This Chocolate Soufflé is light and airy while maintaining a rich chocolate flavour. It makes the perfect light dessert after a large meal. Join me as I make my very first Chocolate Soufflé from a professional pastry chef’s recipe.
Melt Chocolate in a Double Boiler
The whole recipe began (as many delicious dishes do) with chocolate. Put the chocolate and butter in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water.
Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Set aside.
Whisking egg whites in a copper bowl
Beat the Egg Yolks and Whites Separately
I started out with the yolks in the Kitchen Aid mixer but there didn’t seem to be enough contact between the small amount and the beaters. So, I transferred them into the copper bowl and beat them by hand with the hot water and sugar.
It took quite a while and we’ll just say my whisking muscles definitely need to be worked on. I got Hubby to do some of the beating as well.
After the yolks were beaten into ribbons, I folded them into the cooled chocolate, cleaned THE BOWL and got started on the egg whites.
I thought the egg whites took on a bit of a greenish hue but I wasn’t totally sure. Eventually they got to the stiff peak stage and I began to fold them into the chocolate mixture.
folding
After the mixture was folded entirely it went into some greased and sugared ramekins. I didn’t fill them to the brim so I couldn’t really level the mixture off. I may try doing this the next time so I get a nice even top.
souffle
We all hung around anxiously watching the soufflés in the oven.And meanwhile, I staged the scene for taking the final picture because I knew I wouldn’t have a long time to take pictures.
oven
I also whipped some cream and found some raspberries in the freezer to serve with the soufflé.
In all, I think my first attempt at making a soufflé turned out really well. They were nicely cooked and didn’t deflate for a good three minutes after I took them out of the oven. I would really like to try to make a cheese soufflé next time.
Chocolate Soufflé
This Chocolate Souffle is light and airy while maintaining a rich chocolate flavour. It makes the perfect light dessert after a large meal.
Ingredients
7 ounces finely chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, plus for preparing the molds
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 large egg yolks
3 Tablespoons warm water
1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 Tablespoons
8 large egg whites, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Confectioners’ sugar for garnish
Instructions
Brush 6 (6-ounce) ramekins with soft butter, then coat with sugar. Put the prepared ramekins in the fridge.
Set an oven rack in lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 °F.
Put the chocolate and butter in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Set aside.
Combine the egg yolks and warm water in the bowl of a standing mixer or large bowl and beat until frothy. Gradually add 2 tablespoons sugar, and continue beating until ribbons form, about 5 minutes. Very lightly fold the yolks into the chocolate mixture.
Remove prepared ramekins from fridge. Put the egg whites in the bowl of a standing mixer, or large non-reactive bowl, add the lemon juice. Beat on medium until frothy; then gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and increase speed to high. Beat until the whites hold stiff but not dry peaks.
Working quickly, fold about a third of the egg whites into the chocolate to lighten; then fold in remaining whites until blended. Gently ladle or spoon the soufflé mixture into the ramekins, and place on a baking sheet. (Level off the surface with a straight edge, scraping any excess mixture back into the bowl.)
Immediately bake until the soufflé rises about 1 1/2 inches from the ramekins and the tops are touched with brown, about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately with a dollop of peppermint whip cream