Chocolate Cayenne Souffles Recipes

CHOCOLATE SOUFFLES

Steps:

• Brush 6 (6-ounce) ramekins with soft butter, then coat with sugar. Put the prepared ramekins in the freezer. (This can be done a day ahead.)
• Set an oven rack in lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Put the chocolate and butter in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Set aside.
• Combine the egg yolks and warm water in the bowl of a standing mixer or large bowl and beat until frothy. Gradually add 2 tablespoons sugar, and continue beating until ribbons form, about 5 minutes. Very lightly fold the yolks into the chocolate mixture. (Rinse the bowl well, if using for beating the egg whites.)
• Remove prepared ramekins from freezer. Put the egg whites in the bowl of a standing mixer, or large non-reactive bowl, add the lemon juice. Beat on medium until frothy; then gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and increase speed to high. Beat until the whites hold a stiff but not dry peak.
• Working quickly, fold about a third of the egg whites into the chocolate to lighten; then fold in remaining whites until blended. Gently ladle or spoon the souffle mixture into the ramekins, and place on a baking sheet. (Level off the surface with a straight edge, scraping any excess mixture back into the bowl.)
• Immediately bake until the souffle rises about 1 1/2 inches from the ramekins, and the tops are touched with brown, about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, dust with confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.
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CHEF JOHN'S CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Brush bottom and sides of 2 (5-ounce) ramekins lightly with 1 teaspoon melted butter; cover bottom and sides right up to the rim. Add 1 tablespoon white sugar to ramekins. Rotate ramekins until sugar coats all surfaces. Pour off extra sugar.
• Place chocolate pieces in a metal mixing bowl. Place bowl over a pan of about 3 cups hot water over low heat. Do not let water boil or come to a simmer.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour. Whisk until flour is incorporated into butter and mixture thickens, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in cold milk until mixture becomes smooth and thickens, 2 or 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Transfer mixture to bowl with melted chocolate. Add salt and very small pinch of cayenne pepper. Mix together thoroughly. Add egg yolk and mix to combine. Leave bowl above the hot (not simmering) water to keep chocolate warm while you whip the egg whites.
• Place 2 egg whites in a mixing bowl; add cream of tartar. Whisk until mixture begins to thicken and a drizzle from the whisk stays on the surface about 1 second before disappearing into the mix, 2 or 3 minutes. Add 1/3 of sugar and whisk in. Whisk in a bit more sugar about 15 seconds; whisk in the rest of the sugar. Continue whisking until mixture is about as thick as shaving cream and holds soft peaks, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer a little less than half of egg whites to chocolate. Mix until egg whites are thoroughly incorporated into the chocolate, 1 or 2 minutes. Add the rest of the egg whites; gently fold into the chocolate with a spatula, lifting from the bottom and folding over. Stop mixing after the egg white disappears. Divide mixture between 2 prepared ramekins. Place ramekins on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until scuffles are puffed and have risen above the top of the rims, 12 to 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CAYENNE SOUFFLES

Steps:

• Separate egg; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Coat two 6-oz. ramekins with 1 teaspoon butter and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar. Place ramekins on a baking sheet; set aside., In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt remaining butter. , Stir in 2 tablespoons sugar and the flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer or until thickened. Whisk in the chocolate, cayenne and salt until chocolate is melted. Transfer to a small bowl., Stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolk; return all to the bowl, stirring constantly. Cool slightly., In another bowl, with clean beaters, beat egg white on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar on high until stiff peaks form., With a spatula, stir a fourth of the egg white into chocolate mixture until no white streaks remain. Fold in remaining egg white until combined. Transfer to prepared ramekins., Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until the tops are puffed and centers appear set. Serve immediately. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE SOUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lightly butter six eight-ounce baking ramekins then coat with sugar, tapping out the excess. Set the ramekins aside on a large baking sheet.
• In a large heatproof bowl, placed over a pot of simmering water, combine chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, cayenne, and 1/4 cup water.
• Stir until the chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Once cooled, stir egg yolks and matzo meal into cooled chocolate mixture until well combined. Set souffle base aside.
• In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the egg whites and potato starch on until soft peaks form, about two minutes. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, about five minutes.
• In batches, add the egg-white mixture into the souffle base and fold it in gently, with a spatula, until combined.
• Divide the mixture to the ramekins and smooth the top.
• Bake the souffles until puffed and set, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Serve immediately, topped with powdered sugar.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE SOUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and sugar eight 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Melt Mexican chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until melted (mixture will be grainy). Whisk egg yolks in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot chocolate mixture. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in another large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/4 of egg whites into warm chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining egg whites. Divide soufflé mixture among prepared soufflé dishes.
• Place dishes on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until tops have risen about 1/2 inch above rim of dish and appear dry and centers are softly set, about 18 minutes. Serve soufflés with sweetened whipped cream.