Turkey Free Classic Cheese Gougères
These airy French cheese puffs are the kind of appetizer that disappears from the platter before you even set it down. Built on a classic choux base, they get their incredible hollow, golden shell from a careful cook-and-beat technique — no leavening agents, just steam doing all the heavy lifting. Nutty Gruyère is folded right into the dough and sprinkled on top, so every bite delivers a deep, savory richness that feels far more impressive than the ingredient list suggests. A whisper of nutmeg and optional Dijon mustard round out the flavor in a way that's subtle but unmistakably elegant. The whole recipe is naturally free of poultry in any form — no broth, no drippings, no hidden meat-based shortcuts — just butter, eggs, cheese, and pantry staples working in perfect harmony. They're ideal for entertaining, but honestly just as satisfying pulled warm from the oven on a quiet evening at home.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ⅛ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup gruyère cheese, finely grated, divided
- 1 tsp dijon mustard (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 2
Combine the water, milk, butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter is fully melted and the mixture comes to a full boil.
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