Cacio e Pepe Cheesy Puffs

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup milk
• 0.5 cup water
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs (room temperature)
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese (finely grated, plus more for topping)
• 1 tsp black pepper (freshly cracked)

Steps

1. 1

   In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, water, sugar, salt, and butter. Heat the mixture over medium heat until the butter is completely melted and the liquid begins to boil.

2. 2

   Add the flour all at once to the boiling liquid. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the flour is fully incorporated and the dough forms a ball that pulls away from the sides of the pan. Continue to cook and stir for 1-2 minutes to cook off excess moisture.

3. 3

   Transfer the dough to a bowl and let it cool slightly. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition until the dough is smooth, glossy, and well incorporated.

4. 4

   Fold in a generous amount of finely grated Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper into the dough until evenly distributed.

5. 5

   Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Transfer the dough to a piping bag and pipe small mounds onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

6. 6

   Top each puff with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

7. 7

   Bake in the preheated oven until the puffs are risen, nice and golden brown, and crisp on the outside, approximately 20-25 minutes. The insides should remain soft and cheesy.

Notes

These puffs are best served warm. If they soften after cooling, you can briefly reheat them in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes to restore the crisp exterior.

Nutrition per serving

• appetizer
• snack
• cheesy
• French
• baked
• vegetarian
• cacio e pepe