Brown Sugar Caramel Souffles Recipe Epicuriouscom Recipes

CHOCOLATE SOUFFLES WITH CREAMY CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Butter six 1-cup ramekins (4 by 2 inches) and coat with sugar, knocking out excess sugar.
• Finely chop chocolate. In a small saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add cream and bring just to a boil. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, stirring until smooth. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in yolks.
• In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat whites with cream of tartar and a pinch salt until they just hold stiff peaks. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, beating until just combined. Stir one fourth whites into chocolate mixture to lighten and fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
• Divide soufflé mixture among ramekins and smooth tops with a knife. Run tip of knife around edges of soufflés to aid rising. Soufflés may be made up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, loosely wrapped in plastic wrap.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Bake soufflés on a baking sheet in lower third of oven until puffed and surfaces are cracked, about 20 minutes.
• Top soufflés with sauce and serve immediately.

BROWN SUGAR CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with aluminum foil that extends over the sides. With a paper towel, coat the bottom and sides of the foil with 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil. Set aside.
• In a 3-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, corn syrup, milk, butter, and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula until the mixture comes to a boil (5 to 8 minutes). Wash down the sides of the pan two times with a pastry brush dipped in warm water to prevent the sugar from crystallizing.
• Increase the heat to medium-high, place a candy thermometer in the pan, and cook the mixture until it registers 240°F on the thermometer (10 to 15 minutes), stirring constantly.
• Remove the pan from the heat and pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Let the caramel cool completely at room temperature (8 hours or overnight).
• With the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil, coat a cutting board and the blade of a large chef's knife. Remove the candy from the pan by lifting out the foil; invert the caramel onto the cutting board and peel the foil off the caramel. Cut the caramel evenly into 1-inch squares. In a tightly covered container, between sheets of waxed paper, or wrapped in waxed paper squares, the caramels will keep for 2 weeks at room temperature.
• VARIATION
• Add 1 cup roughly chopped, toasted nuts to the caramel mixture before pouring into the prepared pan.

BROWN SUGAR CARAMEL SOUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter eight 3/4-cup soufflé dishes; sprinkle with brown sugar. Place on rimmed baking sheet. Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat; add 1 cup brown sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt; stir until sugar dissolves. Cool slightly. Pour 1/2 cup caramel into small bowl; reserve for sauce.
• Add egg yolks and flour to remaining caramel in saucepan; whisk constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until foamy, then gradually beat in 2 tablespoons brown sugar until whites are stiff but not dry. Fold 1/3 of whites into caramel mixture in saucepan. Fold caramel mixture into whites until incorporated. Divide mixture among prepared dishes. Sprinkle lightly with brown sugar. Bake until soufflés are puffed and golden brown, about 11 minutes. Serve immediately with reserved caramel sauce.

CARAMEL SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a pastry brush, brush six 4-by-2 1/2-inch (10 ounce) ramekins with butter, brushing the sides with an upward stroke. Coat each with turbinado sugar, shaking out excess; set aside.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat 1 cup granulated sugar over high heat, without stirring, until edges begin to turn golden. Stir sugar, working from the edges toward the center, until sugar is melted and caramel in color, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove sugar from heat and slowly whisk in cream, taking care as mixture may splatter and bubble. Add milk and whisk to combine. Return to heat, and bring caramel mixture to a boil.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk together egg yolks and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and cornstarch and whisk until mixture becomes thick and stiff, like buttercream. Slowly whisk in half of the caramel mixture until well combined. Transfer to saucepan with remaining caramel mixture and return to heat. Cook, whisking, until mixture is thickened and separates from the pan, about 5 minutes. Transfer caramel mixture to a large bowl; cover with plastic wrap pressing down on the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Increase speed and add remaining 6 tablespoons granulated sugar in three additions, beating well after each addition, until whites form very stiff peaks. Whisk half of the whites into caramel mixture; gently fold remaining whites into caramel mixure.
• Divide mixture evenly between prepared ramekins. If desired, place each filled ramekin, one at a time, in a microwave set at 50 percent power. Cook for 10 seconds, turn, and cook for 10 seconds more. This creates a sugar crust around the souffle and will help it to rise.
• Place ramekins on a large baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until souffles have risen and tops are golden and slightly firm to the touch, about 18 minutes if using a microwave (about 20 if not). Serve immediately.

