Last Updated on June 23, 2025 by Michelle Mundy
Big on flavor and easily transportable, Easy French Cheese Puffs are light and airy and make a perfect party appetizer!
These individual savory pastries are versatile and can take on so many different flavor combinations. They have a crispy outside and a hollow interior (like a cream puff) and can be served warm or at room temperature.
These just might be the perfect party food!
Other Delicious Flavor Combinations for Gougeres
One of our favorite things about these easy cheesy puffs is that the flavors can be adjusted to what you have on hand or what you like.
Since they are made of a type of choux pastry (like sweet cream puffs) they can even be piped full of filling (but we haven’t tried that yet!).
Some of our favorite flavor combinations for these Easy French Cheese Puffs are:
- Swiss cheese and black pepper
- Sharp cheddar cheese and diced jalapeno
- Gruyere cheese and thyme
- Cheddar cheese and onion
- Spinach and cheese
- Ham and cheese
- Garlic and cheese
- Italian seasoning and mozzarella cheese
- Chives and bacon bits
What You’ll Need to Make Easy French Cheese Puffs
- Butter – We use regular salted butter, but unsalted butter may also be used.
- Pantry Spices – Salt & Pepper.
- Flour – We prefer to use all purpose flour for best results.
- Eggs – 4 large eggs, room temperature, any color.
- Swiss Cheese – Shredded. Substitutions include Gruyere or Sharp Cheddar.
- Dijon Mustard – This adds a deep mustard flavor that compliments the sharpness of the cheese. Honey mustard or spicy mustard may be substituted.
- Parmesan Cheese – The perfect salty addition to the top of these cheese puffs, added just prior to baking.
How to Make Easy French Cheese Puffs (Gougeres)
Bursting with bold cheese flavor but light and airy, these Easy French Cheese Puffs are completely customizable to everyone’s taste.
When baked, they puff up with a slightly crisp outside and a hollow, tender inside like a cream puff. The savory Swiss cheese flavor with the subtle heat of the ground black pepper is a perfect flavor combination!
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with silicon baking sheets or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large saucepan, bring the water, butter, salt and black pepper to a boil.
Add the flour all at once and stir until completely incorporated. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
Add the flour all at once and stir until completely incorporated. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
One at a time, add the eggs. Stir well after each addition. Continue stirring until the eggs are completely worked into the mixture.
Add the shredded Swiss cheese and Dijon mustard. Stir to combine.
Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, drop by 1-inch balls 2 in. apart onto prepared baking sheets.
Sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese.
Bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
Serve warm or cold. Store in a covered container or zip top bag. Enjoy!
Other Shareable Party Foods You May Like
Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip – uses Deli chicken salad to add a delicious twist to a potluck favorite!
Easy Homemade Ranch Dip – Made up of just seven simple pantry ingredients, you’ll never buy it at the store again!
Quick and Easy Bruschetta – restaurant quality Bruschetta is hiding in the ingredients in your refrigerator!
Bite Sized Sausage Rolls – The BEST bite sized sausage rolls that we have ever tasted and so easy to make!
Spicy Deviled Eggs – Tender boiled egg whites topped with a light and creamy egg, mayonnaise and mustard mixture, a little spice and just a hint of dill.
Easy French Cheese Puffs (Gougeres)
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with silicon baking sheets or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, bring the water, butter, salt and black pepper to a boil.
- Add the flour all at once and stir until completely incorporated. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
- One at a time, add the eggs. Stir well after each addition. Continue stirring until the eggs are completely worked into the mixture.
- Add the shredded Swiss cheese and Dijon mustard. Stir to combine.
- Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, drop by 1-inch balls 2 in. apart onto prepared baking sheets.
- Sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or cold. Store in a covered container or zip top bag. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
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