Description
These Bite-Size Eyeballs are a spooky and delicious Halloween treat made from savory puff pastry bites filled with Gruyère cheese and decorated with cream cheese, Persian cucumbers, and pimiento-stuffed olives to resemble eerie eyeballs. They are perfect for parties and festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 4 oz Gruyère cheese, coarsely grated
For Decorating:
- Cream cheese
- Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
- Pimiento-stuffed olives, sliced
- Sriracha or ketchup, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Make the Dough Base: In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously until the mixture forms a smooth, shiny ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 1 minute. Continue stirring for an additional minute to cook the flour, then transfer the dough to a large bowl and let it cool for 15 minutes until it is no longer hot to the touch.
- Add Eggs and Cheese: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the cooled dough, beating well with a wooden spoon after each addition until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous again. Stir in the pepper and the grated Gruyère cheese until fully combined.
- Shape and Bake the Puffs: Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, drop small balls of dough about 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Then rotate the pans top to bottom and front to back, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C), and continue baking for 12 to 17 minutes more until the puffs are light golden brown and set.
- Cool and Decorate: Transfer the baked puffs to a wire rack to cool completely. To create the eyeball effect, use cream cheese as an adhesive to attach slices of Persian cucumber and pimiento-stuffed olives on top of each puff. Finally, squeeze sriracha or ketchup carefully around the sides in lines to mimic veins and add a spooky finishing touch.
Notes
- Ensure the dough is not hot when adding eggs to prevent scrambling.
- Placing the puffs 2 inches apart allows for even baking and puffing.
- Use fresh, tight cucumber slices and olives for the best aesthetic.
- The sriracha or ketchup veins enhance the creepy look but can be adjusted for spice preference.
- Best served fresh but can be reheated gently before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 eyeball
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
