YAY for National Chocolate Souffle Day!
Get your spoons ready, February 28 is National Chocolate Soufflé Day! The chocolate soufflé is a French creation and is the height of French decadence — and deliciousness.
It was 1820 and Antonin Carême creates numerous soufflé recipes and is credited with perfecting and popularizing the soufflé. Not surprisingly, he has been called The Father of the Soufflé
The dessert is often associated with momentous occasions, so it’s only fitting that it have its own day to be celebrated. There are three good reasons why we love the chocolate souffle and therefore turn to it for a momentous occasion.
First, this dessert makes us feel fancy. After all, anything French is synonymous with fancy, and just saying the phrase “chocolate soufflé” makes us feel chic and continental. The chocolate soufflé is more delicate than a chocolate cake, more sophisticated than a chocolate pudding, and more interesting than chocolate ice cream. Ordering it makes us feel cosmopolitan, and making it makes us feel like gourmands. Bring out the gold spoons!
Second, they are deceptively easy to make. The chocolate soufflé is a seriously fancy dessert, but it’s also seriously easy to make. Many people think the dish is hard — we’ve all heard of the dreaded deflated soufflé! But here’s a secret: they are delicious even when imperfect! Chocolate soufflés require simple ingredients and minimal effort in the kitchen and yield maximum and magnificent results.
And third, EVERYONE loves them. If you like chocolate, you’ll love a chocolate soufflé. Even picky or unadventurous eaters go crazy for this delightful dessert. Skeptical? You’ve probably had one and may not even know it! Chocolate lava cake — the rich cake with a gooey chocolate center that can be found on most dessert menus and frozen food aisles — is in fact a variation on the classic chocolate soufflé! (Who knew?)
While deceptively easy to make, there are a few souffle-making tips the professionals want you to know:
With these tips in hand, let’s put on our aprons, pre-set our ovens, and gather our finest ingredients (or head to our favorite French restaurants) and enjoy National Chocolate Soufflé Day! If you’re brave enough to give this classic a try, here’s one of the most trusted recipes around, from www.sallysbakingaddiction.com.
SOUFFLE BATTER
4 tablespoons (1/4 cup; 60g) unsalted butter cut into 4 tablespoon size pieces
4 ounces (113g) semi-sweet chocolate bar coarsely chopped
3 large eggs separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 tablespoons (38g) granulated sugar
RAMEKIN PREPARATION
1 tablespoon (15g) unsalted butter extra soft (the softer it is, the easier it is to spread)
4 teaspoons (16g) granulatedd sugar
Directions:
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It was 1820 and Antonin Carême creates numerous soufflé recipes and is credited with perfecting and popularizing the soufflé. Not surprisingly, he has been called The Father of the Soufflé
The dessert is often associated with momentous occasions, so it’s only fitting that it have its own day to be celebrated. There are three good reasons why we love the chocolate souffle and therefore turn to it for a momentous occasion.
First, this dessert makes us feel fancy. After all, anything French is synonymous with fancy, and just saying the phrase “chocolate soufflé” makes us feel chic and continental. The chocolate soufflé is more delicate than a chocolate cake, more sophisticated than a chocolate pudding, and more interesting than chocolate ice cream. Ordering it makes us feel cosmopolitan, and making it makes us feel like gourmands. Bring out the gold spoons!
Second, they are deceptively easy to make. The chocolate soufflé is a seriously fancy dessert, but it’s also seriously easy to make. Many people think the dish is hard — we’ve all heard of the dreaded deflated soufflé! But here’s a secret: they are delicious even when imperfect! Chocolate soufflés require simple ingredients and minimal effort in the kitchen and yield maximum and magnificent results.
And third, EVERYONE loves them. If you like chocolate, you’ll love a chocolate soufflé. Even picky or unadventurous eaters go crazy for this delightful dessert. Skeptical? You’ve probably had one and may not even know it! Chocolate lava cake — the rich cake with a gooey chocolate center that can be found on most dessert menus and frozen food aisles — is in fact a variation on the classic chocolate soufflé! (Who knew?)
While deceptively easy to make, there are a few souffle-making tips the professionals want you to know:
- Be prepared. They recommend that you measure out all of your ingredients before you begin. This will decrease stress and make following the recipe much easier.
- Eggs should be at room temperature. Make sure you remove eggs from the refrigerator at least an hour or more before putting them into the mixer.
