Mini Potato Gratin Stacks (Dauphinoise)

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Oil spray or other non-stick butter/spray
2.4 lb starchy potatoes
2 tbsp butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup heavy / thickened cream
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1/2 tsp salt
Black pepper
2.5 oz gruyere cheese, sliced into 12 slices to melt over small muffin tins
3/4 cup gruyere chese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Brush muffin tin with butter: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat then use what you need to lightly brush the muffin tin holes with butter. (Remaining butter is for the cream sauce)
Cream sauce: Into the remaining butter, add garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Add cream and salt then bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30 seconds, then remove from stove and keep warm.
Slice potato: Peel potatoes. Trim base so it stands upright. Then cut into cylinder shapes that fit tge muffi tin. Cut into 2mm/ 1/10" slices using a mandolin or sharp knife.
Assemble stacks: Place potato slices into the muffin tin so they go halfway up the muffin tin holes. Try to match by size to make them into neat stacks.
Cream: Drizzle each potato stack with 1 tsp of cream mixture – use 1/2 of the mixture.
Cheese slice: Top with cheese slice.
Top with potato, cream then thyme: Top each stack with remaining potato slices so the height is about 1cm / 1/3" above the rim of the muffin tin (they sink once baked). Drizzle with remaining cream mixture and sprinkle with most of the thyme (reserve some for topping)
Baked 40 minutes: Cover loosely with foil and bake for 40 minutes or until potato is cooked through. A small sharp knife should go through without any resistance.
Top with cheese, bake 10 minutes: Remove from oven, sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake without foil for 10 minutes or until golden.
Garnish with thyme: Sprinkle with remaining thyme.
Stand 5 minutes then remove to serve. Use a tablespoon or butter knife to help scope them out
To Serve: Dinner – serve as a side. Finger food – serve warm as is. Breakfast – serve with eggs and bacon.