This soufflé uses the pastry-cream method as the base. Pastry cream (crème pâtissière) is a very stable custard thickened with flour or cornstarch, and it provides an excellent foundation for dessert soufflés. Vanilla is the bean of a variety of tropical orchid. Use the whole pod if possible to allow the tiny seeds to flavor and speckle the dish. As a substitution, use 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Generously butter four 8-ounce or six 5-ounce soufflé ramekins. Put a couple of tablespoons of the sugar inside one ramekin and toss to coat, then tip the excess sugar into the next, and repeat until all the ramekins are sugar-coated. Place the ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet.
Step 2
In a large saucepan, add the milk and the vanilla bean and heat just to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn off the heat, cover, and set aside to let the vanilla bean infuse for 10 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and rinse and reserve for another use.
Step 3
To make the pastry cream, in a bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of the sugar with the egg yolks until thick and light, about 1 minute. Whisk in the flour, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Add a little of the warm infused milk and whisk to combine. Add the remaining milk. Return the egg mixture to the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Decrease the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, 45 to 60 seconds; it will be lumpy. Remove it from the heat and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
Step 4
To beat the egg whites, in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the whisk, whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt on medium speed until foamy. Increase the speed to high and beat until the whites begin to form soft peaks. Slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, beating until the whites are glossy and hold stiff peaks, 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 5
Add about a quarter of the beaten egg whites to the pastry cream mixture and stir until well mixed. Pour this mixture over the remaining whites and fold them together as lightly as possible.
Step 6
To assemble the soufflés, spoon the mixture into the prepared soufflé ramekins (the mixture should come up to the top). Smooth the tops with a metal spatula. Run your thumb around the inside of the rim of each dish, making a shallow channel around the edge of the batter. (This will help the soufflés rise up straight and tall.) Set the filled soufflé ramekins on the rimmed baking sheet.
Step 7
Bake the soufflés until risen and just set, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven. With two forks, pull open the center of each soufflé. Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the opening. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately.
