream they have a savory cheesy flavor.
Typically these are served cold at wine tastings, but they can also be served warm or at room temperature. They make a tasty traditional appetizer for any party or gathering.
These would also taste amazing with a hot bowl of tomato soup, am I right?! You might want to give Creamy Tomato Basil Soup a try!
How to Make Cheese Puffs
PREP. Preheat the oven to 425. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone liners.
SIMMER. Add the milk, butter, sugar, and salt to a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
THICKEN. Remove the milk mixture from the heat, and add the flour. Stir until the mixture is thick and there are no flour pockets remaining. Return the mixture to the heat and cook 2-3 minutes.
MIX. Move the hot dough mixture to a food processor or the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix for a minute or two to allow steam to escape.
ADD. With the mixer running, add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, to form a shiny and smooth dough. Fold in the grated cheese by hand.
SCOOP. Using a medium cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop the dough into rounded mounds on the prepared baking sheets, spacing one inch apart.
BAKE. Place the pans in the oven, reduce the heat to 375, and bake 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. If you are baking pans on multiple shelves, rotate the pans halfway through baking to ensure even browning.
Variations
Cheese puffs are often made with gruyere cheese. For this recipe we used a combination of gruyere and cheddar.
You can always change up the type of cheese you use, as long as it’s a kind that melts and incorporates easily.
For another flavor variation, try adding a few chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts.
Making Ahead
These are best served warm. If you want, you can prepare the dough ahead of time and keep them in the freezer so that you can bake them right before serving.
To prepare them for freezing: line a pan with parchment paper and scoop the dough onto the pan. Place the pan into the freezer until they are solid, then transfer them to a freezer Ziploc.
Store them in the freezer until you are ready to bake them. You can bake them straight out of the freezer, just add a couple of extra minutes to the bake time.
Leftover Cheese Puffs
If you have leftovers STORE them in an airtight container for a few days or in the fridge for about a week.
You can also FREEZE them for 2-3 months.
REHEAT them up in the oven or microwave.
For more breads and rolls:
Cheese Puffs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter cut into pieces
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated gruyere cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone liners.
- Add the milk, butter, sugar, and salt to a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
- Remove the milk mixture from the heat, and add the flour. Stir until the mixture is thick and there are no flour pockets remaining. Return the mixture to the heat and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Move the hot dough mixture to a food processor or the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix for a minute or two to allow steam to escape. With the mixer running, add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, to form a shiny and smooth dough. Fold in the grated cheese by hand.
- Using a medium cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop the dough into rounded mounds on the prepared baking sheets, spacing one inch apart. Place the pans in the oven, reduce the heat to 375°, and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. If you are baking pans on multiple shelves, rotate the pans halfway through baking to ensure even browning.
Ok, so these are the most addicting little things! I only wanted a couple & ate way more than I should!! They are like little pillows of heaven!
These cream puffs are AMAZING! The shell is so light and delicious with the BEST filling! The ultimate dessert recipe.
I’m so glad you liked them as much as we do! It’s one of my favorite desserts. 🙂
Yum! These look amazing and so tasty! My family is going to love this recipe! So excited to make these with my daughter!
These cheese puffs are the best! They came out crispy on the outside and very moist and cheesy inside. It was so good and will definitely be one of our favorites!
I’m so happy you enjoyed them so much! Thanks for sharing with us how they turned out!
I always appreciate the tips and tricks that you provide in making sure your recipes turn out the best when I make them at home. Thanks!
You will love these puffs of cheese. Very tasty.
Very similar to my Cheese Puffs. After these are frozen, can they be cooked in an air fryer? I don’t have enough oven space & air fryer would be handy to cook them. Thinking of lowering temp to 400 or lower.
I have never tried them in the air fryer. But you could certainly give it a try! You’ll have to let us know how they turn out if you do.