Saveur

MAKES 3 DOZEN

These irresistable French "cheese puffs" are the perfect hors d' oeuvre. 

8 tbsp. butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup milk
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
1 cup flour
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups grated comté or gruyère cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Combine butter, 1/2 cup milk, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Season generously with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; when butter has melted, remove pan from heat. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until mixture forms a thick dough and pulls away from the sides of the pan, 1–2 minutes. Return pan to heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

2. Let dough cool to room temperature, then beat in eggs, one at a time, making sure each egg is completely incorporated into mixture and dough is smooth after each addition. Dough should be thick, shiny, and smooth. Add 1 cup of the cheese and beat in until well combined.

3. Spoon tablespoon-size mounds of dough on nonstick baking sheets, leaving about 1'' between each. Brush tops with remaining 1/4 cup milk, then sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Working in batches, bake in lower third of oven until doubled in size and golden, 20–25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #30