Bittersweet Chocolate Soufflé Recipe (2024)

By Melissa Clark

Bittersweet Chocolate Soufflé Recipe (1)

Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
5(1,039)
Notes
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Dark and intense in flavor, yet with a light and custardy texture, a chocolate soufflé is an eternal showstopper of a dessert. To get that intense chocolate flavor, this version uses a base of melted butter and chocolate without any starch. Be sure to use excellent bittersweet chocolate, but if you prefer a slightly sweeter soufflé, feel free to substitute milk chocolate for all or part of the bittersweet. Or to move the soufflé in the other direction, substitute a chocolate with a higher cocoa solids ratio, 70 to 75 percent, which will decrease the overall sugar. For maximum "wow" factor, always serve a soufflé straight from the oven. Crème anglaise or chocolate sauce would be fine accompaniments, as would scoops of your favorite ice cream. This recipe is part of The New Essentials of French Cooking, a guide to definitive dishes every modern cook should master.

Learn: How to Make Soufflé

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings

  • ½cup/114 grams unsalted butter (1 stick), softened, plus more for coating dish
  • 4tablespoons/50 grams granulated sugar, plus more for coating dish
  • 8ounces/225 grams bittersweet chocolate (60 to 65 percent cacao), finely chopped
  • 6eggs, separated, at room temperature
  • Pinch fine sea salt
  • ½teaspoon cream of tartar

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

411 calories; 31 grams fat; 18 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 33 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 29 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 92 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Bittersweet Chocolate Soufflé Recipe (2)

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Remove wire racks from oven and place a baking sheet directly on oven floor. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Generously butter a 1½-quart soufflé dish. Coat bottom and sides thoroughly with sugar, tapping out excess. For the best rise, make sure there is sugar covering all the butter on the sides of the dish.

  2. Step

    2

    In a medium bowl, melt chocolate and butter either in the microwave or in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Let cool only slightly (it should still be warm), then whisk in egg yolks and salt.

  3. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar at medium speed until the mixture is fluffy and holds very soft peaks. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until whites hold stiff peaks and look glossy.

  4. Step

    4

    Gently whisk a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining whites in two additions, then transfer batter to prepared dish. Rub your thumb around the inside edge of the dish to create about a ¼-inch space between the dish and the soufflé mixture.

  5. Step

    5

    Transfer dish to baking sheet in the oven, and reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. Bake until soufflé is puffed and center moves only slightly when dish is shaken gently, about 25 to 35 minutes. (Do not open oven door during first 20 minutes.) Bake it a little less for a runnier soufflé and a little more for a firmer soufflé. Serve immediately.

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Marie

If you split it up into six ramekins, what would the bake time be?

Ann

Halved the recipe and split to four small ramekins. Baked for 9 mins. Turned out perfectly despite my first attempt.

Billy

Check your owner's manual before placing the pan on the oven floor. On mine, it warped the enameled bottom, leading to a costly repair. The (expensive) souffles were excellent, however.

Jeff

I halved the recipe to make 2 servings. I cooked it in individual soufflé cups for 13 minutes and it came out perfect.

Ying

Is it possible to make the souffle mixture 1 day ahead and pop it in the oven when we're ready to serve it?

Stacey

Best soufflé recipe after trying three others. Perfect taste, light and airy. Made 8 ramekins, cooked about 14 minutes, maybe a minute long. Used guittard milk chocolate. Served with whipped cream and raspberries. Great recipe!

Marta

Great recipe. I assembled this just before my guests arrived and it was fine to bake 90 minutes later. No need to place a baking sheet on the oven floor, at least in a convection oven. Has anyone tried adding flavoring (rum, Grand Marnier, coffee etc)? If so, how much and does it affect the cooking time or temperature?

Nancy

Great recipe. Not too sweet. Very chocolatey.

Most certainly could use a sauce to top things off but I skipped doing so to save calories.

Microwaving chocolate & butter great time saver. Takes no longer to make this soufflé than a pan of homemade brownies!

Impress your friends and yourself - you won't be disappointed with this recipe!

Katherine

My mom has made Helen Corbitt's chocolate souffle for every birthday since I can remember. This is the first time I've made this chocolate souffle and I like this one better. I like that it isn't as sweet and that it uses darker chocolate. Also, this one is runny in the center and more cooked on the outsides, which means that we didn't need to make chocolate sauce to go with it. This will be my go-to souffle from now on!

Margaret

I think the cracked top is what gives it depth and beauty! Let it crack!

AtlantaCook

I made this for my brother's birthday. There were only 3 of us dining so I baked it in three containers. It was a generous serving, but none had trouble finishing it. Delightful to the last bite. I put red wine and cherries in a saucepan with a couple of tbs sugar boiled and reduced and served them on top. Delicious!

