Christmas Cherry Soufflé...

Today's guest post is from Bonne Maman a Christmas cherry soufflé. I have never made my own soufflé!!

Have you?

Think it is time to try!!

(Serves 2-3)

Ingredients:

• 40 g (1 ½ oz) butter, plus extra for greasing
• 25 g (1 oz) cold Christmas pudding crumbled
• 2 tbsp brandy
• 25 g (1 oz) Bonne Maman Black Cherry Conserve
• 4 tbsp plain flour
• 300 ml (½ pint) whole milk
• 75 g (3 oz) golden caster sugar
• 25 g (1 oz) stem ginger, finely chopped
• 4 large eggs, separated
• Icing sugar, to dust

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°c (fan oven 160°c), gas mark 4.
2. Butter an 18cm (7 inch), 1.7 litre (3 pint) soufflé dish. 
3. Put a flat baking sheet in the oven to heat up.
4. Stir together the crumbled Christmas pudding with the brandy and conserve and set aside.
5. Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and gradually add the milk. 
6. Bring to the boil, stirring, then reduce the heat and cook for 2 minutes. 
7. Stir in 50 g (2 oz) of the sugar with the ginger, then beat in the egg yolks. 
8. Gently fold in the Christmas pudding mixture into the sauce.
9. Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks, then gradually whisk in the remaining sugar until the meringue is stiff and glossy.
10. With a large melt spoon fold the meringue into the sauce and turn into the prepared dish.
11. Sit the dish on the heated baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes until well risen and golden. 
12. Dust with icing sugar and serve straight away.

Cooks Tips:

• The sauce for the soufflé can be made the day before it is needed. 
• Don’t beat in the 50 g (2 oz) caster sugar but sprinkle on top of the sauce to prevent a skin forming.
• When ready to cook, beat well before whisking and fold in the meringue as above.
• Buttering the dish helps the soufflé to rise up in the oven.
• Omit the ginger and add a pinch of mixed spice to the pudding mixture.
• Serve chilled cream or vanilla ice cream if liked.

Recipe and photo credit by - 

 Bonne Maman – The Seasonal Cookbook (Simon & Schuster), available through Amazon, WH Smith and Waterstones @ £12.99. Recipe development by Moyra Fraser.