Name: Cheese Puffs Gougères
Yield: 36 Puffs
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups white rice flour; 1/4 cup cornstarch; 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground ancho chile pepper; 1 cup milk or dairy-free milk; 1 cup water; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter or non-dairy buttery spread, cut into 1-inch pieces; 4 large eggs, at room temperature; 2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese or dairy-free cheese (about 8 ounces); Coarse salt and cracked black pepper

Based on the classic pâté à choux or cream puff pastry from my culinary school days, this elegant and easy appetizer can be made ahead. It can be prepared dairy-free, too, but egg substitutes won't work as the eggs are necessary to help create the structure of these bite-size treats.

Tip

Don't use a commercial all-purpose gluten-free baking mix that already contains xanthan or guar gum as this will produce a gummy texture.

Recipe notes

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