Smoked Cheddar Gougères

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup salted butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup shredded smoked cheddar cheese
• 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Combine water, butter, salt and cayenne pepper in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and add flour. Stir until mixture is smooth and pulls away from sides of pan, forming a ball, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.
3. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Choux pastry should be smooth and glossy. Add cheese and thyme; stir until combined.
4. Spoon mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe mixture into mounds, each measuring about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, 2 inches apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Alternatively, spoon mounds of mixture onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
5. Bake for 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F and continue baking until puffed and golden, about 5 – 10 minutes. Cool on a rack. May be frozen in an airtight container for up to 1 month.