Shelly's Recipe

Smoky Bacon and Gouda Thumbprints

Category: Appetizer

Makes 36 cookies
1/2 cup butter, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 cup whole-wheat flour
4 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup shredded smoked Gouda cheese
36 (1-inch) cubes smoked Gouda cheese
Garnish: fresh thyme

Preheat oven to 400.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a small saucepan, combine butter, salt, and water over medium-high heat. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Add flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until mixture forms a ball and pulls away from sides of pan, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool for 5
minutes.

Transfer mixture to a medium bowl, and beat at medium speed with an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.Add pepper, paprika, cayenne, bacon,
and shredded cheese, stirring to combine.

Transfer mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip. Pipe 2-inch rounds 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.With a lightly moistened finger, make a small indentation in the center of each cookie.

Bake until lightly golden, approximately 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from oven. Place a cheese cube in each indentation. Return to oven, and bake until cheese is melted, approximately 10 minutes.

Garnishwith fresh thyme, if desired. Serve immediately.