Tuesdays with Dorie: Chocolate Soufflé
September 8, 2009 at 1:57 am | Posted in groups, pudding/mousse, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 42 Comments
I wonder if the bankers in the building across the street ever notice me taking photos of my food on the windowsill. I can see them clearly, so maybe they see me, too? If they do, I’m sure they were jealous that on a Wednesday afternoon, while they were sitting in their offices or in the conference room with the red walls and heinous artwork, I was enjoying a chocolate soufflé with hazelnut crème anglaise. This is all thanks to Susan of She’s Becoming DoughMessTic, who chose chocolate soufflés for TWD this week.
At every restaurant I’ve worked in, there’s been a soufflé on the menu at some point. Every pastry chef seems to make them a little differently, but I’ve picked up a few universal tips along the way. Use soft butter to coat your ramekins well (one chef had us do two coats). Use room temperature whites and whip them until they “look like shaving cream.” (I prefer to whip my whites by hand, if the amount is manageable.) Fill individual molds right to the top, level them off, and clean off any batter that may have slopped on the rims. Most importantly, get your soufflés to the table straight away (in a restaurant, this is actually the hardest part, because when a soufflé comes out of the oven, inevitably there are no waiters to be found!).
I made a few individual soufflés, rather than the larger one Dorie suggests. The principles are the same, but the baking time is shorter. I had mine in the oven for somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes…I like them a little puddingy and creamy inside. They were really very chocolatey, light and delicious….and a little pot of chilled hazelnut crème anglaise served alongside didn’t hurt matters any.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read She’s Becoming DoughMessTic. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
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Holy Souffle Batman! Wow, that is the most perfect souffle cup I’ve ever seen – what was your secret to keeping it risen for so long! Nicely done – mine weren’t at all “puddingy”… maybe baked too long – but still delicious. Yes, the backdrop is perfect – and who cares what you were doing . . . on your windowsill?
Comment by mike— September 8, 2009 #
Yours look fantastic! Are you a professional photographer too? I wish I had tried a sauce with mine, but I guess it will have to wait for next time.
Comment by Shelby— September 8, 2009 #
I bet the hazelnut crème anglaise just took that souffle to a whole different level!!!
Comment by nina— September 8, 2009 #
I would have been a drooling banker for sure! They really came out perfect 🙂 I forgot the egg yolks in mine LOL!
Comment by Amanda— September 8, 2009 #
Beautiful Stephanie! I especially love the light in that picture!
I never imagine my backyard neighbour to be jealous of the stuff she sees me making from my kitche window, but I do wonder if she thinks I’m crazy for shooting it at the wee hours of the night! LOL
Thanks for the tips, I knew of a few of them already, but since I was dissapointed my soufflé never unglued from the rim… the double buttering will come handy for my next one (does keeping the prepared mould in the fridge still stand, after using soft butter?).
Comment by vibi— September 8, 2009 #
yes, like dorie says, do keep the prepared ramekin in the fridge. soft butter just spreads better and more evenly than cold butter (obviously) or melted (which will pool in the bottom of the mold).
Comment by steph (whisk/spoon)— September 8, 2009 #
Oh, wow! Your souffle looks divine! Now, I really wish I’d had time to make mine. 😦
Comment by Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy— September 8, 2009 #
I wish you could come photograph my baking projects – your photos are always so impeccable!! As are the desserts/foods themselves 😀
Comment by VeggieGirl— September 8, 2009 #
Wow that looks wonderful. I’m sure those suits are wishing you would share with them! Hopefully I’ll get the chance to make this today.
Comment by Beryl— September 8, 2009 #
Gorgeous! I love the chocolate/hazelnut combination, too.
Comment by Beth— September 8, 2009 #
Gorgeous!
I have been thinking of you this week – the DB choice? Excited! Hope I don’t wait until the last possible minute, as I usually do.
Thanks so much for baking along with me!
Comment by Susan— September 8, 2009 #
Gorgeous photo of a most wonderful looking dessert duet! I loved all your tips and insider’s knowledge that you shared, so thankyouverymuch for that! Lovely, just lovely.
Comment by Kayte— September 8, 2009 #
So funny about the bankers- I wonder the same thing about my neighbors. THey must think I am crazy.
So, this is what a souffle is supposed to look like! It is perfect- I might have to try it again, after reading your tips.
Beautiful!
Comment by Mary Ann— September 8, 2009 #
That is the most perfect souffle I have ever seen!!! It is beautiful, like a work of art!
Comment by Lauryn— September 8, 2009 #
Gotta love it. Isn’t there a saying–Let them eat cake?
Comment by cal orey— September 8, 2009 #
Im sure if the people are seeing all that food on the window seal they are wishing they had some! Your mini souffle looks so good. I am going to try making this someday. Thanks for the tips!
Comment by Michelle— September 8, 2009 #
That looks amazing! Next time I will definitely be making individual portions!
Comment by Charli— September 8, 2009 #
Gorgeous. If I was one of those bankers I would be drooling.
Comment by Kim— September 8, 2009 #
That is the tallest souffle I have ever seen..thanks for the tips….great post.
Comment by Mary— September 8, 2009 #
Ma quanto è bello ?? !!!It’s super gorgeous !!! and the hazelnuts creme anglaise must have been super delicious !!
Comment by natalia— September 8, 2009 #
Beautiful souffle. Fantastic that it held it’s puff while you took pics. You bribed it with the creme anglais, right??
