Recipe: Individual Chocolate Souffles and Cream Puffs

Serves 2.

Note: Quality chocolate is important; look for bittersweet in the 70 percent cacao range. The recipe is for two 8-ounce servings, but you also can make four smaller servings with 4-ounce baking dishes. Check smaller soufflés after 16 minutes. (Extra soufflés will fall, but still are delicious, chilled, the next day.) From Kim Ode.

• 1 to 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened, for molds

• 1 to 2 tbsp. sugar, for molds

• 2 oz. good quality bittersweet chocolate, melted (1/2 c. if using chips or discs)

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

• Optional add-ins (choose one): 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or 1/2 tsp. espresso powder or 1 tbsp. rum (or other liqueur)

• Pinch of salt

• 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

• 1/4 c. plus 1 tbsp. sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (or wait until later; see below).

Melt the chocolate in a medium metal bowl set over a small pot of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Stir in vanilla and, if desired, an optional flavoring (cinnamon, espresso powder, rum or liqueur). Keep warm.

In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites with salt and cream of tartar until the whites hold soft peaks when the beaters are turned off and lifted. Continue to beat on high while gradually adding 1 tablespoon of sugar until the whites hold stiff peaks and look glossy. Don't overbeat. Set aside.

In a small bowl, with the same beaters, beat together the egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar on high speed until light-colored, thick and almost like frosting. This may take up to 5 minutes. With a spatula, gently fold egg mixture into the melted chocolate until few streaks remain (but a few are OK.)

Stir a big dollop of the whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, then gently fold in the remaining whites with a spatula, lifting from the bottom and folding over the top until combined.

Divide batter evenly between the prepared dishes. You can bake them immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and hold in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours. When ready to bake, place the dishes on a baking sheet and place in the preheated oven for 18 minutes for a creamy center, 20 minutes for a firmer soufflé. Serve immediately with whipped cream, ice cream or custard sauce and garnish with fresh berries.

Note: The filling is for 4 puffs — 2 each for a romantic dessert. You can also fill puffs with your favorite flavor of ice cream or custard. Once completely cooled, extra cream puffs may be frozen in freezer bags for up to one month. From Kim Ode.

• 4 eggs

• 1 c. water

• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut in small pieces

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1/8 tsp. vanilla

• 1 c. flour (preferably bread flour but all-purpose will work)

Filling:

• 1 c. heavy cream

• 1 tbsp. powdered sugar

• Powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. If you have a baking or pizza stone, place that on the lowest rack. (It will help make the pastries puff.)

Warm eggs in a bowl of hot tap water.

In medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water, butter, salt and granulated sugar, and bring to a full boil. Remove from heat, add vanilla, then add flour all at once, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon to quickly form a ball.

Place dough in bowl of stand mixer and set aside.

In small bowl, lightly beat 3 of the warmed eggs. Separate the fourth egg, placing the white in a small dish and beating lightly. Save or discard the yolk.

With the mixer on low, gradually add the 3 beaten whole eggs in 3 increments, waiting until each addition is absorbed before adding more. Increase mixer speed to medium until eggs are thoroughly incorporated. Stop mixer and test the dough by placing a spoonful on a plate; it should be supple enough to hold its shape, but not "pasty." If it's still stiff, beat in the egg white. If it looks very soft, proceed to shaping the puffs.

On a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or coated with cooking spray, place large spoonfuls of dough at least 2 inches apart. You should end up with about 8 dollops for large puffs.

Using a plant spritzer (a clean one!), lightly spray each puff once with water. This will keep them moist longer so they'll puff as much as possible before firming up.