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Skillet Chocolate-Orange Soufflé

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on July 6, 2009

Time

35 minutes

Yield

Serves 6

Skillet Chocolate-Orange Soufflé

Ingredients

5 large eggs, separated¼ teaspoon cream of tartar ⅔ cup granulated sugar (4 ¾ ounces/135 grams)⅛ teaspoon table salt ⅓ cup orange juice 1 tablespoon grated orange zest from 1 orange2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour 1 ounce (28 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely grated (about ½ cup)Confectioners' sugar, for dusting1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Before You Begin

Don’t open the oven door during the first seven minutes of baking, but do check the soufflé regularly for doneness during the final few minutes in the oven. Be ready to serve the soufflé immediately after removing it from the oven. A 10-inch skillet is essential to getting the right texture and height. Grating the chocolate fine is key here; use either a Microplane grater or the fine holes of a box grater.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Using stand mixer, whip egg whites and cream of tartar together on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Slowly add 1/3 cup sugar and salt, then increase speed to medium-high and continue to whip until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Gently transfer whites to clean bowl and set aside.
  2. Using stand mixer (no need to wash mixing bowl), whip yolks and remaining 1/3 cup sugar together on medium-high speed until pale and thick, about 1 minute. Whip in orange juice, zest, and flour until incorporated, about 30 seconds.
  3. Whisk ¼ of whipped egg whites into yolk mixture until almost no white streaks remain. Gently fold in remaining egg whites until just incorporated. Gently fold grated chocolate into batter.
  4. Melt butter in 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-low heat. Swirl pan to coat evenly with melted butter, then gently scrape soufflé batter into skillet and cook until edges begin to set and bubble slightly, about 2 minutes.
  5. Transfer skillet to oven and bake soufflé until puffed, center jiggles slightly when shaken, and surface is golden, 7 to 11 minutes. Using potholder (skillet handle will be hot), remove skillet from oven. Dust soufflé with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately.
Skillet Chocolate-Orange Soufflé

Skillet Chocolate-Orange Soufflé

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

35 minutes

Yield

Serves 6

Ingredients

5 large eggs, separated
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
⅔ cup granulated sugar (4 ¾ ounces/135 grams)
⅛ teaspoon table salt
⅓ cup orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange zest from 1 orange
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 ounce (28 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely grated (about ½ cup)
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Ingredients

5 large eggs, separated
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
⅔ cup granulated sugar (4 ¾ ounces/135 grams)
⅛ teaspoon table salt
⅓ cup orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange zest from 1 orange
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 ounce (28 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely grated (about ½ cup)
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Ingredients

5 large eggs, separated
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
⅔ cup granulated sugar (4 ¾ ounces/135 grams)
⅛ teaspoon table salt
⅓ cup orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange zest from 1 orange
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 ounce (28 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely grated (about ½ cup)
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Why This Recipe Works

When developing a perfectly puffed, golden-brown soufflé recipe, we found that simply baking the mixture in a skillet resulted in a damp interior. Starting the soufflé on the stovetop and then finishing it in the oven turned out to be the ideal approach , resulting in a skillet soufflé recipe with a light, moist, creamy interior from top to bottom.

Before You Begin

Don’t open the oven door during the first seven minutes of baking, but do check the soufflé regularly for doneness during the final few minutes in the oven. Be ready to serve the soufflé immediately after removing it from the oven. A 10-inch skillet is essential to getting the right texture and height. Grating the chocolate fine is key here; use either a Microplane grater or the fine holes of a box grater.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Using stand mixer, whip egg whites and cream of tartar together on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Slowly add 1/3 cup sugar and salt, then increase speed to medium-high and continue to whip until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Gently transfer whites to clean bowl and set aside.
  2. Using stand mixer (no need to wash mixing bowl), whip yolks and remaining 1/3 cup sugar together on medium-high speed until pale and thick, about 1 minute. Whip in orange juice, zest, and flour until incorporated, about 30 seconds.
  3. Whisk ¼ of whipped egg whites into yolk mixture until almost no white streaks remain. Gently fold in remaining egg whites until just incorporated. Gently fold grated chocolate into batter.
  4. Melt butter in 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-low heat. Swirl pan to coat evenly with melted butter, then gently scrape soufflé batter into skillet and cook until edges begin to set and bubble slightly, about 2 minutes.
  5. Transfer skillet to oven and bake soufflé until puffed, center jiggles slightly when shaken, and surface is golden, 7 to 11 minutes. Using potholder (skillet handle will be hot), remove skillet from oven. Dust soufflé with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately.

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