Downundercheesepuffs Recipes

CHEESE PUFFS (GOUGERES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Combine the flour with the salt, black pepper, thyme, chili powder, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl.
• Put the milk and butter in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. When the butter melts, turn heat to low. Add the seasoned flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a ball. Remove from heat.
• Separate the white and yolk from one egg, reserving the yolk for glazing.
• Put the dough into a large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed for one minute. Then beat in one egg and the extra egg white. Beat until completely absorbed into the dough. Then add the remaining 4 eggs, one at a time, waiting each time until the previous egg is completely absorbed. After all 5 eggs (plus the one egg white) have been incorporated, the dough should be smooth and satiny.
• Add the Parmesan and Gruyere cheeses, and pepperoni if you are using it. Incorporate thoroughly into the dough.
• Use a pastry bag to pipe dough onto 2 ungreased baking sheets. You can also drop dough from a teaspoon. For tiny puffs, mounds should be about 1/2 inch in diameter. From small appetizers, mounds should be 1 inch in diameter. For puffs large enough for filling, mounds should be 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Keep the size of the puffs uniform so they bake properly. Space puffs about 1 inch apart.
• Beat the remaining egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of milk to make a glaze. Lightly brush the tops of the puffs with glaze before baking. Sprinkle tops with your Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in pre-heated oven for 10 minutes (5 minutes for tiny puffs). Reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Bake 10 minutes more for tiny puffs; 15 to 20 minutes longer for medium or large puffs, or until puffs are golden brown. Test by removing a puff from the oven and breaking it open. The inside should be baked through. If it is still doughy or wet, bake another 5 minutes.
• Remove pans from oven and leave puffs on pans until cool enough to serve.

CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Soften cheese and work all ingredients together with hands, and roll into balls the size of marbles.
• Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
• Makes 6 dozen.
• Note: These can be frozen for months.
• To freeze: place on cookie sheet, freeze then store in plastic bag.
• Bake when needed.

QUICK CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Cut bread into strips; place strips, buttered side down, on the bottom and around the sides of two greased 10-oz. baking dishes. In a bowl, beat eggs and milk. Add cheese, onion salt and hot pepper sauce. , Pour over bread. Place the dishes on a baking sheet. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Serve immediately.

DOWNUNDER CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Beat the egg in the milk; mix together with the flour, baking powder, salt and grated cheese.
• Put large teaspoonfuls on a cold greased tray.
• Bake for 10 minutes in a hot oven 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).

CHEESEBURGER CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• For the puffs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line an 18-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the butter, salt and 1 cup water to a boil over medium-high heat. Decrease the heat to low. Add the flour and stir constantly until a sticky ball of dough forms, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium-low speed until there is no longer any steam. Decrease the mixer speed to low and add 3 of the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be done once it clings to the paddle in "spokes" as it spins in the bowl. You may need to add another egg to get this consistency. Add the Gruyere and mix to combine.
• Dab a small amount of the dough under the parchment paper at the four corners and in the center of the prepared baking sheet to keep the parchment paper in place. Using a 3-ounce ice cream scoop, scoop out the dough onto the parchment, 2 inches apart. You will end up with 12 scoops. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg with a splash of water and a pinch of salt. Brush each cream puff with the egg wash and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake for 20 minutes, then rotate the baking sheet 180 degrees. Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and bake until deep golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer the cream puffs to a wire rack and allow to cool to room temperature.
• For the cheese mousse: Meanwhile, add the cream cheese to a bowl, and using a hand mixer, beat until soft, about 1 minute. Add the processed cheese, paprika, salt and white pepper and beat until fluffy and smooth. Mix in the heavy cream as needed until the mixture is velvety and smooth but not too loose. Transfer to a piping bag with a large star tip. Set aside.
• For the burger patties: Transfer the ground beef to a cutting board. Cut into 12 squares, then roll each square into a ball. Place onto a piece of wax paper. Fold the wax paper over, leaving room for the meat to spread out. Using a rolling pin, roll the patties until paper thin. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and, once melted, cook the patties for 4 minutes on the first side. Flip and continue to cook for another minute or two. Remove to a plate. Add the onions to the same skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and translucent, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• To assemble: In a small bowl, mix the ketchup, mayo and sweet relish together. Set aside. Slice the puffs in half. Spread the special sauce on the bottom half of each puff, then top with a patty, onions, bacon if using and lettuce. Before topping each burger with the top "bun," pipe some of the cheese mousse into it first. Top each burger cream puff with a halved cornichon secured with a toothpick.

CHEF JOHN'S PARTY CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
• Stir water, butter, and salt together in a pot; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and whisk flour into butter mixture until a paste-like dough forms, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer dough to a bowl to cool until warm, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Whisk 1 egg, thyme, and black pepper into cooled dough until egg is completely incorporated. Add remaining egg and whisk until completely incorporated into dough. Stir 3/4 the cheese into dough until combined. Scoop 1-inch balls of dough onto prepared baking sheet. Top each with remaining cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and puffed, 15 to 20 minutes.