Witches Fingers

Witches Fingers

Pictures taken from my personal collection

Ingredients:

1 cup water
6 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp fine salt
1 cup all purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 large egg yolk
whole unblanched almonds
kosher salt

Create it!!

1. position a rack in the middle oven and preheat 400 F. Lina a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Put the water, butter, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking until the butter and sugar melts. Remove pan from the heat and sift the flour into the pan. Stir the dough together with a wooden spoon. Return to the heat and stir constantly until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pan and is slightly shiny, about 3 minutes.

3. Transfer the dough to a medium bowl, and beat until cooled, about 2 minutes. Add the whole eggs, one at a time, incorporating each one thoroughly before adding the next. Mix in the mustard and cheese.

4. Put 1/4 inch plain tip on a pastry bag and spoon the dough into the bag. Pipe 3 1/2 inch long thin finger-like shapes onto the prepared pans. Beat the egg yolk with a tablespoon of water and brush the top of each witches fingers with it. Lay an almond on the end of each finger so that it looks like a nail, sprinkle fingers with salt.

5. Bake for 15 minutes then reduce the temperature to 350 F. Continue baking until the fingers ate golden brown and slightly crisp, about 5 minutes more. Cool on a rack. Makes about 36.