Individual Chocolate Souffles (make Ahead)

Total Time: 52 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 17 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 -3 tablespoon softened butter (for coating ramekins)
• 1 -3 tablespoon unbleached cane sugar (for coating ramekins)
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in 1-inch chunks
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon creme de cacao
• 1/3 cup unbleached cane sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 3 tablespoons unbleached cane sugar
• 6 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 8 large egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Recipe

• 1 butter (8) 1 cup ramekins, then coat evenly with sugar.
• 2 shake out excess sugar and place in refrigerator until ready to use.
• 3 melt 4 tbsp butter and the chocolate in a double boiler.
• 4 remove from heat, stir in vanilla, salt, and creme de cacao.
• 5 set aside.
• 6 in a small saucepan, combine 1/3 cup sugar and 2 tbsp water and bring to a boil.
• 7 remove from heat.
• 8 in a medium bowl, beat egg yolks on medium speed, slowly drizzle in the sugar syrup.
• 9 continue to beat until yolks are thick and pale yellow (3-5 minutes).
• 10 fold egg yolks into the chocolate along with the orange zest.
• 11 using clean beaters, beat the egg whites in a metal bowl, medium speed, for 30 seconds.
• 12 add the cream of tartar, then gradually add 3 tbsp sugar.
• 13 beat until the whites hold a 2" peak and are glossy.
• 14 take 1/4 of the egg whites and energetically stir them into the chocolate mixture.
• 15 gently fold in the remainder of the whites until just incorporated.
• 16 fill each ramekin almost to the rim.
• 17 wipe any filling from the rim with a wet paper towel.
• 18 cover each ramekin with plastic wrap and freeze until firm: at least 3 hours / up to 2 days.
• 19 place oven rack in the middle, preheat oven to 400°f.
• 20 remove souffles directly from freezer, uncover, and bake until risen: 16-18 minutes.
• 21 do not thaw the souffle, as it will not rise properly.
• 22 be careful not to overbake it.