This homemade Chocolate Soufflé has a rich chocolate flavor with a fluffy and moist center. We’re sharing all of our tips to get that iconic soufflé rise in the oven. Watch the video tutorial and learn how to make the best Chocolate Soufflé.
We love classic chocolate desserts like Chocolate Cupcakes, Lava Cakes, or Chocolate Mousse for Valentine’s Day. I have to say this Chocolate Soufflé tops the list as every chocolate lover’s dream. It just melts in your mouth and is hard to believe this is a gluten-free dessert. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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What is Chocolate Soufflé? A soufflé is made up of stiffly beaten egg whites and a thick chocolaty base. The air trapped inside the beaten egg whites is what makes the soufflé rise so beating the egg white properly is critical for success. The air causes the batter to expand in a hot oven, forcing the soufflé up and creating a super light and fluffy texture.
We created this Chocolate Soufflé after trying Chandler’s Steakhouse Soufflé. We even re-created the toppings. Ingredients
Unsalted butter – use softened butter to melt into the chocolate and to grease the 8 oz ramekins.
Granulated sugar – coats the ramekins and keeps the batter from sticking to the dish. It’s also used to sweeten the soufflé.
Bittersweet chocolate – use 60-65% cacao content.
Large Eggs – be sure eggs are at room temperature and make sure your mixing bowls are clean and dry, especially for beating egg whites.
Cream of tartar – stabilizes the egg whites while beating
Vanilla extract – adds a nice layer of flavor.
Fine sea salt – balances the flavor and cuts the sweetness.Tips for the Best Chocolate Soufflé
Keep water out of your chocolate bowl – Make sure to keep any steam or water drops out of the chocolate bowl or it can seize and get rough. Keep the bowl clean and dry and use a bowl with a lip over the water bath so steam doesn’t sneak in.
Keep egg white bowl clean, dry and free of any water or oil. Egg whites don’t beat well if there is any fat present. Also be sure your egg beaters are clean and dry.
Don’t get any egg yolks in the whites or they won’t whip properly.
Beat egg whites properly – follow the process precisely and beat until egg whites hold stiff peaks and look glossy then immediately start folding in thirds into the chocolate mixture. Underbeating will cause your souffle’s not to rise and overbeating will make the whites dry and difficult to blend.
To ensure a good rise – run your thumb around the inside rim of the ramekin, creating a little well around the edge which helps force the center to go upwards.
Do not open the oven for the first 10-12 minutes.
Prep your ramekins – generously butter the insides of your ramekins and brush the butter in an upwards motion up the sides to encourage the soufflé to climb up. Also be sure to thoroughly coat the inside with sugar. How to Make Chocolate Soufflé
Prep ramekins – butter and coat with sugar and set aside. Preheat the oven to 400˚F (it helps to check with a thermometer).
Melt chocolateand butter in a large rimmed mixing bowl over the steam of a water bath of simmering water. Once melted, cool for 5 minutes.
Add yolks, whisking until just combined then add vanilla and salt.
Beat whites and cream of tartar in a separate large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form (2 minutes). While beating, gradually add sugar then increase to high speed and beat until stiff peaks form and egg whites are glossy.
Fold 1/3 of the whites into the chocolate mixture until blended to lighten it.
Fold remaining whites in 2 additions, folding gently and scraping from the bottom of the bowl until well incorporated.
Divide between ramekins and run your finger around the inside edge of the dish. Place on a baking sheet and place on the lowest oven rack. Reduce heat to 375˚F and bake 13-16 minutes until puffed. Pro Tips: When folding egg whites into the chocolate, be sure you are scraping the bottom of the bowl with your spatula to catch any pockets of batter at the bottom. Also, fold gently with the second and third additions of whites to ensure you don’t deflate the batter. To Serve Chocolate SouffléWe serve Soufflé restaurant-style with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and Grand Marnier whipped cream which makes every bite irresistibly good and absolutely special-occasion worthy.
Chocolate Sauce (recipe below)– drizzled over the top of the soufflé. You can also make a hole in the center with a spoon and pour chocolate into the soufflé.
Homemade Whipped Cream – Spooned over the chocolate sauce. Adding grand mariner adds as the restaurant does will add wonderful flavor but if you don’t have that on hand, you can replace it with 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.
Vanilla Ice Cream – you can add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream over the chocolate sauce instead of the whipped cream.
Powdered Sugar – you can keep it simple and just dust with a little sugar to serve. Pro Tip: Since a soufflé looks best fresh out of the oven (it sinks down as it cools), you should have all of your toppings planned and ready to serve as soon as the soufflé comes out of the oven. Make-AheadYou can make the soufflé ahead of time, add to the ramekins, and refrigerate, although I have found that they are less likely to rise out of the cup if refrigerated. The texture inside is still wonderful when baked and sometimes it’s a necessary compromise if you don’t want to be making dessert and baking it right away in front of company.
To Refrigerate: Cover and refrigerate up to 1 day. Make sure your cover is not touching the surface of the soufflé or it will stick.
Freezer – it is not recommended to freeze soufflés either before or after baking.
When ready to bake: put chilled ramekins into a fully preheated oven directly out of the refrigerator. You may need to bake an extra minute. Many people find a chocolate soufflé intimidating, but you can do this! Watch the video tutorial above, have everything measured out and at the right temperature before starting the recipe and you’ll do great. Even if you don’t get the perfect rise your first time, or they crack on top, you’ll love the taste and texture of it.
More Chocolate DessertsIf you love this Chocolate Soufflé or want some more ideas for Valentine’s Day, you’ll love these chocolate desserts:
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Ingredients
Tips for the Best Chocolate Soufflé
How to Make Chocolate Soufflé
Pro Tips: When folding egg whites into the chocolate, be sure you are scraping the bottom of the bowl with your spatula to catch any pockets of batter at the bottom. Also, fold gently with the second and third additions of whites to ensure you don’t deflate the batter. 
To Serve Chocolate SouffléWe serve Soufflé restaurant-style with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and Grand Marnier whipped cream which makes every bite irresistibly good and absolutely special-occasion worthy. 
Pro Tip: Since a soufflé looks best fresh out of the oven (it sinks down as it cools), you should have all of your toppings planned and ready to serve as soon as the soufflé comes out of the oven. 
Make-AheadYou can make the soufflé ahead of time, add to the ramekins, and refrigerate, although I have found that they are less likely to rise out of the cup if refrigerated. The texture inside is still wonderful when baked and sometimes it’s a necessary compromise if you don’t want to be making dessert and baking it right away in front of company. 
Many people find a chocolate soufflé intimidating, but you can do this! Watch the video tutorial above, have everything measured out and at the right temperature before starting the recipe and you’ll do great. Even if you don’t get the perfect rise your first time, or they crack on top, you’ll love the taste and texture of it. 
