Mexican Chocolate Soufflés

You can omit the small amount of coffee liqueur without drastically changing the flavor. Contemporary Mexican chefs often add ground red pepper to their chocolate desserts; leave it out if you want a more traditional taste.

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 3  tablespoons  granulated sugar
• 1/2  cup  granulated sugar
• 1/4  cup  unsweetened cocoa
• 2  tablespoons  all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground red pepper (optional)
• 3/4  cup  fat-free milk
• 3  ounces  bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon  coffee-flavored liqueur (such as Kahlúa)
• 1  large egg yolk
• 1/4  teaspoon  cream of tartar
• 6  large egg whites
• 2  tablespoons  granulated sugar
• Powdered sugar (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

Coat 8 (6-ounce) ramekins with cooking spray; sprinkle with 3 tablespoons granulated sugar.

Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cocoa, flour, cinnamon, salt, and pepper, if desired, in a medium saucepan. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add chocolate, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Place chocolate mixture in a large bowl; stir in vanilla, liqueur, and egg yolk.

Place the cream of tartar and egg whites in another large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Add 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Gently stir one-third of egg white mixture into chocolate mixture; gently fold in remaining egg white mixture. Spoon evenly into ramekins; sharply tap ramekins 2 or 3 times on counter to level. Place ramekins on a baking sheet.

Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until puffy and set. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

178 (28% from fat)

Fat:

5.6g (sat 2.7g,mono 1.9g,poly 0.2g)

Protein:

5.3g

Carbohydrate:

30.7g

Fiber:

1.9g

Cholesterol:

26mg

Iron:

0.9mg

Sodium:

90mg

Calcium:

41mg