Tuesday, September 8, 2009

TWD: Chocolate Soufflé


I'd never made a soufflé before this week's Tuesdays with Dorie, although I joined TWD in the first place because I was excited about the prospect of making renowned desserts that I would never otherwise try, like soufflés. Soufflés are synomous with difficult and fussy (although Dorie assures us that this reputation is undeserved) and, as my husband pointed out, a plot point in numerous Tom & Jerry episodes (i.e., Tom & Jerry's antics cause soufflé to collapse). I couldn't wait to tackle it.

I never really knew what went into a soufflé, and now that I know, I'm totally amazed. Chocolate, eggs, sugar, milk. That's it. No flour. No butter. The fact that these four ingredients can combine to create a dessert with this crumb


blows my mind. It's nothing short of magical. I mean, do a few different things with those same ingredients and you get ice cream. It's almost too much for me to get my head around.

I didn't think that anyone would eat these besides me and my two year old, Caroline, so I decided to quarter the recipe and bake the soufflés in two 6 oz ramekins. The recipe is so simple that I can actually remember what I did without having to go upstairs and check the cookbook! Melt sugar and chocolate over a pan of hot water, whisk in milk. Let the chocolate cool for a few minutes and whisk in egg yolk. Meanwhile, whip egg whites until they are opaque, add in sugar, and continue whipping until they start to hold peaks. Fold egg whites into chocolate mixture. Fill ramekin(s):


And bake. I took a picture of them in the oven to prove that they rose, just in case they immediately deflated as soon as I opened the oven, which was very possible since I live in a Tom & Jerry kind of world:


These soufflés left me speechless. What can I say? They are shockingly easy to make. They are intensely chocolaty, decadent and rich, without feeling heavy. This is, hands down, a top 5 Dorie dessert for me. My only mistake was in making just two of these, because my seven year old and four year old loved the soufflé and wanted their own. Lucky for them, they won't have to wait long to try these again.



One of my favorite blogger friends, Susan from Doughmesstic, chose this week's recipe. Do yourself a favor and visit Susan's blog - she's talented, creative, and really fun. She made the most adorable (and delicious!) custom cookies for my daughter's birthday party a couple of weeks ago, and I've been telling all my real life friends about her ever since! Thanks for the cookies, Susan, and for this fabulous TWD pick!

51 comments:

Jennifer said...

CATHY! Your souffle looks superb!!!!!

NKP said...

Wow, it looks perfect!
I have never made a souffle, it is on my "scary" list. You have made me feel more brave though, I shall try one soon.

Mary Ann said...

Wow- you got great height on your souffles! They look amazing. How funny that all your kids wanted their own- smart kiddoS!

Amanda said...

I was amazed at how easy these were too! Been intimidated for too long :) I even forgot to add my egg yolks and expected the worst, but they were actually really good!

Bella Baker said...

Your souffles look incredible!!! Look how high they puffed up!! Amazing!! I loved these as well, and I was amazed and shocked with how easy they were to make!

Unknown said...

I am in awe of your high-rise souffles (or as my blog reader renders them, "souffl&eacutes"). They are magical, aren't they?

Kayte said...

Looks fabulous! I love the photo in the oven as those souffles were really rising! Great job and happy to hear they were a hit...they were a hit here with the guys, too. They each ate two straight out of the oven. I was thinking to have one eaten out of oven and then figure out the "fallen cake" deal for the other. Never happened...they weren't interested in fallen cake once they ate the first little ramekin. Guess I will be making these again soon.

mike said...

Well, they just can't get any higher than that - they looked great in the their oven bed! And even outside as well - mine fell like bricks - although, still delicious! I agree - they are rather simple to make, yet so intimidating. The results are worth the "panic attacks" though! Very nicely done this week!

AmyRuth said...

Ah shucks, you mean you have another blogger friend in the 'hood? Wow, you all must get together and plot out your blogs. I love T & J. I actually watched it all by myself recently. It brought back some memories. Ya know my kids are all big and stuff now so I don't get to watch cartoons legally anymore. he he Love your souffles and that you thought they were so simple as well. Yep, I've made them twice in two days. I'm thinking I could bake them fewer minutes the next time and add some of Dorie's vanilla ice cream to the hot souffle. sounds so yummy to me. Thanks for your kind words, Cathy.
AmyRuth

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

Beautiful! Glad they turned out even though you live in a Tom and Jerry World. :) I only got one of ours too.

spike. said...

souffles are baking magic! Yours look perfect- and of course the other kids wanted one- keeping you working in the kitchen

Anonymous said...

So smart to snap photos of the souffle while it was still rising in the oven. Once mine came out, I found it hard to believe that it had ever been anything other than flat and sad. Great height on yours! Well done!

Unknown said...

I have to apologize for not visiting recently - I have fallen behind in my blog commenting over the past week and a half but now I'm back and can't wait to get caught up :) Your souffles rose beautifully! I wish mine had gotten that much height! I used 7-oz ramekins and the souffles just barely crested over the top. So glad these were a hit with everyone! It was my first time making souffles this weekend too and I was seriously amazed by how easy it was. I'll definitely be making Dorie's recipe again soon.

betty geek said...

Cathy! I love how you took pictures of the souffles while baking! They look awesome . . sky high awesome!

NICE JOB!

Anonymous said...

Wow. You got some rise! I am jealous. And, I can definitely attest that the humble souffle dish has a myriad of uses beyond (and in my case not including) souffle.

natalia said...

Wow ! I gave three of mine to friends and I repentish(?) too !! I love your oven photo apparently the real world of souffleists is the Tom and Jerry one !!

Flourchild said...

