Chocolate Souffle

This was the first time in a very long time that I've attempted a souffle, and I'll definitely be doing it again soon!

So with our steak and potatoes, we had a fantastically simple chocolate souffle. You think they're hard, right? But they're SO not! All you need is chocolate, sugar, butter, and eggs! And whipped cream, but more on that later.......

Chocolate Souffle

recipe from Gourmet Magazine (on foodtv.com)

Souffle can be assembled up to 30 minutes before baking. Keep, covered with an inverted large bowl (do not let bowl touch souffle), at room temperature.

Butter
1/3 cup sugar plus additional for sprinkling
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
3 large egg yolks at room temperature
6 large egg whites

Accompaniment: lightly sweetened whipped cream
Special equipment: a 5 1/2 to 6-cup glass or ceramic souffle dish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Generously butter souffle dish and sprinkle with sugar, knocking out excess.

Melt chocolate in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove bowl from heat and stir in yolks (mixture will stiffen).

Beat whites with a pinch of salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add 1/3 cup sugar, a little at a time, continuing to beat at medium speed, then beat at high speed until whites just hold stiff peaks.

Stir about 1 cup whites into chocolate mixture to lighten, then add mixture to remaining whites, folding gently but thoroughly.

Spoon into souffle dish and run the end of your thumb around inside edge of souffle dish (this will help souffle rise evenly).

Bake in middle of oven until puffed and crusted on top but still jiggly in center, 24 to 26 minutes. Serve immediately.

So if you're anything like me, you will have immedately noticed that I used Reddi Whip; I made a souffle from scratch but sprayed on the whipped cream! I know... but I didn't have any heavy cream, and it was guuuuuuuuuuuud anyway!