BROWN SUGAR ICE CREAM WITH A GINGER-CARAMEL SWIRL

Steps:

• Make the base
• 1. In a medium heatproof bowl, whisk the yolks just to break them up, then whisk in half of the brown sugar (1/4 cup). Set aside.
• 2. In a heavy nonreactive saucepan, stir together the cream, milk, salt, and the remaining brown sugar (1/4 cup) and put the pan over medium-high heat. When the mixture approaches a bare simmer, reduce the heat to medium.
• 3. Carefully scoop out about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture and, whisking the eggs constantly, add the cream to the bowl with the egg yolks. Repeat, adding another 1/2 cup of the hot cream to the bowl with the yolks. Using a heatproof rubber spatula, stir the cream in the saucepan as you slowly pour the egg-and-cream mixture from the bowl into the pan.
• 4. Cook the mixture carefully over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it is thickened, coats the back of a spatula, and holds a clear path when you run your finger across the spatula, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• 5. Strain the base through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean container. Set the container into an ice-water bath, wash your spatula, and use it to stir the base occasionally until it is cool. Remove the container from the ice-water bath, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate the base for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• While the ice cream base cools, make the swirl
• 6. Set the cream by the stove so it's at hand when you need it. Put 2 tablespoons of the sugar in a heavy nonreactive saucepan, and put the pan over medium-high heat. When the sugar is melted around the edges and starts turn amber in places (about 2 minutes), stir the mixture gently and add another 2 tablespoons sugar to the pan.
• 7. Continue to add the remaining sugar 2 tablespoons at a time, stirring frequently and allowing most of the sugar to melt before you add more. Watch carefully as the sugar darkens, stirring gently to help it melt evenly.
• Tip: Keep in mind that the flavor of the ice cream hinges on how dark you take the caramel. We take ours to a very dark, almost reddish, stage, which produces our intense signature flavor.
• 8. When the caramel becomes a dark mahogany color, remove the pan from the heat and immediately but slowly pour the cream into the pan. (The mixture will steam and bubble up, so wear oven mitts and be very careful to avoid splatters and steam burns.) When the bubbling subsides, gently stir to completely blend the cream into the caramel. If you have lumps of hardened caramel in your pan, simply put the pan over low heat and stir until the caramel is melted.
• 9. Stir in the ginger paste and salt and let cool. (You can make the swirl up to 2 weeks ahead of time. Keep it refrigerated, but let it come to room temperature before using.)
• Freeze the ice cream
• 10. When the base is completely chilled, freeze in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions. While the ice cream is churning, put the container you'll use to store the ice cream into the freezer.
• 11. As you transfer the ice cream to the storage container, drizzle in the caramel after every few scoopfuls, using about 6 tablespoons of the caramel (or more if you like). When all the ice cream is in the container, use a chopstick or butter knife to gently swirl the mixture. Enjoy right away or, for a firmer ice cream, freeze for at least 4 hours.
• Tip: The swirl recipe makes more than you need (the recipe won't work in smaller quantities). You can thin the leftovers with a little cream and use as a sundae topping, or you can enjoy it right off the spoon!

BROWN SUGAR-PECAN CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• For cupcakes:
• Put rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Spray 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray; line with muffin cups.
• Whisk both flours, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt in medium bowl. Stir in chopped pecans. Beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add brown sugar; beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend between additions. Beat in sour cream and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; beat on low speed just to blend. Divide batter among muffin cups.
• Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 23 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 15 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.
• For frosting:
• Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high; boil until syrup turns deep amber, swirling pan and brushing down sides with wet pastry brush, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat; add cream (mixture will bubble up). Stir over low heat until caramel bits dissolve. Whisk egg yolks in medium bowl. Very gradually whisk hot caramel into yolks. Cool to room temperature.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter and salt in large bowl until smooth. Beat in caramel. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Let stand at room temperature until thick enough to spread, about 1 hour.
• Spread frosting over cupcakes. Place pecans on plate. Roll edges of cupcakes in nuts. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

