Curried Cheddar Gougéres

Preheat oven to 425ºF and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Set aside.

1. In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, bring the butter and water to a boil then lower the heat a bit.
2. Add the flour, salt and spices and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together into a smooth mass and smells a bit toasty. Remove the pan from the heat and stir the mixture occasionally until it is cooled slightly, about 3 minutes.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring until each egg is thoroughly mixed into the flour mixture. Then add 1 cup of the cheese and stir well to combine.
4. Put the dough into a piping bag with a large round tip (or use two spoons), and portion the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets into tablespoon sized mounds about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese and bake the gougéres for 5 minutes then turn the oven down to 375ºF and continue to bake until they are golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Serve warm.

Notes:

– These are great snacks that can be prepared in advance. Just pipe the goúgeres onto lined baking sheets freeze until firm enough to handle, then place them in a zipper bag and freeze. Cook as directed above, allowing a few more minutes of cook time.
– You can also bake them in advance, freeze them and warm them in a low oven when your guests arrive.