Italian Cheese Puffs

Italian Cheese Puffs. Light, airy and full of flavor, these cheese puffs make a wonderful appetizer. Serve alongside Cavit Wine for an elegant party bite!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cavit Wines in partnership with Honest Cooking. As always, all opinions here are my own. 

Are you among the brave ones who commit to hosting a holiday party for family and friends? {If so, I applaud you!}

Being the host or hostess for the holidays can be a daunting undertaking for a variety of reasons. You're tasked with making sure your home is guest-ready, your ambiance is festive, your food picks are flawless and your sanity isn't sacrificed! Add those stressors to a list of already-existing obligations {work, life, etc.} and you may be tempted to scrap plans and opt for a Christmas movie marathon in sweatpants instead.

While I'm all for cozy lounging, I'd hate for your party to be a bust just because you're not sure where to begin! So, go ahead and send out those party invites {or Evites} because I've got you covered with my tips for stress-free holiday entertaining.

1. Wine. Let's just get right to the good stuff! You don't have to spend a fortune on wine for it to be good. Cavit Wines, Northern Italian wines from Trentino come at a reasonable price point and are a perfect place to start planning your menu and stocking your bar. Cavit's bold Select Red Blend or crisp Pinot Grigio will cover all the bases whether your guests prefer red or white. Always buy more beverages than you think you need, and don't forget to have non-alcoholic options for guests who don't drink and for designated drivers!
2. Food. Unless you're determined to have an all-out seated dinner, appetizer parties work great for the holidays. Appetizer parties allow you to have an "open-house" style gathering where guests can come and go, and take the pressure off of having to time and execute many dishes at once. {Which is nearly impossible in a tiny kitchen.} Set out a variety of hot and cold bites and "easy" foods like dips, spreads, and cheese boards that look beautiful and provide plenty to nibble on. Check out Cavit's Food Pairing Chart if you need guidance on foods that go well with your wine selections!

1. Decor. Your holiday decor is probably enough embellishment for your home, so don't go overboard with party purchases! Buy some festive cocktail napkins, put out the nice appetizer plates and plate food beautifully so that it can double as a centerpiece or buffet decor. I love a tiered look using cake stands, platters and even holiday cookbooks -- all things I already own that lend a holiday look to the spread. The Italian Cheese Puffs I'm sharing the recipe for below can be arranged to look like a show-stopping Christmas tree with just a few items and {a little patience}!

1. Atmosphere. Light some seasonal candles {or diffuse essential oils}, play some holiday tunes and relax -- you set the tone for your party and no one enjoys the "Christmas Chaos" theme! Remember: Your friends and family are there to enjoy time with you, so try not to overdo preparations or overwhelm yourself. Have games and activities set out so guests can entertain themselves while you wrap up the finishing touches, then join the fun when you're ready!

Whether you've been planning your holiday party all year or have decided to throw a last minute shindig, success is within reach with these simple tips that you can use all year long. Just remember, time spent together is the best gift of all, so pour yourself a glass of wine and join the party!

These Italian Cheese Puffs come together so quickly that you'll have plenty of time to arrange them on a stunning Christmas tree display!

While "gougeres" are actually French, I've added garlic, oregano and Italian cheeses to these airy little bites to give them Italian flair, making them a perfect pairing with Cavit's Select Red Blend. You can easily use your favorite cheeses and herbs to create a few different flavors, and the recipe is easy to double for an extra large batch.

Italian Cheese Puffs | Cavit Wine

The Kitchen Prep

Italian Cheese Puffs. Light, airy and full of flavor, these cheese puffs make a wonderful appetizer. Serve alongside Cavit Wine for an elegant party bite!

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Course Appetizer, Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Servings 50 cheese puffs

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup water
• 1 stick {8 tablespoons} butter
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup flour
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup shredded or grated Italian cheese blend

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Prepare a piping bag by fitting with a large open star tip attachment {if desired}.
• Bring water, butter and salt to a boil in a medium pot over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, oregano and black pepper. Set aside.
• When the butter has melted, remove the pot from the heat and add the dry ingredients all at once. Mix vigorously until the mixture comes together to form a dough. Reduce the heat to medium and return the pot to the heat, stirring the dough and cooking it for 1-2 minutes to help remove some of the moisture.
• Transfer the dough to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat the dough for about 30 seconds to cool it slightly, then add one egg at a time until each is incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
• Add cheese and mix until fully blended.
• Scrape the dough into the prepared piping bag. Pipe cheese puffs onto prepared baking pans. You'll want to make a little swirl as if you're frosting a mini cupcake, about 1 tablespoon per puff, leaving about 2 inches between each one. If peaks remain after piping, wet the tip of your finger and flatten them slightly.
• Bake for about 18-20 minutes until the puffs turn golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from the baking pan and cool on a rack or serve warm if desired.

For Christmas Tree:

• If you'd like to arrange the cheese puffs like a Christmas tree, you'll need to buy a styrofoam cone shape from the craft store {usually in the floral section}. Starting at the bottom of the cone, insert a toothpick half way into the cone, then push a cheese puff onto the toothpick to adhere. Do this all the way around the cone, then continue the next layer above the first, placing toothpicks and cheese puffs all the way up and around the cone. Fill in any gaps with cherry tomatoes and basil leaves if desired.

Notes

If you don't have a piping bag and tips, you can simply scoop the dough onto the prepared baking pan using a small cookie scoop or two spoons. They will have a rounded, less decorative appearance, but will still be just as tasty!

For more elegant dishes to serve with Cavit Wine like these Braised Lamb Bites in the video below, check out their recipe page!