Olive Cheese Puffs

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword olive-cheese-puffs-recipe, olive-puffs-recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 22

Total Time 37

Servings servings

Calories 75kcal

1 cup chopped olive salad and sandwich spread (i.e. muffuletta mix) well drained
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cubed
1 1/2 cups finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2/3 cup heavy cream or buttermilk
1 large egg

Drain olives and place on doubled paper towels. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray 36 wells of two (24-count) mini muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, use a whisk to sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, seasoned salt, granulated garlic, onion powder and cayenne pepper.
Using a pastry blender, cut the cold butter into the sifted flour mixture until it resembles cornmea.
To the flour mixture add the shredded cheese, Stir to evenly distribute.
In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and egg. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and add the cream mixture and the olive salad. Stir using a nonstick spatula until fully moistened, the dough will be thick.
Divide the puffs dough using a meatball scoop. Roll into rounds and transfer to the prepared pan.
Place the pan into the oven and bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes back clean.
Cool in the pan for a few minutes, then run a spatula or the tip of a knife around the edge to loosen, if needed.
Serve warm with pizza sauce or pasta sauce on the side for dipping.

Cheese: You could use low moisture mozzarella cheese, gruyere cheese, colby jack cheese or pepper jack cheese.

Cayenne: You could omit the cayenne and use smoked paprika for less spice. Likewise, you could add a few dashes of hot sauce to the heavy cream mixture to suit your taste.

Olive Salad: Olive salad is sold with the other olives in the grocery store. It's the kind of mixed olive blend that's used on muffulettas and subs. If you prefer using only chopped green pimento stuffed olives, you could.