CARAMEL SOUFFLéS WITH CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Butter 5 x 150ml individual soufflé dishes or ramekins and sprinkle all over with 2 tbsp soft brown sugar. Place on a baking sheet. Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add sugar, cream, vanilla and a good pinch salt. When sugar is melted, bubble for 1 min until it looks like a sauce. Pour 200ml into a jug for serving.
• Stir egg yolks and flour into remaining caramel in the saucepan. Whisk constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens, about 3 mins. Sieve into a bowl and cool for 15 mins. Beat egg whites in large bowl until foamy, then gradually beat in remaining 2 tbsp sugar until whites are stiff but not dry. Fold one-third of whites into caramel mixture in the pan, then fold that back into the whites. Divide among dishes, and use a palette knife to scrape top level. Bake until soufflés are puffed and golden - about 11 mins. The soufflés should still be a little unset in the middle, but not runny, so if you're serving four, break into your tester to check. Return the rest to oven for 2 mins if underdone. Serve immediately with caramel sauce, warmed a little while soufflés are baking.

SOUFFLé OF PUFF PASTRY WITH ORANGE-SCENTED PASTRY CREAM, CANDIED PECANS, AND CARAMEL BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Orange-Scented Pastry Cream
• 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream to soft peaks.
• 2. Whisk the Pastry Cream until smooth. Gently fold in the orange zest and whipped cream. Transfer the cream to a pastry bag fitted with a medium, plain tip and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Caramel Butter Sauce
• 1. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons (30 g/1 oz) of the water.
• 2. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, vanilla bean pod and seeds, and remaining 2 cups (470 g/16.5 oz) water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook, whisking, for another minute. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter, salt, and rum. Keep the sauce warm until serving, or refrigerate it, covered, and rewarm before serving.
• Candied Pecans
• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Place the pecans in a medium bowl and set aside.
• 2. In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring, just until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the syrup over the pecans and toss until combined. Spread the coated pecans on a half-sheet pan and bake for about 8 minutes, tossing once during baking, until browned and fragrant.
• Puff Pastry Rounds
• 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a half-sheet pan with a silicone baking mat.
• 2. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the puff pastry out to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Using a 3-inch round pastry cutter, cut out 10 rounds from the dough. Arrange the rounds on the prepared sheet pan and top with another silicone baking mat and half-sheet pan; this will allow the rounds to rise evenly. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the rounds are browned and nicely puffed. Remove the top sheet pan and baking mat. Preheat the broiler and dust the rounds liberally with confectioners' sugar. Place the rounds under the broiler until they are caramelized. Assemble the desserts immediately.
• Assembly
• While the Puff Pastry Rounds are still hot from the oven, split them in half. Scoop out any undercooked dough from the center of each half and pipe a generous amount of cold Orange-Scented Pastry Cream on the bottom half of the puff. Replace the top of the puff. Place the dessert on a plate and spoon some Caramel Butter Sauce on top of the warm pastry. Garnish with some Candied Pecans.

