This Valentines Day, wow him with a Chocolate Souffle.

We’ve all seen the funny movies with the chef crying over fallen souffles.  Snooty waiters inform us that a souffle requires two days notice and a hefty tip.  Shhh… I’m going to tell you a secret:

You can make a simple, stress free souffle at home.

The trick to an elegant and easy souffle is to make it ahead of time.  On the big night, you will simply pop it in the oven, warm the sauce and serve. 

Here’s my favorite recipe:

• 2-1/2 T. Unsalted Butter
• 5-1/2 T. Sugar, divided
• 1 t. Cornstarch
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 1/2 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
• 4 Egg Yolks
• 7 Egg Whites (6 if baking immediately)
• Confectioner’s Sugar

Chocolate Sauce:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 heaping tablespoons of chocolate chips

Prep:

Butter a 1-1/2 quart souffle dish. Make a paper collar about 3″ high.  Butter and sugar it slightly then press to the buttered rim of the souffle pan. Now sprinkel a little sugar coating in the souffle dish.

Base:

In a  heavy pan, slowly add milk to cornstarch, stirring constantly until smooth. Keep stirring and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate, 2 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons sugar. Stir until melted. You can put the pan back on low heat if necessary. Remove from heat. Stir in egg yolks one at a time.  Cover in plastic wrap.  May be kept refrigerated up to two days in advance.

Whites:

Whisk egg whites until soft peaks form.  Fold in 2 tablespoons sugar, and beat to stiff shiny peaks.  Stir 3 or 4 tablespoons into the base to lighten it, then using a spatula, gently fold (not stir!) the lightened base into the egg whites.

Pour into the prepared souffle dish.  Smooth the surface with your spatula. Refrigerate up to six hours. Bring back to room temperature before cooking.

Baking:

Place the souffle on a cookie sheet in the lower third of a preheated 350 degree oven.  Make sure it has enough head room to rise!  Bake for 25 minutes for a soft center. No peeking! Be sure not to bake more than 30 minutes as an over-baked souffle will fall.

Sauce:

Heat the cream in a heavy pan. When hot (not boiling), add the chocolate and stir until melted and smooth.

Serve:

Serve the souffle straight from the oven. I place my souffle dish on a folded towel to protect my serving plate underneath. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar or cocoa powder as shown. Serve the warm chocolate sauce on the side.

I promise your loved one will be impressed.

*photo by avlxyz