Italian Cheese Puffs Recipes

CACIO E PEPE CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a saucepan, heat the milk, butter, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper over medium heat, just until scalded. Add the flour all at once and beat it vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together. Lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Dump the mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Immediately add the eggs, Pecorino, and Parmesan and pulse until the eggs are incorporated and the dough is smooth and thick.
• Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large, plain 5/8-inch round pastry tip. Pipe the dough in mounds 1 1/4 inches wide and 3/4 inch high (1 inch apart) onto the prepared baking sheets. With a wet finger, lightly press down the swirl at the top of each puff. (You can also use two spoons to scoop the mixture and shape the puffs with damp fingers.) Brush the top of each puff lightly with the egg wash, and sprinkle with Pecorino, salt, and pepper. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown outside but still soft inside. Serve hot.

CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a saucepan, heat the milk, butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg over medium heat, until scalded. Add the flour all at once and beat it vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat for 2 minutes. The flour will begin to coat the bottom of the pan. Dump the hot mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Immediately add the eggs, Gruyere, and Parmesan and pulse until the eggs are incorporated and the dough is smooth and thick.
• Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round tip. Pipe in mounds 1 1/4 inches wide and 3/4-inch high onto the baking sheets. With a wet finger, lightly press down the swirl at the top of each puff. (You can also use 2 spoons to scoop out the mixture and shape the puffs with damp fingers.) Brush the top of each puff lightly with egg wash and sprinkle with a pinch of Gruyere. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown outside but still soft inside.

CHEDDAR CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. In a medium-size heavy saucepan, combine 1 cup water, the butter and salt, and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and add flour. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough starts to pull away from sides of pan and form a lump. Set aside, without stirring, 5 minutes.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. With each addition, dough will look glossy and slick at first; let it come together before adding next egg. Mix in mustard, cayenne and cheese. Dough will be quite loose and sticky.
• Scoop up a heaping teaspoon of dough and use another spoon to scrape it onto lined pan; it should form a mound about an inch in diameter. Alternatively, use a pastry bag or thick plastic bag with one corner cut off, to pipe small mounds onto pan. Repeat with remaining dough, leaving 1/2 inch between puffs.
• Bake until puffy and golden, about 25 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Remove from oven and serve immediately, or turn oven off and open door slightly to keep puffs warm up to 1 hour.

ITALIAN PEPPERONI-CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Grease 2 large baking sheets; set aside. In a large saucepan combine water and shortening. Bring to boiling. Add flour all at once, stirring vigorously.
• Cook and stir until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat. Cool for 10 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well with a wooden spoon after each addition.
• Stir in pepperoni, cheese, parsley, garlic powder, and pepper.
• Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake in a 450 degree F oven for 15 to 17 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm.

ITALIAN PEPPERONI CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets.
• Set aside.
• In a large saucepan, combine water and shortening.
• Bring to a boil.
• Add flour all at once stirring vigorously.
• Cook and stir until mixture forms a ball.
• Remove from heat.
• Cool for 10 minutes.
• Add eggs, one at a time beating well with a wooden spoon after each addition.
• Stir in pepperoni, cheese, parsley, garlic powder, and pepper.
• Drop by rounded teaspoons of dough 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
• Position the two baking sheets on separate oven racks.
• Bake for 15-17 minutes or until firm and golden brown, switching oven racks halfway thru baking.
• Transfer to a wire rack.
• Repeat, as needed, for remaining dough.
• Serve warm.
• If desired, serve with pizza sauce.

SAUSAGE CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes, breaking into crumbles; drain. , In a large bowl, combine biscuit mix and cheese; stir in sausage. Add water and toss with a fork until moistened. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake until puffed and golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

RICOTTA PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry. Cut each sheet into nine squares. Mix ricotta cheese, red peppers, 2 tablespoons Romano cheese, parsley, oregano and pepper., Brush pastry edges with milk; place 2 rounded teaspoonfuls of cheese mixture in center of each square. Fold edges of pastry over filling, forming a rectangle; seal edges with a fork. Cut slits in pastry; brush with milk. Sprinkle with remaining Romano cheese., Place 2 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove to wire racks. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

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.

ITALIAN CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• Prepare a baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, onion, parsley and basil until blended.
• Spread each slice of bread with 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture.
• Cut into 4 triangles, and place on baking sheet.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until bubbly and golden.
• If desired, a small amount of shredded cheddar cheese may be added to mayo mixture or sprinkled on top before baking.

RICOTTA PUFFS

Steps:

• 1. Combine all ingredients except for the vegetable oil.
• 2. Heat oil in a pot or deep fryer over medium heat.
• 3. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls into hot oil. Flip after 1 to 2 minutes. When edges are brown flip over to brown other side for another minute.
• 4. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a plate covered with paper towels to drain.
• 5. Sprinkle on powdered sugar if desired.