Mashed Potato Cheese Puffs (Printable)
Golden-baked mashed potato puffs loaded with sharp cheddar, Parmesan, and fresh chives. Crispy outside, fluffy inside.
# What You'll Need:
→ Mashed Potatoes
01 - 2 cups mashed potatoes (from about 3 medium potatoes)
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - ¼ cup whole milk
04 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Cheese & Mix-ins
05 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 tablespoons chopped chives or green onions
09 - ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
→ For Baking
10 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
11 - 1 tablespoon melted butter, for brushing
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
02 - If not using leftovers, peel, boil, and mash potatoes with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Allow to cool slightly.
03 - In a large bowl, combine mashed potatoes, cheddar, Parmesan, eggs, chives, smoked paprika, and flour. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
04 - Use a spoon or small ice cream scoop to form 12 dollops of mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Brush tops with melted butter for extra golden color.
06 - Bake 25–30 minutes until puffs are golden brown and set.
07 - Let cool for a few minutes before serving. Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They transform humble mashed potato leftovers into something that feels fancy enough for guests but casual enough for Tuesday night snacking
- The combination of sharp cheddar and smoky paprika creates this irresistible savory flavor that keeps everyone coming back for just one more
02 -
- If your mashed potatoes are very cold from the refrigerator, let them sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before mixing, or the cold potatoes can cause the butter to solidify and create little lumps
- Resist the urge to make these too large, because bigger puffs take significantly longer to cook through and the centers may stay slightly dense while the edges overbrown
03 -
- For extra crispy tops, sprinkle a tablespoon of panko breadcrumbs mixed with a little grated Parmesan over the butter before baking
- If you want to freeze them, bake until almost done, cool completely, then freeze and reheat at 375°F for about 10 minutes until hot throughout