Witches Fingers
- 1 cup water
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- Pinch cayenne
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup grated Cheddar, (about 4 ounces)
- 1 large egg yolk
- Whole unblanched almonds
- Kosher salt
- Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 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 pulls away from the sides of the pan and is slightly shiny, about 3 minutes.
- Transfer the dough to a medium bowl, and beat until cooled, about 2 minutes.
- Add the cayenne, and whole eggs, 1 at a time, incorporating each 1 thoroughly before adding the next.
- Mix in the mustard and cheese.
- Put 1/4-inch plain tip in a pastry bag, and spoon the dough into the bag.
- Pipe 3 1/2-inch long thin finger-like shapes onto prepared pans.
- Beat the egg yolk with a tablespoon of water and dab or brush the tops of each witches' finger with it.
- Lay an almond on the end of each witches finger so that it looks like a nail, sprinkle fingers with kosher salt.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F. Continue baking until the fingers are golden brown and slightly crisp, about 5 minutes more.
- Cool on a rack.
water, unsalted butter, sugar, salt, flour, eggs, cayenne, mustard, cheddar, egg yolk, unblanched almonds, kosher salt
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/witches-fingers-recipe.html (may not work)