Instructions: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place a Silpat (a French nonstick baking mat) on a baking sheet. Set aside.

In a small saucepan, bring 3/4 cup water, butter, and salt to a boil. Immediately remove from heat, add the flour all at once, and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the pan to form a ball, 30 to 60 seconds. Beat the mixture over low heat for 30 to 60 seconds more to dry it.

Whisk one of the eggs in a bowl; set aside. With a wooden spoon, beat the remaining eggs into the dough one by one, beating thoroughly after each addition. Beat enough of the reserved beaten egg into the dough until it is shiny and just falls from the spoon, using as much egg as necessary. Beat in the Gruyere cheese. Transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip (#9807 Ateco), and pipe 12 mounds about 2 inches in diameter on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with the egg glaze.

Bake the gougeres until puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Take one gougere from the baking sheet, and let it cool for one minute. If it remains crisp on the outside, it is done. If not, replace it, and continue baking for 5 to 10 minutes longer. Let gougeres cool slightly, before removing from baking sheet. Serve warm.

This recipe yields about 12 puffs.

Yield: 12 puffs

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