Chocolate Soufflé Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Valentine's Day

by: Yossy Arefi

February4,2014

4.5

2 Ratings

  • Serves 6

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Author Notes

If the word soufflé has you quaking in your boots, rest easy. With a few pointers, even the most nervous cook can pull off this decadent dessert. At is very simplest, chocolate soufflé is made from a base of melted chocolate and egg yolks, lightened with meringue and baked until tall and impressive. —Yossy Arefi

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cupsugar, plus extra to line the ramekins
  • 6 ouncessemisweet chocolate
  • 1 tablespooninstant coffee or espresso granules
  • 1 tablespoonvanilla extract
  • 1 pinchsalt
  • 3 large egg yolks, room temperature
  • 6 large egg whites, room temperature
  • Soft butter to grease ramekins
  • Chocolate sauce and whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to serve
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 ºF.
  2. Generously butter six 8-ounce ramekins and sprinkle them with sugar. Place the dishes on a baking sheet.
  3. Chop the chocolate and melt it in a double boiler set over a pan of simmering water. When the chocolate is melted, remove from heat and whisk in the egg yolks, instant coffee, vanilla, and salt.
  4. While the chocolate is melting, whip the egg whites in a stand mixer until foamy. With the mixer running, slowly stream in the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
  5. Stir one third of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it up. Gently fold in the rest of the egg whites (a few streaks are okay) and neatly divide the mixture between the prepared ramekins. If any soufflé batter gets on the rims of the dishes, wipe it away with your finger.
  6. Bake until the tops are set and beginning to brown, but the centers jiggle slightly, 15 to 20 minutes. Resist the urge to open the oven and peek to see if your soufflés are rising, the quick change in temperature can cause your soufflés to fall. Dust with powdered sugar and serve immediately with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Tags:

  • Souffle
  • French
  • Chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Valentine's Day
  • Dessert

Recipe by: Yossy Arefi

Yossy Arefi is a photographer and stylist with a passion for food. During her stint working in restaurant kitchens, Yossy started the blog Apt. 2B Baking Co. where, with her trusty Pentax film camera, she photographs and writes about seasonal desserts and preserves. She currently lives in Brooklyn but will always love her native city of Seattle. Follow her work at apt2bbakingco.blogspot.com & yossyarefi.com.

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14 Reviews

pica-ae December 3, 2015

I used this recipe and the soufflés tasted amazing! They did collapse, though, but it was my first time making these and I am not put off to go and make them again.

My solution for having egg yolks left over was to make a quick Carbonara in the evening ;)

Rosalind W. March 1, 2015

I take the extra egg yolks and us them to thicken sauces or gravies. I usually store the beaten yolks in the freezer and add them to a Greek soup I make with chicken stock and lemon juice (I can't remember the name); it is simply delicious.

alienor March 1, 2015

would it be okay to use the egg whites from the carton rather than opening fresh eggs. when i use the whites from eggs then i am in a quandary how to use all the extra yolks..... so can i use egg whites from the carton?

Jim B. March 5, 2014

Yossy, in response to a previous comment you mentioned using Cream of Tarter instead of lemon juice. However, neither of those items appear in the list of ingredients? Most recipes I have for whipped egg whites call for the Cream of Tarter. Should that be listed as an ingredient??

L.c. February 15, 2014

I didn't have good luck with this recipe. I found that the chocolate (I used Callebaut bittersweet) didn't melt well, I don't think it had enough fat in it as it was tough and gooey. Does it maybe need some butter?

luvfood February 14, 2014

Would I be able to use chocolate chips, I know they may not give the same consistency but it's all I can find without possible "traces of nut" due to nut allergy in my family. Any rec on what brand chocolate good for nut allergy? Thanks!

Kmpollock February 11, 2014

Thank you for this recipe - it looks amazing! Question: do you have a favorite chocolate sauce recipe for this soufflé? I have one, but the consistency is too thick. Thanks!

Barb168 February 9, 2014

Yossy, this looks delicious. Would you give us a link to a good chocolate sauce?

Yossy A. February 9, 2014

These are both great! http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2005/12/the-best-chocol/ and http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/12/peppermint-hot-fudge-sauce/

Barb168 February 9, 2014

Thanks, these look wonderful!

Lori C. February 8, 2014

Hello! I love your site! I am trying this recipe as we speak, however I wasn't sure when to remove the chocolate from the double boiler? I left it over the hot water as I started to add the egg whites, but quickly removed it! Hopefully mine will turn out as good as yours looked!

