Gougères Cheese Puffs

2 x large baking trays, 2 x mixing bowls, baking liner or parchment paper, saucepan, 2 x teaspoons or a piping bag

75g Doves Farm Organic Plain White Flour
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper
pinch of nutmeg (optional)
2 eggs
75g gruyère cheese
50g butter
140ml water

1. Line two large baking trays with a baking liner or parchment paper.
2. Sift the flour into a bowl, sprinkle the salt and pepper on top, add the nutmeg if using and put it beside the cooker.
3. Break the eggs into another bowl, beat them well and leave this bowl next to the cooker.
4. Finely grate the cheese and leave this next to the cooker too.
5. Put the butter and water into a saucepan over a medium heat.
6. When the butter has melted and water come to the boil, remove the pan from the heat.
7. Immediately add the flour from the bowl and mix into a thick paste.
8. Return the pan to a gentle heat, stirring vigorously for 30 seconds, to make a soft dough.
9. Remove the pan from the heat.
10. Add a third of the egg and beat it into the dough with a spatula.
11. When it is incorporated, beat in another third of the egg.
12. Beat in the remaining egg to make a thick, smooth paste.
13. Beat in the grated cheese.
14. Take a teaspoon of the paste, scrape it onto a second teaspoon, then scrape it back onto the original spoon to encourage the formation of a ball of paste.
15. Drop the ball of paste onto the baking tray and repeat with the remaining paste.
16. OR, put the paste into a piping bag and pipe small balls of dough onto the baking tray.
17. Chill for 20 minutes or up to 12 hours or open freeze, bag and store for up to a month.
18. Pre-heat the oven for 20 minutes before baking.
19. Bake chilled gougères for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and crisp to the touch.
20. OR, bake frozen gougères for 15 minutes, turn them over and bake for another 10-12 minutes.
21. Remove the tray from the oven.
22. As soon as you can handle the gougère puffs, prick the side of each one to allow the steam to escape.
23. Transfer the gougère puffs to a wire rack to cool.
24. Before serving, gently warm the gougère puffs.