Pastry Cream For Souffle Food

GRAND MARNIER SOUFFLE

Steps:

• For the pastry cream: Boil the milk with the lemon zest. Take the pot off the heat and strain with a fine mesh strainer.
• Mix the superfine sugar, flour and eggs together. Then pour the boiled milk over the mixture. Return to the heat. Let the pastry cream thicken a few minutes while stirring continuously.
• For the souffle: Preheat the oven to 430 degrees F/22 degrees C. Grease the souffle dishes. Then pour a little bit of sugar in and swirl, to coat the dishes.
• Beat the egg whites with the superfine sugar until stiff peaks form. At the last moment add the potato starch. Add the liqueur to the pastry cream and slowly add in the egg whites. Fill the souffle dishes and place them immediately in the oven for 13 minutes.
• After removing from the oven, immediately sprinkle the souffles with the confectioners' sugar and serve straight away.
• Bon appetit!

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.

BANANA SOUFFLéS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Butter four 4-ounce (125-ml) ramekins or soufflé molds. Pour some sugar into each and tilt the ramekin to coat the sides; gently tap out any excess. Set the ramekins on a baking sheet.
• To make the soufflé base, in a large bowl, thoroughly mix together the mashed bananas, rum, lemon juice, and pastry cream.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment (or in a bowl by hand), whisk together the egg whites and salt on low speed until frothy. Increase the speed to high, gradually add the 2 tablespoons (30 g) sugar, and continue whisking until the whites form shiny, stiff peaks.
• Fold one-quarter of the whipped egg whites into the soufflé base, then gently fold in the remaining whites, taking care not to deflate them. A few streaks of egg whites are preferable to an overfolded and deflated soufflé mixture.
• Divide the soufflé mixture evenly among the prepared ramekins, filling each to just below the rim, then sprinkle with a light, even dusting of sugar. Bake until the tops are nicely browned and the soufflés quiver softly when gently nudged, about 10 minutes.
• Serve the soufflés right away.
• Pass a pitcher of Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce (page 243) or Raspberry Sauce (page 246) at the table for pouring into the soufflés.
• The soufflé mixture, once divided among the ramekins, can stand at room temperature for up to 1 hour before baking.
• You can make a less rich version of these soufflés (that also happens to be gluten-free) by simply substituting 4 teaspoons of sugar for the pastry cream when making the soufflé base.
• For CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA SOUFFLÉS, add about 2 ounces (60 g) chopped dark or milk chocolate to the soufflé base when folding in the egg whites.

GRAND MARNIER SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Rub the butter on the bottom and sides of four 1-cup souffle dishes. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar over the insides of the souffle dishes.
• Place the egg yolks in a bowl and add 1/2 cup sugar, the orange rind and the Grand Marnier. Beat briskly until well blended.
• In a large, deep bowl, preferably copper, beat the egg whites until stiff. Toward the end, beat in the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. (You can use an electric stand mixer, but keep an eye on the egg whites. They should not be too stiff.)
• Spoon the egg-yolk mixture into the whites, folding in rapidly. Place equal portions of the mixture in the prepared souffle dishes.
• Put the dishes on a baking sheet, and place on the bottom of the oven. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, and serve immediately.

GRAND MARNIER SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Earlier in the day, or the day before, prepare: Pastry Cream (opposite).
• In a small bowl combine: 2 tablespoons finely chopped candied orange or tangerine peel, 1/2 cup Grand Marnier liqueur.
• Cover tightly and set aside to soak for several hours or overnight.
• When ready to make the souffé, generously butter a 1-quart soufflé or gratin dish (or six 4-ounce ramekins) and dust with a fine layer of sugar.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Position the top rack in the middle of the oven. In a medium bowl, mix together the Grand Marnier mixture and: 1/2 cup Pastry Cream.
• In a large copper or stainless-steel bowl, mix together: 6 egg whites, at room temperature, A pinch of salt.
• Whisk until soft peaks form. Add: 2 teaspoons cornstarch.
• Beat a few more seconds, then sprinkle on: 1/3 cup sugar.
• Beat until soft peaks form. Quickly but gently fold the egg whites into the pastry cream mixture until just blended. Pour the soufflé mixture into the prepared dish. Place the dish in the middle of the oven and bake until the soufflé is puffed and browned, about 25 minutes (7 to 8 minutes for ramekins). Serve immediately with heavy cream or Vanilla Pouring Custard (page 198), if you like.