Comment by teaandscones— September 8, 2009 #
I have only tackled the souffle once. It was less than perfect. But yours looks amazing – and much appreciate your tips and hints above. I have already bookmarked this page! 🙂
Comment by Julia @ Mélanger— September 8, 2009 #
Well any day now, those “banker people” will surely catch on. You’ll hear a knock-knock-knock and Voila you’ll instantly have your very own “Treat Tasting Group!” hehe. Those are magnificent souffles. Wow! I love your restaurant stories too. Keep ’em coming. Good little morsels of knowledge. Well, I knew some of them but still love hearing them as well. Well the other element I have picked up along the way, and I knew but didn’t take the time to do was and anglaise or ice cream. Definitely next time though. Thanks for stopping by Steph.
AmyRuth
Comment by Amy Ruth— September 8, 2009 #
Wow, your souffle looks absolutely perfect! I didn’t make the crème anglaise, but I will definitely try it the next time I make this recipe.
Comment by theeclecticconnoisseur— September 8, 2009 #
That is an awesome Chocolate Souffle!! I think yours is the only one I’ve seen today that didn’t fall – what’s your secret?
If I were a banker across the street from you, I’d be knocking on your day making friends with you! =)
Comment by uclala— September 8, 2009 #
What a gorgeous souffle Steph! I bet those guys in their fancy offices are jealous. While you were in Oz, did you see the 4’n’Twenty pie ad where the workers were hoeing into their pies while the snooty guys in the restuarant looked on? Now that was a classic.
Comment by Cakelaw— September 8, 2009 #
Beautiful photo, your souffle looks perfect! Hazlenut creme anglaise sounds like a wonderful addition, too.
Comment by Sarah— September 8, 2009 #
Your souffle is gorgeous! Great photo! Thanks for the tips on making souffles too. I was unsure how much to fill my ramekins and definitely wish I’d filled them more. Now I know for next time 🙂
Comment by Tracey— September 8, 2009 #
Nice tips – thanks! I’ll have to remember these next time I make a souffle.
Comment by Amber Marie— September 8, 2009 #
Wow!! Just luscious. I am bookmarking your tips and will try again.
Comment by Romaine of www.salad-in-a-jar.com— September 8, 2009 #
As I expected your souffles look picture perfect. Great job!!!
Comment by Eliana— September 8, 2009 #
Your tips are AWESOME. I didn’t know you had to fill it up all of the way (I did individuals as well). LOVE the hazelnut creme anglaise! I’d be a jealous banker, too, if I worked in whatever bank you lived across the street from!
Comment by Teanna— September 9, 2009 #
Hi Steph!
First off, let me apologize for not stopping by to check out your fabulous creations and leaving copious complimentary comments recently- I’ve been fighting a really serious strain of the flu for the last month, and my body’s been having a hard time bouncing back to health! Luckily, I now have a number of your posts to catch up on, and I can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to- I’ve definitely missed having my “A Whisk and a Spoon” fix!
Your chocolate soufflé with hazelnut crème anglaise looks out of this world- look at how high that soufflé rose- my goodness! I’ve never made a true soufflé before, purely out of fear- I know they’re notorious for being finicky and temperamental. This past week I actually made a “fallen chocolate soufflé cake” (which I did post about 🙂 but that totally doesn’t count, because the goal was for the cake the collapse! Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectation- just not chocolatey enough- so maybe I’ll find some courage, and give your soufflé a try. If you gave it the thumbs up, I know it’s a winner. And thanks for all the tips- when I finally do tackle a soufflé, I know they will come in handy. Oh Steph, thank goodness that I know such a wise bakers like yourself, who’s willing to share her secrets!
Well, I hope you’re doing well and had a lovely holiday weekend. Hope to hear from you soon!
-Joy
http://hotovenwarmheart.wordpress.com/
Comment by hotovenwarmheart— September 9, 2009 #
Looks like a perfect rise- must be all that practice!
Comment by Spike— September 9, 2009 #
Your souffle looks gorgeous! I’m sure all the bankers were salivating across the way. And hazelnut creme anglaise? Perfect!
Comment by Jayne— September 9, 2009 #
Oh my goodness! I can just taste the hazelnut with this! Delicious. I bet those bankers across the street were completely jealous!
Comment by Karen— September 9, 2009 #
the hazelnut creme anglaise sounds divine. Well done with that!
Comment by Sihan— September 9, 2009 #
You did such an amazing job!! The hazelnut creme anglaise sounds like a wonderful touch! mmmmm
Comment by Jen @ MaplenCornbread— September 10, 2009 #
That is a beautiful sight! I bet someone in the office building across the way is blogging about what you set in the windowsill to take pictures of. You know you could have fun with this.
Comment by Carol Peterman— September 10, 2009 #
Oh I gotta make one of these!! I still have yet to make a souffle`. This one looks pretty great! AND its chocolate!
Comment by Ash— September 14, 2009 #
Your souffle looks awesome. Great puffage!
Comment by Wendy— September 15, 2009 #
Let the bankers drool!!! I love that you show off your wonderful feasts to the world on your sunny windowsills. Keep the voyeurs wanting for more! I love to create foods that are rich in color and flavor and that make folks jealous if they can’t partake. My friends are coming up with ways to make ME jealous, too. They take all the best of the cooking ideas I have and tweak them just so to create wonderful treats for themselves and their families. Thank you for the mouth-watering recipes and pictures. I would welcome your food on my windowsill any day!
Comment by Cooking Like Mom— September 21, 2009 #