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9.10.2008

Pear and Hazelnut Souffle


I have been toying with an idea in my head for a while. I love this pear cognac/liquor Certain Someone brings me back from his trips to Sweden, Xante.

So with some hazelnut flour and some Xante in the house I was forced to experiment and make this. Unfortunately my souffle fell before I could get some good picks. Rather than top with powdered sugar, I poured a smidgen of some Boiled Cider I just got from King Arthur's. I liked the flavors of all and feel I can improve on this some more, especially to bring out the Xante flavor. A nice fall souffle. Remember I'm no souffle expert and I made this up. There may be better techniques out there. But it worked well enough for me.
Pear Hazelnut Souffle serves 5-6 mini souffles
1 tablespoon Xante
1 cup milk
1.5 tablespoons of butter plus butter for greasing ramekins
3 eggs separated into whites and yolks
2 tablespoons flour
1/3 cup hazelnut flour
4 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons water
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter your ramekins.In a small sauce pan heat milk until near boiling. Set aside.Put egg whites in a mixing bowl and set yolks in a separate small dish. Melt the 1.5 tablespoons of butter in a sauce pan. Add the flour and whisk until incorporated ans smooth. Add the hot milk and whisk/blend until smooth.Add sugar. There will be lumps so try to work it out and stir constantly for approx 5 minutes. Mix cornstarch and water and add to milk flour mix. Stir in and remove from heat. Add hazelnut flour and egg yolks. Mix well. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Add Xante to milk/flour/ hazelnut mixture. Take a bit of the peaked egg whites and add to this base. Fold in gently. Add the base to the bowl and whites and continue to fold in till all mix is Incorporated. Fill ramekins 2/3 full. Place ramekins. Bake for approx 20 minutes. on a baking sheet with edges. Fill bottom of pan with water.

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41 comments:

Gigi said...

ooo, souffles are one those things I keep meaning to make one day. I've eaten my share but never made one. Pear souffle sounds perfect.

TeachMom said...

It looks so tasty! I haven't tried Xante yet, but I hear it's good. I've been tempted to do some souffle this week, after I watched old episodes of The F word with Gordon Ramsey. Never done it yet, though.

Núria said...

The ingredients sound super, Courtney! Too bad it desinflated quickly... but still you were so daring to try! I bet the aroma was irrisistible :D

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Beautiful soufflées! Pear and hazelnut, a yummy combo! I would love that gorgeous dessert!

Cheers,

Rosa

Dee said...

Ooh, gorgeous! Pear and cardamom are an awesome combo. Thanks for the recipe. It's been duly bookmarked, now I just need to work up the courage to attempt it. Will have to skip the Xante or replace it with something else unfortunately. Any suggestions?

Anonymous said...

I still have to make my first souffle. Love the combination of flavours you used...yum!

maybelles mom said...

lovely, lovely. I love the combination of flavors.

Jen said...

Oh, Courtney, this looks so delicious! I love pears and hazelnuts. YUM.

glamah16 said...

Thanks everyone.
Dee-Perhaps a Bananna Liquor or my old stand by Cointreau.Or maybe you caan make a pear simple syrup infused with pear nectar or Poire Williams/

Proud Italian Cook said...

Ever since you talked about a Grand Marnier souffle a while back, I've been secretly dreaming of one! This sounds equally as good.
I've only made a souffle once,right after I had one at Morton's. (mine was no comparison!)
You're inspiring me to try again!

Megan said...

That sounds like a perfect ending to a any evening. Now I want souffle. ;)

Darius T. Williams said...

wow...now check u out!

-DTW
www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

Peter M said...

Nicely dones...you have a knack for cooking spontaneously...not everyone can do that!

Laurie said...

Oh my goodness.. this looks and sounds amazing Courtney!

Deborah said...

I swear, one of these days I'm going to make a souffle. I love the pear/hazelnut combo!

Ivy said...

Must buy one of those ramekins. Never made a sweet souffle before. I love this..

Anonymous said...

You make the most wonderful stuff! Yum!

Paz

Chou said...

I'm dancing with happiness at this flavor combination. Yum!

Laura Paterson said...

I love love love these flavours - nice work!!

I've never tried making a souffle - they scare me somewhat!

Anaylli said...

What an inspired combo...nice, warm flavors!
I'm hit or miss with souffles, but this one looks pretty tempting...

Anonymous said...

This really does sound elegant. Hazelnuts are a favorite and are a bit easier to find now for me -- thank goodness for fall, right? The pear liqueur sounds perfect!

Nikki @ NikSnacks said...

Your souffle looks alright to me! I haven't mastered souffle making. I'd do it if I had to. A cheese one.

Dagmar said...

Pear and hazelnut sounds like a lovely combination!

Lori Lynn said...

Pear and hazelnut, great pairing! I am fond of pear brandy, but never had Xante from Sweden. I will keep an eye out for it.
You are inspiring me to use some pear brandy in my cooking this fall.

Heather said...

Dang, that looks gooood. Mmm-mmm! And very Pacific NW-y. I have some local pear brandy that's pretty swell.You really should come to Portland. You'd fit in perfectly.

giz said...

Even if they fell, they still look entirely heavenly and just love the combinations you have going. That Swedish liquor looks pretty darned interesting too.

~~louise~~ said...

What an amazing, ingenious combination! Like most, I have never tried a souffle but, I sure am tempted.

Thanks for sharing:)

The Caked Crusader said...

I'm yet to make a souffle - yours looks so light and fluffy that you've really tempted me!
Have a great trip

Dee said...

Cointreau I can definitely do! A pear syrup sounds like an interesting. Thanks coco :)

Unknown said...

Don't have that pear liqueur, but the combo of pear and hazelnut is positively mouth-watering!

Jeanne said...

Oh Courtney!! You are killing me here - that souffle looks amazing! I love the use of hazelnut flour, and I would *love* a taste of that liqueur. I've been drinking a lot of French pear cider lately, bottled in Champagne bottles, and I'm now quite hooked on pear tipple!

Jeanne said...

Oh Courtney!! You are killing me here - that souffle looks amazing! I love the use of hazelnut flour, and I would *love* a taste of that liqueur. I've been drinking a lot of French pear cider lately, bottled in Champagne bottles, and I'm now quite hooked on pear tipple!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful soufflé! Pear and hazelnut sounds fantastic!

Nina Timm said...

It is light, fluffy and my contains my favorite fruit...pears....Oh my, my mouth is watering!!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for adding my blog to your blog roll! Much appreciated.

Thistlemoon said...

What an awesome idea Courtney! I love the ingenuity!

Susan said...

Mmmmm...beautiful fall preview flavors!

jasmine said...

This sounds fabulous and looks delicious. Oh, nummy..

j

Rosie said...

Beautiful souffles and great flavours :)

Rosie x

Anonymous said...

girlfriend this is smack yo momma kind of good! wow i haven't had souffle in such a looong time. oh wont u send me some!! :) i don't even have time to make anything in my kitchen except for coffee... you know what i'm busy with!

Unknown said...

Just a tip from someone who has been baking awhile: No need to spend a premium on Xante, unless you just want to drink it. Recipe calls for so litte that I'd just mix pear nectar w/ decent brandy. Also,very easy to make your own hazelnut flour-quite expensive when you purchase for vendors-simply follow instructions, easily found on the web for making nut flours-after all, you are just using a third of a cup in this recipe-not necessary to a large bag at a high price--if you make or buy-be sure to refrigerate or freeze the flour, as nut based flours do not keep well at all.