Chocolate Souffle with Creme Anglaise Sauce

Revised – Original Recipe by Tyler Florence.

Prep

Cook

Category: Desserts
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Ingredients

Souffle Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for greasing)
1/4 cup sugar, plus more for dusting
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
6 Oakdell Omega-3 Brown Eggs
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons hazelnut flavored liqueur (recommended: Frangelico) or substitute liqueur with 1 tablespoon of almond extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
confectioner's sugar for dusting

Creme Anglaise Ingredients

1 cup heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
4 Oakdell Omega-3 Brown Egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brewed espresso
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder (optional)

Chocolate Souffle with Creme Anglaise Sauce Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and remove the top oven rack. Prepare 6 (8-ounce) ramekins with straight sides (or a 2-quart soufflé dish) by greasing with butter and coating with granulated sugar, pour out any excess. The butter and sugar will keep the soufflés from sticking to the sides, which will allow them to rise evenly. The sugar will also give the soufflé a crunchy crust, which is a great contrast to the soft interior.
  2. To make the pastry cream base for the soufflé: Combine the milk and vanilla bean and seeds in a heavy large pot and place over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a brief simmer, until bubbles form around the edge of the pot; do not boil. Remove from heat and discard the vanilla bean. The vanilla bean can be rinsed and dried and kept for another use.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, flour, and 1/4 cup of sugar until slightly thickened and lemon-colored. Temper the yolks by gradually whisking in about half of the hot milk mixture (do not add too quickly or the eggs will cook.) Return the pastry cream back to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it is nice and thick, enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  4. Slowly melt the chocolate with the Frangelico (or almond extract) in a double boiler over hot water or in a microwave set on high for 2 minutes, stirring halfway through the heating time to smooth it out. Stir the melted chocolate mixture into the pastry cream; cool to room temperature.
  5. In a separate clean bowl, beat the egg whites and salt just until they hold soft peaks. Using a rubber spatula, fold 1/3 of the beaten whites into the chocolate pastry cream to lighten it, then gently fold in the rest. Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekins, 2/3 of the way full, and shake them gently to smooth out the top. Place the ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake on the middle rack for about 20 minutes. The soufflé is done when it has puffed over the rim, the outside is golden and the center is still a bit loose and creamy; take care not to over bake.
  6. To serve, have each guest crack open the top of the soufflé with a spoon and pour in the Crème Anglaise. Dust the top with confectioners’ sugar.
  7. Creme Anglaise Directions:

  8. Pour the heavy cream and vanilla bean and seeds into a saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a brief simmer, until bubbles form around the edge of the pot; do not boil. Remove from heat.
  9. Discard the vanilla bean. The vanilla bean can be rinsed and dried and kept for another use.
  10. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, coffee (replace coffee with additional cream, if desired), and espresso powder (optional), until well blended.
  11. Temper the yolks by gradually whisking in the hot cream mixture (do not add too quickly or the eggs will cook.)
  12. Return the custard back to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  13. Serve immediately with Chocolate Soufflé. (If not serving immediately, press plastic wrap on the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming and refrigerate.)