Yossy A. February 8, 2014

Hi Lori, thanks for your comment. I clarified the instructions above to indicate that the egg whites should be folded in off of the heat. I hope you enjoy your soufflés!

Soha February 8, 2014

this recipe can be made at the most how many hrs before the dinner if i don't want to add cream of tartar?

Yossy A. February 8, 2014

Hi Soha, you can use a small squeeze of lemon juice in place of the cream of tartar if you prefer. I would guess that you could make the batter 1-2 hours before you bake it.

Chocolate Soufflé Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good soufflé? ›

According to La Varenne Practique (a timeless masterwork you should consider owning if learning more about classic French cooking appeals), there are only a few critical points to perfecting a souffle: a base of the right consistency, stiff egg whites, and the careful folding of the base and the beaten whites.

Why is soufflé so hard to make? ›

The Washington Post explains that the protein in egg whites can only expand so much; if you over-whip them, they won't have the elasticity needed to continue to expand in the oven heat, which causes the soufflé to collapse.

How do you make a soufflé rise higher? ›

Coating the dish with butter and a dusting of sugar or breadcrumbs provides a rough surface for the souffle to cling to as it rises, helping it reach greater heights.

What are the two main components of a soufflé? ›

The Basics

There are all kinds of soufflé, yet what they all share in common is their two constituent parts: a base made of flavored cream sauce or puree and a soft meringue made of beaten egg whites. The base of a soufflé gives it its flavor, while the meringue gives it its texture.

What is the secret of the soufflé? ›

There's only one serious secret to the perfect soufflé and that is careful whisking of the egg whites so they keep their volume and puff to a maximum in the oven. The whites should be at room temperature and you can reckon at least one and a half per person.

How to tell if a soufflé is done? ›

A soufflé is done baking when it has risen above the rim of the dish and is nicely browned on top. It should feel mostly firm and only slightly jiggly when you lightly tap the top. Flourless soufflés, such as those made with fruit purée or chocolate, are lighter and cook faster.

What ingredient makes a soufflé rise? ›

A soufflé is made up of a base (usually white sauce or creme patissiere enriched with egg yolks), a flavor (added to the base) and whipped egg whites gently folded in and baked in the oven. While it's cooking, the air trapped in the egg whites expands, causing it to rise.

Do you need cream of tartar for soufflé? ›

Mustard and cayenne pepper or hot sauce add subtle flavor to the soufflé but are not absolutely necessary. Cream of tartar is not required, but it can help prevent accidentally overbeating the egg whites; if you have it, you might as well add it.

What is the best oven setting for soufflé? ›

Method. Preparing the soufflé dish: Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and place a baking sheet on the middle shelf. Butter a 15cm soufflé dish generously, then sprinkle in the breadcrumbs and rotate the dish to ensure the butter is evenly coated.

How to make a successful soufflé? ›

Ten tips to keep your souffle high and handsome

Use eggs at room temperature to maximise your rise. Avoid super fresh eggs. Preheat your oven to 200C. A hot oven is crucial to souffle success because it cooks the outside making it hard for the hot air to escape.

What does butter do in a soufflé? ›

The upward strokes of butter actually help guide the soufflé batter, and the thin coating of sugar (or cheese) helps give the batter something to adhere to as it rises in the pan. It's pure soufflé-baking magic.

Can you make soufflé without ramekins? ›

You can bake the souffle in an oven proof glass or ceramic bowls for the closest result to a ramekin. If you don't have those either, you can use a muffin pan!

What are some interesting facts about chocolate souffle? ›

Here are some interesting facts about chocolate soufflé... The word "soufflé" comes from the French word "souffler," which means to blow or puff. The dessert gets its name because it puffs up when it is baked, thanks to the egg whites. The tallest soufflé on record was made in 2000 by chef Jean-Michel Diot.

What are the characteristics of a good soufflé? ›

To our taste, it has a crusty exterior packed with flavor, a dramatic rise above the rim, an airy but substantial outer layer, and a rich, loose center that is not completely set. A great souffle must also convey a true mouth feel of flavor, bursting with the bright, clear taste of the main ingredient.

What are the principles of making a soufflé? ›

The science of a souffle
  1. Its all in the eggs. A souffle is essentially made of two parts: a base and whipped egg whites. ...
  2. Fat and protein. The most important thing you can do when making a souffle is cleanly separate the egg yolk from the whites. ...
  3. Whip until dull. ...
  4. Don't overmix.
Jul 18, 2014

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