Cheddar Apricot Puffs Recipes

APRICOT BREAKFAST PASTRIES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Unfold puff pastry on a lightly floured board and roll out into a 12 x 9-inch rectangle. Use a sharp knife to cut the rectangle into 12 squares, and transfer squares to baking sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart.
• Combine cream cheese, sugar, honey, salt, vanilla, and almond extract in a food processor; process until smooth. Transfer mixture to a piping bag, and pipe (or spoon) filling into the center of each square. Top with a spoonful of jam. Freeze pastries on baking sheet until the filling is frozen, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 400°F and whisk together egg yolk and water in a small bowl. Brush the sides of the pastry lightly with egg wash, and sprinkle pastries with sliced almonds and sugar.
• Bake pastries for about 14 minutes, until tops are golden. Carefully tent with foil, and continue baking another 8 to 10 minutes, until pastry is fully baked through. Place baking sheet on a wire rack, and let pastries cool slightly (15 to 20 minutes) before serving.

CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the water, butter, salt and cayenne to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. Stir in Gruyere and mustard. , Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cold.

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.

CHEDDAR CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
• 2. In a medium sized saucepan, add the water, butter, and salt, and bring to a boil over high heat.
• 3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the flour all at once. Stir rapidly. The mixture will form a dough ball that will pull away from the sides of the pan. It helps to use a wooden spoon to stir as the dough will be rather thick. Continue to cook for a couple minutes.
• 4. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool for a couple of minutes. Stir so that the dough cools more evenly. You want the dough to be warm, just not so hot that when you start adding eggs they cook as they hit the dough. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition until the eggs are incorporated into the dough. (use a mixer or a wooden spoon). The dough should become creamy looking.
• 5. Stir in the grated cheese, chives, and a few grinds of pepper.
• 6. Spoon out small balls (about a heaping tablespoon) of the dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet, with at least an inch separating the spoonfuls. Place in oven and cook for 10 minutes at 425°F. Lower heat to 350°F and cook for another 15-20 minutes, until puffed up and lightly golden.