Pumpkin Gingerbread Souffle + Giveaway

This giveaway is CLOSED!

When I go out to dinner, I love to order soufflé for dessert. There’s something about the towering ramekin of egg whites, typically orange flavored (since I have to forego the chocolate ones), served piping hot out of the oven with some kind of sauce accompaniment. It’s heaven on a plate. Sure, some are better than others, but it’s a soufflé, how bad can it be? But I’ve never made one at home. I’ve thought about it, but never actually whipped one up.

Luckily KitchenAid® challenged me to POOF A HOLIDAY SOUFFLÉ using my KitchenAid® 27-Inch Convection Double Wall Oven, Architect® Series II. These double wall ovens are probably the most used piece of equipment in my kitchen, other than my KitchenAid® 25 Cu. Ft. Standard-Depth French Door Refrigerator, Architect® Series II. Every single day one, if not both, of the ovens are on. From baked oatmeal or reheating a piece of frozen coffee cake in the morning to midday baking to roasting garlic, fish, and vegetables for dinner, the ovens get a serious workout. I have no idea what I’d do without both of them.

I have to admit, I was a little nervous. Making a soufflé for the first time is a daunting task, but I’ve made more challenging things than soufflé. I use a candy thermometer like a pro and I make caramel like a champ, so this would be a piece of cake. Beyond that, I was so excited to finally be making soufflé, so I put my worries aside and got to work. Plus with those KitchenAid® ovens, I knew I was in good hands.

KitchenAid® suggested I make a gingerbread soufflé, but I had to take it to the next level, so I made a Pumpkin Gingerbread Soufflé with Bourbon Molasses Sauce. The sauce and pumpkin mixture can both be prepared a day ahead of time, which is great, because while the soufflé is not hard to make, there are several steps that can be a bit time consuming.

I whipped out my KitchenAid® 9-Speed Hand Mixer to whip the egg whites to stiff peaks. I could have used my KitchenAid® stand mixer, but for this small and quick task, the hand mixer was the perfect choice. Plus, then I got in a good workout  Once the egg whites were whipped, I folded in the pumpkin mixture, divided the soufflé batter among ramekins and bowls and into the oven they went with my fingers crossed.

I turned on the handy oven light about a million times during the baking process to see how the soufflés were doing. They puffed before my eyes like magic. When they were done, they looked better than any soufflé I’ve ever ordered in a restaurant. It was killing me to take pictures without taking a bite. As soon as I set the camera down, I grabbed a spoon and dug in. You guys, these soufflés are one of the best things I’ve ever made. EVER! So light and fluffy, they definitely pack a gingerbread punch with lots of spices. And the bourbon infused caramel in the sauce enhances all of the flavors and adds a bit of sweetness.

My KitchenAid® ovens better get ready for the influx of soufflés coming their way. You should make them too, because they are way easier to make than you ever thought and so impressive. Imagine bringing these to the Thanksgiving table instead of pumpkin pie. KitchenAid® and BlogHer have also been kind enough to giveaway a $200 Visa gift card! How awesome is that? Especially this time of year. To enter, leave a comment telling me what flavor your holiday soufflé would be or tell me about another cooking challenge you recently accomplished. Plus, read below for more ways to enter! Good luck!

Pumpkin Gingerbread Souffle + Giveaway

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★★★★★

4.9 from 20 reviews

• Yield: 4-8

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Ingredients

Soufflés

• ½ cup milk (I used almond, but any kind will work)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• ¾ cup, plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
• ¾ cup pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)
• 10 large egg whites
• ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar

Sauce

• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup, plus 2 tablespoons water, divided
• 3 tablespoons bourbon
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• ¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt

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Instructions

1. Make the soufflés. In a small saucepan, whisk together milk, cornstarch, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 minutes while whisking, until thickened. Remove from the heat and whisk in the pumpkin. Pour into a bowl and cool to room temperature. Alternatively, cover and refrigerate for 1 day.
2. When ready to make the soufflés, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter and sugar ramekins and place on a baking sheet.
3. In a large bowl, whip egg whites using a hand mixer on medium-high until frothy. Add cream of tartar. Continue beating egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining ¾ cup sugar while beating the egg whites. Beat until stiff, glossy peaks form. A stand mixer may alternatively be used for this process. Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the pumpkin mixture until pretty evenly distributed. Fold in the remaining egg whites, taking care not to deflate the mixture. Divide the batter among the ramekins, mounding it toward the middle. Fill ramekins no more than ¾ full.
4. Bake soufflés until puffed greatly and golden brown, 18-25 minutes, depending on the size of your ramekins. You will have to watch them closely. They should be puffed high above the ramekin and deep golden brown on top. Serve immediately.
5. Make the sauce while the soufflés are baking or 1 day ahead of time. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 2 tablespoons water over medium heat. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Once sugar dissolves, stop stirring, and cook until the sugar is a dark amber color. You may gently swirl the pan. Remove pan from the heat and stir in remaining ¼ cup water, bourbon, butter, molasses, and salt. The mixture may seize. Don’t panic. Just return it to the heat and stir until the mixture simmers and thins out into a sauce. Serve immediately with soufflé or store in the refrigerator for 1 day. Reheat in the microwave.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Gourmet

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