Chocolate Souffle

Name: Chocolate Souffle
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate; 1/4 cup butter, cubed; 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup milk; 3 eggs, separated; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/4 teaspoon almond extract; SAUCE:; 1 cup heavy whipping cream; 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract; Baking cocoa or ground cinnamon, optional

This recipe has been treasured and passed down in our family for years. It came from my Aunt Clara, whose cooking was a blend of her country and rural French roots. I can always depend on everyone being home to eat-and on time-whenever I make this for dessert.

Ingredients

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/4 cup butter, cubed
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
3 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
SAUCE:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Baking cocoa or ground cinnamon, optional

Directions

In a large heavy saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over low heat. In a small bowl, combine flour, 1/3 cup sugar and salt; add milk and stir until smooth. Stir into the melted chocolate. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat.
In a small bowl, beat egg yolks. Stir a small amount of filling into yolks, return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Add extracts. In a small bowl and with clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar on high until stiff peaks form. With a spatula, stir a fourth of the egg whites into chocolate batter until no white streaks remain, then fold in remaining egg whites.
Grease the bottom of 1-1/2-qt. baking dish; add souffle batter. Place dish in a larger pan. Fill large pan with hot water to a depth of 1 in. Bake at 325° for 1 hour or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
For topping, beat the cream in a chilled small bowl until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. Serve souffle warm with a dollop of sauce. Sprinkle with cocoa or cinnamon if desired.