Elliot

I followed the instructions to put it on the floor of the oven and the bottom burned. I suspect this is very oven dependent. The flavor of the top 3/4 was fine, but it was more unevenly cooked than other recipes I've made, probably related to the floor being hotter than the recipe expected. Also for all the butter in it, didn't have the corresponding richness I'd expect. I'll be looking for another recipe.

Noor

This was outrageously good! The batter was enough for 8 ramekins. They needed about 12 minutes to perfection

Fariba

Made it for Sunday morning breakfast (request from my 25 yr old son). Used up the only bag of semi sweet chocolate chips we had as were under Covid 19 lockdown and things are hard to find. Made in one large batch, 29 min on the lowest rack. Center was slightly runny, the rest cooked to heavenly lightness. Got rave reviews for this first time soufflé effort.

Kim Douglas

I'm not a dessert fan but this was spectacular AND easy AND a make ahead!!! Perfect! Made the batter ahead, put it into individual ramekins and served with a dusting of icing sugar and a scoop of ice cream. Impressive!

Kevin

Instead of placing the ramekin on a large oven floor, I placed a half sheet pan on the lowest rack of the Breville oven to replicate an oven floor. Considering how close the low rack placement is to the heating element, this worked very well without jeopardizing warping issues mentioned.

Vicki Morrison

Can anyone tell me what music is playing during the video?

Allison

I second the person who said not to put the baking sheet on the oven bottom. It ruined my best baking sheet. Maybe some ovens work differently but I put the wire racks back in and put another baking sheet on the lower rack followed the recipe exactly and it turned out fantastic! I didn’t make one big casserole soufflé. I made six little soufflé and they were my best dessert ever. Just wish it didn’t ruin my best pan.

Alex

Great way to use up random remnants of chocolate chips, bars, and baking chocolate! I split mine into 4 smaller ramekins and baked for about 14 minutes on the lowest shelf (vs. the bottom of the oven). I thought it was perfect! Like a warm, chocolate cloud with a slightly meltier center.

Lance

Very easy and elegant desert. I have done it in large soufflé dish, and in 6 oz individual ramekins. For individual servings ramekins work best. This recipe will fill six 6oz ramekins, with a bit left for those young at heart who love to lick spoons.I prepare before dinner. Fill ramekins and leave on counter. When dinner is done, I just throw in oven on a bread/pizza stone I keep near bottom of oven. Watch them rise! Guests come watch. About 12 minutes until beautifully expanded. Fun.

Lance

Last comment. We had two ramekins left last time. Covered in fridge with plastic wrap. We let them warm on counter for a couple hours then reheated in oven at 350 for about ten minutes. They had deflated a bit, but were still a wonderful desert. Just as good. I had never tried that before. It works.

Byrd

Absolutely sublime! Whisked in a 1-1.5T Cointreau into the fully melted chocolate mixture. Used rack set on the lowest oven position instead of floor (as others suggested), then forget to turn the temp down when I put it in. Edges were a bit overcooked, but I'll remember next time....and there will be a next time very soon. Served with whipped cream and a drizzle of homemade hot fudge sauce. Leftovers make a delicious breakfast! ;-) Enough to make me into souffle junkie...

Bully4me

Divide this recipe by 3 and it makes two perfect individual Glorious Chocolate Souffles. Not sure if it stated above, but leaving the eggs out till at room temperature truly does make a difference in texture and how high they rise. Thanks for this simple yet splendid recipe ! Also a chilled egg custard vanilla bean sauce it perfect with this

Katherine

Does anyone have a cream of tartar substitution tip? thanks

Lance

Copper pan is traditionally used. If you have the real thing. Copper adds acid. But better to use tarter.

Carol B

Halved recipe for 3 ramekins. Followed instructions using microwave minus cream of tartar. Made batter couple of hours before and refrigerated. Baked in air fryer on low shelf on preheated pan for 7 minutes - perfection! Such an easy delightful recipe will definitely make again and again!

Maureen

I halved the recipe and split it into 4 six ounce ramekins and baked at 400 for 10min. and they came out perfect!

Nola

Don’t put it on the bottom, you’ll burn about an inch of the bottom. i would suggest putting a rack as low as possible and just putting it on there.

luke

Six ramekins - 350 for 12 minutes in a convection oven. Straight from the fridge.

Gwynnie

Question! Will this travel well? Is it stable? Thank you!

Nercon5

Spot on recipe. Made in 4 ramekins, baked for 12 mins. Easier than expected! Even dropped bowl while folding (drama!!!) but it was cool

Joe

I usually add 2 tablespoons of salt extra. It tastes soooo good totally a must try.

