Cheese Puffs

Mansi's request for simple and tasty treats seemed like a good excuse to make baked Cheese Puffs. If you have the munchies, these are the perfect cure. I'm almost ashamed to admit I ate these for dinner.

Gruyere cheese is used for these yummy puffs. An ideal cheese for baking, Gruyere is a hard cheese made from cows milk, rather like a softer variety of Parmesan cheese coupled with the holey loveliness of Swiss Cheese.

Cheese Puffs

1 cups of water
1/4 cup of butter
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
1/2 - 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 cup of unbleached white flour
3 eggs
1 cup of finely grated Gruyere cheese
1/4 cup of finely grated Parmesan Cheese

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the butter, water and salt to a boil. Remove from the heat, stir in the flour and cayenne, return to the heat and cook and stir for about 1 minute, until the mixture forms into a smooth ball. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl. Add the eggs and beat the mixture with a wire whisk until well combined (about 1 - 2 minutes). Stir in the cheese.

Using a spoon, drop the batter onto a buttered or parchment paper lined baking sheet in roughly 1 teaspoon portions. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until nicely browned. Serve warm.

Yields approximately 30 delightful puffs.