Wow do these look great. Im so glad they left you speechless! I was so sad to miss this one..we went camping and I had no time.

Leslie said...

Way to go! I'm thrilled for you that these were both easy and delicious.

Jules Someone said...

Yours looks fabulous! Mine didn't work at all.

Pam said...

I've never made a soufflé before but you have convinced me to try. They look decadent and delicious!

Katrina said...

GREAT souffles! Look at those babies risin'. I certainly loved the ease of this one and was happily surprised that it all worked out. Yep, a keeper.

Cakelaw said...

LOL - your souffles were super-puffed - love it. And they look so chocolatey inside - bet they were delicious.

Anne said...

Those look perfect Cathy! I didn't get to make it since the weekend snuck up on me and my chocolate jealous husband might have had a heart attack if I spent his day off cooking a forbidden dessert and then blogging about it! Now I'm convinced this is one I'll have to do on a week day (putting away the dishes before he gets home so he never knew it was there!) :)

Audrey said...

How fun to share in your amazement over these! I definitely want to try them, especially after reading your thoughts. BTW, I'm amazed that all my nieces and nephews are so much more world-traveled than I am, but I think a two-year-old who gets her own souffle takes the proverbial cake!

Di said...

Wow, fantastic pictures, Cathy! I love your comment about how the same ingredients make ice cream. I haven't had a chance to make this one yet, but good to know it's so kid-friendly. =)

Lady Baker said...

LOL..your oven photo came out a lot better than mine!

Love the ramekin version. I was going to do it, then realized that I had no time, or brain function to figure out the ingredients! Too much of a lack of sleep....so I did the whole thing.

So much for trying to lose some baby weight before heading back to work...Rob and I dug into this bad boy tonight..and are looking forward to cold left-over souffle tomorrow. I told him that its too good, and next time I MUST do the portion control ramekin route!

Hope all's well and your trip North was fun!! Congrats again on your nephew's arrival! :)
xo

Barbara Bakes said...

I love how you described them - intensely chocolaty, decadent and rich, without feeling heavy. Now I'm really craving one!

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Just think: you could probably buy one set of ingredients, and whip up souffles while the ice cream is churning! Sharing mini souffles could be tricky business, so next time you'll be making at least half a recipe, right?

Unknown said...

Your souffles look amazing! Great job! I did the ramekin thing myself and it turned out great. Had a lot of fun making this one!!!

Anonymous said...

Those look wonderful. Don't you feel so accomplished when you make something you haven't tried and it comes out so good? I love that!

Teanna said...

LOOK AT THAT RISE!!! Absolutely brilliant! I LOVED these souffles. Seriously. So easy to make. NO BUTTER (HUH? In a Dorie recipe?!). Amazing taste! LOVE LOVE LOVED These! Gorgeous job!

MacDuff said...

Oh that is awesome! I can't believe they rose...I feel like everything about me screams anti-souffle. I bet I even wear anti souffle deodorant.

They're beautiful, nice job.

Sarah said...

Wow, look at that rise! Gorgeous! It is magical, isn't it? The way the same set of ingredients can behave so differently when different techniques are applied. I always think about the fact that someone actually discovered a way to make souffle and ice cream and bread and everything else, and I am amazed.

The Blonde Duck said...

That picture of them rising is just gorgeous!

Andrea at Nummy Kitchen said...

Beautiful soufflés! I'm so happy that these were a success for you and your kids all liked them :) My kids loved these as well, and it's always nice to have a general approval of dessert you were nervous about. These were such a nice TWD surprise favorite.

Valerie Gamine said...

Well done! I remember a few of those Tom & Jerry episodes! After making this, I wonder why it has such a reputation for being fussy. Congratulations on your first Soufflés. :)

Jamie said...

Beautiful & very impressive! I need to get back on the TwD bandwagon!

dharmagirl said...

tres bien! what lovely heights! what glorious deliciousness!

Pamela said...

Wow! That's some serious height your souffles achieved in the oven! You should be proud. It was my first time and I thought for sure I would have a souffle deflating on me. But I was really happy with the results. So yummy! LOL about living in a Tom & Jerry world! :o)

Maria said...

PERFECTION! Nice job on this one!

Liz said...

Ha ha, a Tom and Jerry universe! A perfect way to describe my world, too. Those are some sexy souffles you made, lady. Glad you loved them!

La Bella Cooks said...

Cathy, you never cease to amaze me. Your souffle turned out beautifully and has my mouth watering. Suddenly my breakfast of just coffee is looking pretty drab after reading this!

The Food Librarian said...

Cathy, Holy Smokes. That is one high Souffle! I was a Souffle virgin too. Great job!

Melissa said...

Your souffle looks great, Cathy! I'm glad it turned out so well for you!

TeaLady said...

It ws amazing that these were so easy. And they were sooo tasty. It was my first time, too.

Yours look just lovely.

Proud Italian Cook said...

Hi Cathy, I've been checking out all the things you've been making, and I've been craving chocolate, I have to try this souffle and those scrumptious brownies! Hope you had a fantastic summer with your family!
Hugs,
Marie

Deb in Hawaii said...

I have yet to attempt a souffle--yours turned out perfectly! Makes me want to try it. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I love your chocolate souffles! I quartered it too but didn't get as high a rise as you did in the oven! Looks dee-lish! (I love the Tom & Jerry reference!)

Anonymous said...

Your souffles look great. Very nice rise.

Anonymous said...

DIVINE, divine, divine. This all looks fabulous!!!!!

raucherentwohnung said...

Hi...
Thank you for sharing such a nice recipe. I would love this item. I am giving a party to my friends this weekend at my farmhouse. I was wondering about some new item to treat my friends with. I will surely try this and let you know.

 
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