CHOCOLATE-WHISKEY TRUFFLES SOUFFLES WITH CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Make truffles:
• Bring cream to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Mix in whiskey. Chill until mixture is cold and firm, at least 2 hours.
• Drop truffle mixture by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. Line baking sheet with foil. Roll each chocolate drop between palms into ball (if truffle sticks to hands, dust hands with unsweetened cocoa powder); place on baking sheet. Freeze until hard, about 1 hour; then cover. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Keep frozen.)
• Make sauce:
• Place cream in small bowl. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean. Mix seeds and bean into cream.
• Stir sugar and water in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber color, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Return pan to low heat; stir until caramel is smooth. Boil until color deepens and caramel thickens, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Strain caramel into small bowl. Chill sauce. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Make soufflés:
• Whisk yolks to blend in medium bowl; set aside. Whisk 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch and cocoa in medium stainless steel bowl until no cornstarch lumps remain. Whisk in milk. Add chocolate and butter. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean.
• Place bowl with chocolate mixture over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Whisk until mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove from over water. Gradually whisk some of hot chocolate mixture into yolks. Whisk yolk mixture back into bowl with chocolate mixture.
• Place over simmering water. Whisk until smooth and thickened to pudding consistency, about 4 minutes. Remove from over water. Gradually mix in whiskey. Remove bean; cool to lukewarm.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Butter eight 2/3- to 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups; dust with sugar. Arrange dishes on baking sheet. Place 1 truffle in each dish.
• Using electric mixer, beat whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 2 tablespoons sugar, beating until stiff but not dry.
• Fold whites into lukewarm soufflé base in 2 additions. Divide soufflé mixture among prepared dishes, filling almost to top. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Cover dishes with foil and freeze. Uncover but do not thaw before baking.) Place soufflés on baking sheet in oven; reduce temperature to 400°F. Bake until puffed and dry-looking on top, about 17 minutes for unfrozen or 22 minutes for frozen.
• Transfer dishes to plates. Sift powdered sugar over. Serve, passing cold caramel sauce separately.

BROWN SUGAR CARAMELS

Steps:

• Oil an 8-by-8-by-2-inch square pan. Cut a piece of wax paper to fit bottom of pan; oil. Place paper in pan and reserve.
• Combine cream and milk in a 2-quart souffle dish. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap. Cook at 100 percent power in a high-power microwave oven for 3 minutes. Prick plastic to release steam.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Stir in sugars until dissolved. Cook, uncovered, for 18 minutes, stirring carefully twice.
• Remove from oven and stir in butter until melted. Pour into the reserved pan, scraping thoroughly.
• Refrigerate until set firm, several hours or overnight. Run the tip of a small knife around inside edge of pan. Use the knife to lift the caramel and paper out of the pan. Cut into small squares. Peel the paper away from the caramels. Wrap and store in refrigerator

BREAD PUDDING SOUFFLé WITH WHISKEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
• To make the bread pudding, combine the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs until smooth, then work in the heavy cream. Add the vanilla, then the bread cubes. Allow the bread to soak up the custard. Scatter the raisins in the greased pan, and top with the egg mixture, which will prevent the raisins from burning. Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes or until the pudding has a golden color and is firm to the touch. If a toothpick inserted in the pudding comes out clean, it is done. It should be moist, not runny or dry. Let cool to room temperature.
• To make the sauce, bring the cream to a boil, combine the cornstarch and water, and add the mixture to the boiling cream, stirring constantly. Return to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds, being careful not to burn the mixture. Add the sugar and bourbon, and stir. Let cool to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F, and butter six 6-ounce ceramic ramekins.
• To make the meringue, be certain that you use a bowl and whisk that are clean and that the egg whites are completely free of yolk. This dish needs a good, stiff meringue, and the egg whites will whip better if the chill is off them. In a large bowl or mixer, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add the sugar, and continue whipping until shiny and thick. Test with a clean spoon. If the whites stand up stiff, like shaving cream, when you pull out the spoon, the meringue is ready. Do not overwhip, or the whites will break down and the soufflé will not work.
• In a large bowl, break half the bread pudding into pieces using your hands or a spoon. Gently fold in a quarter of the meringue, being careful not to lose the air in the whites. Place a portion of this mixture in each of the ramekins.
• Place the remaining bread pudding in the bowl, break into pieces, and carefully fold in the rest of the meringue. Top off the soufflés with this lighter mixture, to about 1 1/2 inches over the top edge of the ramekin. With a spoon, smooth and shape the tops into a dome over the ramekin rim.
• Bake immediately for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately. Using a spoon at the table, poke a hole in the top of each soufflé and spoon the room-temperature whiskey sauce into the soufflé.
• Note: New Orleans French bread is very light and tender. Outside New Orleans, use only a light bread. If the bread is too dense, the recipe won't work. We suggest Italian bread as the most comparable.