- Cleanliness is key to a soufflé. The bowl you will use to whisk your egg whites must be free of all grease or debris. The slightest spec of food or oil can cause your egg whites to fall.
- Peak perfection is a learned skill. Take the time to explore the stiffness and peaks of egg whites before attempting any soufflé so that you can get your peaks just right.
- Don’t open the oven! We can’t stress this enough, DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN. You will cause your chocolate soufflé to deflate before it has had the chance to rise.
With these tips in hand, let’s put on our aprons, pre-set our ovens, and gather our finest ingredients (or head to our favorite French restaurants) and enjoy National Chocolate Soufflé Day! If you’re brave enough to give this classic a try, here’s one of the most trusted recipes around, from www.sallysbakingaddiction.com.
Chocolate Souffle
Ingredients:
SOUFFLE BATTER
4 tablespoons (1/4 cup; 60g) unsalted butter cut into 4 tablespoon size pieces
4 ounces (113g) semi-sweet chocolate bar coarsely chopped
3 large eggs separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 tablespoons (38g) granulated sugar
RAMEKIN PREPARATION
1 tablespoon (15g) unsalted butter extra soft (the softer it is, the easier it is to spread)
4 teaspoons (16g) granulatedd sugar
Directions:
BATTER: Melt the 4 Tablespoons of butter and the chopped chocolate together in a double boiler or in a large heatproof bowl in the microwave. Microwave in 20 second increments, stirring after each until completely melted and combined. Slightly cool for 3-5 minutes.
Whisk egg yolks, vanilla extract, and salt into chocolate mixture. Set aside.
In a completely clean residue-free medium glass or metal mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together on high speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. With the mixer running on high speed, slowly add the sugar in 3 additions about 1 Tablespoon at a time, beating for 5 seconds before adding the next Tablespoon. After all 3 Tablespoons of sugar have been added, beat until stiff glossy peaks form, about 2 more minutes. Do not over-beat.
Slowly and gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. It’s best to do this in 3 separate additions, combining each addition completely before folding in more.
Refrigerate the batter for 5-10 minutes as you preheat the oven and prepare the ramekins. (No need to cover the batter unless you are refrigerating it for longer than 1 hour. Can be made up to 2 days in advance, see make ahead instructions below.)
Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat to 400°F (204°C).
RAMEKIN PREPARATION: Brush four 6-ounce oven-safe straight sided ramekins with a generous coating of the softened butter. Sprinkle in the granulated sugar, then shake/rotate each to ensure every spot of the ramekin has a sugar coating. Place ramekins on a baking sheet. Discard excess sugar.
Spoon batter evenly into ramekins. Using a knife or icing spatula, smooth down the surface. Run a knife, icing spatula, or your thumb around the rim at the top, creating a “channel” between the batter and the rim of your pan. Feel free to wipe the edges clean with a towel, though I don’t always do that and don’t notice a difference in appearance or rise.
Bake: Place baking sheet with ramekins on top in the oven. Immediately reduce oven temperature to 375°F (191°C). Bake for 13-14 minutes or until the edges are set and the center just barely jiggles when you give the pan a light tap. Avoid opening/closing the oven too much.
Remove from the oven and serve immediately plain or with optional toppings. Soufflés begin to fall within minutes. You’ll still have that sponge-like texture underneath a crackly top, though it settles into a denser texture as time passes. Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to
Make Ahead Instructions: You can prepare the souffle batter up to 2 days in advance (steps 1-4). Cover and refrigerate the batter in the mixing bowl or in the ramekins/dish until ready bake. Add another minute or so to the bake time if you refrigerated it for longer than 1 hour. I do not recommend freezing this soufflé batter or the baked and cooled soufflés.
Topping Options: You can serve chocolate soufflé plain, but crème anglaise is a popular option. We like ours with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar, a little whipped cream (halve this whipped cream recipe), and fresh raspberries. Other options include red wine chocolate ganache, salted caramel, or the raspberry sauce from these white chocolate raspberry cheesecake bars.
Chocolate: For the best results, use a 4 ounce “baking chocolate” bar found in the baking aisle. I prefer Bakers or Ghirardelli brands. You can use semi-sweet, bittersweet, or even milk chocolate. We have not tested it with white chocolate, so we can’t guarantee results. Do not use chocolate chips, as they contain stabilizers preventing them from melting into the proper consistency.
