Gruyere Gougeres - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup water
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Gruyere cheese
3 eggs, or more as needed

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine water, butter, and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and immediately add flour. Stir quickly with a wooden spoon for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Return pan to heat and stir to let excess moisture evaporate, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Scoop dough into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Let cool slightly.
Add 3/4 cup Gruyere cheese, cayenne, and black pepper to the dough. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. If mixture still clings to the beaters, add a fourth egg.
Pipe or spoon tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto a the prepared baking sheet. Add a small pinch of remaining Gruyere cheese on top of each puff.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Lower temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes more.