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Bittersweet Chocolate Soufflé Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good soufflé? ›

According to La Varenne Practique (a timeless masterwork you should consider owning if learning more about classic French cooking appeals), there are only a few critical points to perfecting a souffle: a base of the right consistency, stiff egg whites, and the careful folding of the base and the beaten whites.

Why is my chocolate soufflé not rising? ›

Give the oven plenty of time to get to 375 degrees and then always use an oven thermometer to double-check the temperature. If the temperature is too low, the souffle won't rise properly. If the temperature is too high, the souffle will rise just like a popover with big air pockets inside.

What can go wrong when making a soufflé? ›

13 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking A Soufflé
  1. Not practicing first. Bignai/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Not preparing the bakeware. ...
  3. Making the batter too far in advance. ...
  4. Using the wrong equipment. ...
  5. Using cold eggs. ...
  6. Underwhipping the egg whites. ...
  7. Not being gentle with the batter. ...
  8. Adding more ingredients than necessary.
Feb 11, 2024

What makes soufflé difficult? ›

If the egg whites are not mixed enough, they will be too heavy to rise, but if they are over-whipped they will collapse in the oven. Finally, and most problematically, any cross-contamination between yolks and whites will cause the whole concoction to collapse, which is the bane of many dessert chefs' days.

Do you need cream of tartar for soufflé? ›

Mustard and cayenne pepper or hot sauce add subtle flavor to the soufflé but are not absolutely necessary. Cream of tartar is not required, but it can help prevent accidentally overbeating the egg whites; if you have it, you might as well add it.

How long can you leave a soufflé before cooking? ›

Contrary to popular belief, you can make soufflés in advance. You can either make the base in advance and whip the egg whites and fold them in just before baking, or you can fully make and assemble them in ramekins and leave in the fridge for up to two hours. The lighter the base mixture, the longer it will hold.

What is the hardest dessert to make? ›

The 11 Most Difficult Desserts, Ever
  • Epic 12 Layer Chocolate Cake | Cleobuttera. Epic 12 Layer Chocolate Cake | Cleobuttera. While not difficult to make, this is a multi-step, highly involved cake that requires planning ahead. ...
  • 1:04. Lemon Meringue Eclairs. ...
  • Latte Chiffon. Latte Chiffon. ...
  • Tulband basisrecept. Tulband basisrecept.
Apr 11, 2022

Should soufflé be runny in the middle? ›

Soufflés are best when they're still slightly runny in the centre. To check if a soufflé is set, gently tap the dish – it should wobble just a little bit. If the centre seems too fluid, cook for a few more minutes.

Why does my soufflé taste eggy? ›

If your Soufflé Cake tastes eggy, it's either undercooked or overcooked. Make sure that you don't increase the temperature, this will also make the eggs rubbery and taste eggy. Stick to a low temperature.

Are souffles really that hard to make? ›

Making a soufflé is actually a simple process, despite its reputation for being difficult to make. Try adding cheese, crab, vegetables and more for a decadent dinner.

What's the difference between a quiche and a soufflé? ›

What is the main difference between a souffle vs quiche? The main difference lies in the base and the texture of these two dishes. While quiche has a savory pastry crust filled with a custard base made from whole eggs and cream, a soufflé relies heavily on whipped egg whites to give it a light and airy texture.

Do you have to be quiet when baking a soufflé? ›

The myth about them falling when there is a loud noise or a slight bump is entirely false. Soufflés will inevitably collapse, not because of being bumped, but because the air that is whipped into the egg whites, which has been heated by the oven, cools, so the soufflé falls. That's why they are best served immediately.

What ingredient makes a soufflé rise? ›

When the egg mixture is baked in a 350-degree oven, those air bubbles trapped in the egg whites expand, making the souffle rise. The heat also causes the protein to stiffen a bit, and along with the fat from the yolk, it forms a kind of scaffold that keeps the souffle from collapsing.

How long can soufflé batter sit? ›

Make Ahead Instructions: You can prepare the souffle batter up to 2 days in advance (steps 1-4). Cover and refrigerate the batter in the mixing bowl or in the ramekins/dish until ready bake. Add another minute or so to the bake time if you refrigerated it for longer than 1 hour.

Why cook soufflé in a water bath? ›

Half-fill a roasting tin with boiling water and put it in the oven – this bain-marie will insulate the soufflé mixture from the intense heat of the oven, and keep the texture soft and custardy, rather than tough and chewy.

What are the three components of a soufflé? ›

Souffle Logic: A soufflé is made up of three elements: A base sauce enriched with egg yolks (pastry cream for sweet, béchamel for savory), a filling (anything from cheese to chocolate), and whipped egg whites.

How do you get the eggy taste out of a soufflé? ›

If your Soufflé Cake tastes eggy, it's either undercooked or overcooked. Make sure that you don't increase the temperature, this will also make the eggs rubbery and taste eggy. Stick to a low temperature.

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