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Gougères are savory French cheese puffs that will elevate any gathering or meal. These light and airy choux pastry bites are infused with rich cheese flavor and fresh herbs.
To try a gougere is to love a gougere!
Gougeres are made with choux dough. Choux, also known as pâte à choux, is a delicate pastry dough that’s used to make French classics like cream puffs and eclairs.
Instead of a rising agent, choux pastry uses its high moisture content to create steam, as the water in the dough evaporates when baked, which puffs the pastry.
In this gougere recipe, I’ll show you an easy way to make this delicious pastry for any time you’re feeling a little fancy.
Ingredients for this Gougere Recipe
Classic gougères are made with simple ingredients and nothing intimidating. Here’s what you’ll need:
- All-purpose flour
- Butter
- Eggs
- Gruyère cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Fresh rosemary
- Fresh thyme
How to Make Gougeres
Boil the Butter
Strange, but it works! Bring the butter to a boil with some water and salt. Then, take it off the heat and stir in the flour.
Make the Batter
Now, place the mixture back onto the stove and cook it until the dough starts to pull away from the sides and bottom of the pan. You’ll know it when you see it!
Then, transfer your dough to a stand mixer. If you don’t have a stand mixer, use an electric hand mixer for this part. Beat the dough while you add the eggs, one by one.
Finally, add the cheese and herbs to the dough batter.
Pipe the Gougeres
Now comes the fun part. Fill a pastry bag with the gougere batter. If you don’t have a pastry bag or piping bag, use a freezer bag and snip off one of the corners.
For a pretty design like you see here, use a star tip (I use a Wilton #1M ). You could also use a round tip or nothing at all. They’ll still taste just as good!
Pipe the gougeres onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. They don’t spread much during baking, so you can place them pretty close together.
Freeze the gougeres
Now, pop the unbaked gougeres into the freezer. You’ll want to freeze them for at least one hour.
If you plan to freeze them for longer, cover them with a sheet of plastic wrap.
Bake the gougeres
Brush the frozen gougeres with a beaten egg before you bake them. This will give the gougeres a lovely, glossy look.
Now, it’s time to bake these beauties!
Serving Suggestions for this Gougere Recipe
I’ll never forget the first time I tried a gougere. It was at a wine tasting in Napa Valley, and I fell totally in love with these little bites of cheesy goodness! Here are some other ways to enjoy gougeres:
- Appetizers: Serve gougères as an elegant appetizer at your next cocktail party, dinner party or any festive occasion. They’re obviously a perfect appetizer for wine tastings! Arrange them on a platter for easy sharing, and watch them disappear.
- Cheese Board: Pair gougères with a selection of cheeses, cured meats and fresh fruits to create a sophisticated cheese board. The contrast of textures and flavors will be a hit at any gathering.
- In Soup: Float gougères on top of a bowl of your favorite soup, such as tomato bisque or a creamy mushroom soup. The combination of the crispy puff and the rich soup is a match made in heaven.
- For Brunch: Include gougères in your brunch spread. They’ll be the best things on your brunch menu, offering a savory alternative to the usual sweet pastries.
- With Dips: Provide a variety of dipping sauces like aioli, pesto, or honey mustard to enhance the gougères experience. Your guests can customize their bites, adding an interactive element to your event.
Variations on this Gougere Recipe
- Cheese Varieties: Experiment with different cheeses to add depth and complexity to your gougères. Sharp cheddar, aged gouda and asiago cheese are all good options.
- Herb Infusions: Try different herbs like fresh chives, sage or fines herbes to see how they complement the flavor of your gougeres.
- Spice it Up: Introduce a touch of heat by incorporating ingredients like cayenne pepper or paprika into this gougères recipe.
- Sweet and Savory Fusion: Create a unique fusion by adding a hint of sweetness to this traditional cream puff dough. Consider incorporating ingredients like honey or caramelized onions for a delightful sweet and savory experience.
How to Store Gougeres
This recipe makes 4 dozen gougeres, which is awesome because you can enjoy them several times! Here’s how:
1. Storing unbaked gougeres: This is the best way to do it. Since you have to freeze the gougeres before baking them anyway, put them into an airtight container and separate the layers with parchment paper.
Then, only take out as many as you want to enjoy each time. I’ll usually get 2 or 3 parties out of one batch of gougeres!
2. Storing baked gougeres: If you have leftover gougeres, store them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Keep them at room temperature.
They’ll stay fresh for a couple of days, but honestly they won’t ever be as good as the first day you make them.
When you make this gougere recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
For more elegant appetizer recipes, try these:
- Easy Whipped Ricotta Cheese Appetizer
- Baked Brie Appetizer with Fig Jam, Pecans and Rosemary
- Burrata Toast Appetizer with Fig Syrup, Pumpkin Butter and Sage
How to Make Gougères (French Cheese Puffs Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
- 2 cups aged Gruyere cheese grated
- 1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 7 large eggs
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp. fresh rosemary chopped
- 1 tsp. fresh thyme chopped
Instructions
- Bring water, butter and salt to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in the flour.
- Return to medium heat and stir with a wooden spoon until the batter pulls away from the sides of the saucepan, about 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer the batter to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 minute, then increase to medium speed and add six eggs one by one. Reserve the last egg for brushing.
- Add the grated cheese and herbs and combine well. Pour the batter into a piping bag fitted with a star tip or round tip, or freezer bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into small rounds onto a ungreased sheet pan and freeze for at least one hour.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Remove gougères from freezer and brush with beaten egg. Bake 10 minutes.
- Open the oven door, rotate the baking sheet and bake another 10 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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