STILTON CHEESE PUFFS

Stilton Cheese Puffs image

Yield Makes about 40 hors d'oeuvres

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/2 cup ale such as Bass (pour beer slowly into measuring cup; do not measure foam)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Rounded 1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1/2 cup crumbled Stilton cheese (from a 4-oz piece; rind discarded)
Special Equipment
a pastry bag fitted with a plain 1/2-inch tip; parchment paper

Steps:

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
Combine beer, butter, and salt in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan and bring to a full boil over high heat, stirring until butter is melted. Reduce heat to moderate and add flour all at once, then cook, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon, until mixture pulls away from side of pan, about 30 seconds. Continue to cook, stirring and flattening batter against bottom of pan, until excess moisture is evaporated and a film forms on bottom of pan. Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes.
Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well with wooden spoon after each addition. (Batter will appear to separate initially but will become smooth once beaten.) Add cheese and stir until combined well.
Spoon batter into pastry bag. Line a large baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper, then secure parchment by piping a dab of batter under each corner. Pipe approximately 3-inch lengths of batter 1 inch apart on baking sheet, making about 40 total.
Bake until puffed, golden, and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.