Croque Monsieur Puffs

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 6 tablespoons salted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup minced ham
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs, large
• 3/4 cup about 2 3/4 ounces gruyere cheese, grated
• 1 tablespoon chives, freshly chopped

Recipe

• 1 adjust rack to the middle of an oven and preheat to 400 degrees.
• 2 combine water, milk, butter, salt, and ham in a heavy, medium saucepan. bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• 3 all at once, add the flour and stir in quickly with a wooden spoon. keep stirring-the mixture will come away form the sides of the pan and become thick and stiff. keep stiring and turning over for about 1 minute (you want it to dry out a bit).
• 4 transfer the dough to an electric mixer, and turn mixer on medium-high speed. add 1 egg and as soon as it is partially incorporated, increase mixer speed to high. add the remaining eggs, one at a time when the previous egg is well incorporated. the mixture should be smooth. mix in the cheese and chives.
• 5 if you have a strong arm, the dough can also be mixed by hand with a wooden spoon in a mixing bowl. proceed as directed, and be sure to beat the dough until smooth before mxing in the cheese and chives. let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes.
• 6 meanwhile, line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with cooking spray. (watch the puff bottomes closely to prevent over-browning if not using parchment.) by heaping teaspoonfuls, drop the mixture onto baking sheets in little balls, spaced apart. they shoud be the size of large marbles or jaw-breakers. (you can also pipe them out using a pastry bag.).
• 7 bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden. serve warm. you can bake these a few hours in advance and reheat in the oven as well!