Eggs: Room temperature egg whites hold more volume, so if you can bring them to room temperature before beginning, that’s helpful. However, I’ve made soufflé with cold eggs and it’s never been a real issue.
Cream of Tartar: We only use a small amount of cream of tartar, but it has a BIG job– it helps the egg whites hold their peaks. It’s an imperative ingredient that you cannot skip. In a pinch, the same amount of lemon juice or white vinegar can be used as a substitute. But for best results, use cream of tartar.
Other Dishes/Pans: See Pan Options & Bake Times section above. Oven temperatures remain the same no matter which pan/dish you use.
Doubling This Recipe: You can double this recipe for 8 individual soufflés by doubling all of the ingredients. Beating the egg whites may take longer since you’re working with more volume.
Whisk egg yolks, vanilla extract, and salt into chocolate mixture. Set aside.
In a completely clean residue-free medium glass or metal mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together on high speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. With the mixer running on high speed, slowly add the sugar in 3 additions about 1 Tablespoon at a time, beating for 5 seconds before adding the next Tablespoon. After all 3 Tablespoons of sugar have been added, beat until stiff glossy peaks form, about 2 more minutes. Do not over-beat.
Slowly and gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. It’s best to do this in 3 separate additions, combining each addition completely before folding in more.
Refrigerate the batter for 5-10 minutes as you preheat the oven and prepare the ramekins. (No need to cover the batter unless you are refrigerating it for longer than 1 hour. Can be made up to 2 days in advance, see make ahead instructions below.)
Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat to 400°F (204°C).
RAMEKIN PREPARATION: Brush four 6-ounce oven-safe straight sided ramekins with a generous coating of the softened butter. Sprinkle in the granulated sugar, then shake/rotate each to ensure every spot of the ramekin has a sugar coating. Place ramekins on a baking sheet. Discard excess sugar.
Spoon batter evenly into ramekins. Using a knife or icing spatula, smooth down the surface. Run a knife, icing spatula, or your thumb around the rim at the top, creating a “channel” between the batter and the rim of your pan. Feel free to wipe the edges clean with a towel, though I don’t always do that and don’t notice a difference in appearance or rise.
Bake: Place baking sheet with ramekins on top in the oven. Immediately reduce oven temperature to 375°F (191°C). Bake for 13-14 minutes or until the edges are set and the center just barely jiggles when you give the pan a light tap. Avoid opening/closing the oven too much.
Remove from the oven and serve immediately plain or with optional toppings. Soufflés begin to fall within minutes. You’ll still have that sponge-like texture underneath a crackly top, though it settles into a denser texture as time passes. Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to
Make Ahead Instructions: You can prepare the souffle batter up to 2 days in advance (steps 1-4). Cover and refrigerate the batter in the mixing bowl or in the ramekins/dish until ready bake. Add another minute or so to the bake time if you refrigerated it for longer than 1 hour. I do not recommend freezing this soufflé batter or the baked and cooled soufflés.
Topping Options: You can serve chocolate soufflé plain, but crème anglaise is a popular option. We like ours with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar, a little whipped cream (halve this whipped cream recipe), and fresh raspberries. Other options include red wine chocolate ganache, salted caramel, or the raspberry sauce from these white chocolate raspberry cheesecake bars.
Chocolate: For the best results, use a 4 ounce “baking chocolate” bar found in the baking aisle. I prefer Bakers or Ghirardelli brands. You can use semi-sweet, bittersweet, or even milk chocolate. We have not tested it with white chocolate, so we can’t guarantee results. Do not use chocolate chips, as they contain stabilizers preventing them from melting into the proper consistency.
Eggs: Room temperature egg whites hold more volume, so if you can bring them to room temperature before beginning, that’s helpful. However, I’ve made soufflé with cold eggs and it’s never been a real issue.
Cream of Tartar: We only use a small amount of cream of tartar, but it has a BIG job– it helps the egg whites hold their peaks. It’s an imperative ingredient that you cannot skip. In a pinch, the same amount of lemon juice or white vinegar can be used as a substitute. But for best results, use cream of tartar.
Other Dishes/Pans: See Pan Options & Bake Times section above. Oven temperatures remain the same no matter which pan/dish you use.
Doubling This Recipe: You can double this recipe for 8 individual soufflés by doubling all of the ingredients. Beating the egg whites may take longer since you’re working with more volume.
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
