BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE SOUFFLES

Bittersweet Chocolate Souffles image

Sweet caramel works in concert with slightly bitter chocolate to give individual souffles a sublime, complex flavor. Served with a thick, creamy caramel sauce poured directly inside, the desserts are sure to garner applause.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes

Yield Makes 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

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Ingredients

1/4 cup softened unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus more for dusting
1 1/2 cups whole milk
6 large eggs, at room tempurature
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Salt
Caramel Creme Anglaise

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with the rack in lower third. Place six 10-ounce ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush inside ramekins with butter. Dust with sugar, and tap out excess. Using kitchen twine, secure a strip of parchment paper around each ramekin so that parchment extends 3 inches above rim. Chill in freezer 15 minutes (up to overnight).
Bring milk almost to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat; set aside.
Put 1/2 cup sugar and the egg yolks into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until pale, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour. Add about one-third of the hot milk in a slow, steady stream, beating until just combined.
Pour yolk mixture back into pan with the remaining milk. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until thick, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in chocolate, vanilla, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. The souffle base can be made a day ahead and refrigerated, covered, until ready to bake the souffles.
Put egg whites and a pinch of salt into a large copper bowl. Using a balloon whisk, beat until foamy. (Alternatively, beat egg whites and a pinch of cream of tartar instead of the salt in the bowl of the electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.) Add 1 tablespoon sugar, and beat until soft peaks form. Add remaining tablespoon sugar, and beat until stiff peaks form.
Using a rubber spatula, fold one-third of the egg whites into chocolate mixture. Gradually fold in remaining egg whites.
Carefully pour batter into prepared ramekins on baking sheet, filling to just below rims. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees; bake until set, about 15 minutes. Remove parchment. Poke a hole in top of each, and pour in caramel creme anglaise. Serve immediately.