Thursday, December 11, 2008

'DON WE NOW OUR GAY APPAREL' ~ GINGERBREAD SOUFFLE with WARM CARAMEL SAUCE

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.





GINGERBREAD SOUFFLE
with WARM CARAMEL SAUCE
~ Holiday favorite if only for the sweet smells of cloves, cinnamon, and ginger drifting throughout the house (adapted from That's My Home)
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6 Tbsp. unsalted butter
6 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream
5 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 Tbsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 Tbsp. chopped crystallized ginger
7 (room temp.) egg whites

Whipped cream (garnish)

sugar for coating souffle dish


  • Preheat oven to 425-degrees. Butter a 2-quart souffle dish and coat lightly with sugar.
  • Melt butter in heavy medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Gradually stir in milk and 1/2 cup cream. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth. Remove from heat.
  • Add egg yolks, one at at time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in brown sugar, breaking up lumps, and continue whisking until mixture is very smooth.
  • Stir in ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and then the crystallized ginger.
  • Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold gently into the souffle base. Pour into prepared dish.
  • Bake until puffed and lightly golden, 35-40 minutes. Serve immediately with Warm Caramel Sauce and dollops of whipped cream. (For lighter version, simply dust with powdered sugar).
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CARAMEL SAUCE

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 cups brown sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

4 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

Mix caramel ingredients in 2-quart saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches soft-ball stage (230-234 degrees). Remove from heat and serve warm swirled over gingerbread souffle. (Extra warm sauce great on ice cream!)



12 comments:

  1. Boy, does that sound GOOD! My Mom makes just plain gingerbread with a caramel, and sometimes lemon, sauce. Delicious!

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  2. Hi Joey, Looks like everyone is getting suited up and ready...

    I'm really enjoying your jolly Christmas titles lately. That gingerbread souffle sounds scrumptious! I want to come eat at your house, by your lake, next to your fire! :-)
    Have a happy day.

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  3. Just when I am quite sure that you can do no more damage to my waistline and then...you go and have to share something like this, lol! As long as I keep reading your delicious blog I guess I'm just destined to be a chubby farmer!

    BTW...that picture of the creature in the hat is altogether too funny! Kim

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  4. Hi Nancy ~ as you know, nothing like the smell of gingerbread spices baking in the oven ... most memorable!

    That's it, dear Meems! You have an 'open invitation' and MUST come! Actually, have been trying to get to the lake these past 2 weekends but weather not conducive for travel ... tons of snow (2 feet) UP NORTH (more predicted) and since our cottage is high on a hill, our driveway is very steep (once last winter had to be hauled up with a huge forklift ... not fun!) We're checking weather before venturing out tomorrow (my sister is cozy in her house but we MUST get there to see her for Christmas)!

    That cute creature is our 'pet' pheasant, Kim, and really not much trouble; simply enjoys a vacation from the library to dining room during the holidays (a dear friend found me his tiny festive hat). Just remember, 'reading' will never get you in trouble ... it's the devil tempting with forkfuls of sinful delight (and that would be me)!

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  5. Love the hatted pheasant!
    This does sound rather a nice thing to make over the Christmas break - well any time actually.
    Its the warm caramel sauce that sounds particularly yummey.
    K

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  6. I can imagine using that caramel sauce on lots of things. It doesn't look to difficult to make.
    Marnie

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  7. It's always such a pleasure visiting your blog!
    /Katarina

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  8. Joey, I love the snowmen, but the pheasant is a hoot! Hope you get to the lake soon and get to 'enjoy' all that snow!

    Happy Holidays!

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  9. Oh...Joey what an awful bird santa...scary.
    Sorry but your recipe, mouthwatering as always. When is the cookbook coming?
    Have a great weekend / xoxo Tyra

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  10. Joey, I can almost smell the gingerbread aromas wafting through my computer monitor:)

    I am back from my trip and finally catching up on reading blogs. I have so much to do to prepare for Christmas; your photos are putting me into the proper spirit for decorating today!

    And another commenter...

    Thank you for your kind comments. I think the Woman saw them and appreciated them as well. I am happy to report all went well while she was away.

    Yours, Toby

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  11. Ok, I'm one nanomillimeter from changing my holiday dessert plans.

    I was going to make Sam's favorite Tiramisu, but that Gingerbread Soufflé is shamelessly teasing my taste buds. Thanks Joey!

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  12. I love my festive pheasant, Karen, and glad you do too ... a Christmas gift for my husband, eons ago.

    It is good on lots of stuff, Marnie. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

    Thanks, dear Katarina ~ and I also love visiting your creative site ... a 'mutual admiration society'!

    Glad you like the snowman, dear Beckie, but I agree, my pheasant is a hoot! Arrived at the lake around 4 to celebrate Christmas with my sister ... can we talk about snow? 2 feet since we last left but cozy and warm ... and did you see the magical huge full moon that followed us here?

    Sorry my cute pheasant scared you, dear Tyra; belive me, he's harmless ;) Indeed, I'm hoping to organize my cookbook through my blog with many treasured treats still to come. Stay tuned!

    Welcome home, dear Rose, and do hope your trip was memorable. Glad you could smell the aroma drifing between our homes. Slip Toby something special ... he's not only handsome but most thoughtful.

    Stick with your tiramisu, dear Marysol, since I can imagine with your fine hand in the kitchen, it's a treat worthy of repeating. Save this for a special night by the fire with Sam. I must always make the same Christmas dessert for my family ... my peppermint ice cream torte (posted last Christmas). Fall finds my kitchen filled with wonderful smells since we have 6 birthdays (favorite dinner at home with mom & dad) before Christmas (one on Sunday when we get home from the lake).

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