Individual Chocolate Souffles - unsalted butter

Method

• Prepare oven and dishes Heat oven to 400F, with rack in lower third.
• Do not open oven door until ready to bake.
• Place five 10-ounce ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Brush the inside of the ramekins with melted butter.
• Dust with sugar and tap out excess.
• Wrap a strip of parchment paper around each ramekin so that parchment extends 2 inches above the rim, and secure with kitchen twine (or tape).
• Chill in freezer at least 15 minutes.
• Melt chocolates Bring about 2 inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan.
• Melt chocolates in a large heatproof bowl set over the simmering water (the bowl should not touch the water, since the slightest drop of condensation can cause the chocolate to seize, or harden).
• Stir chocolates until smooth.
• Make batter Scald the milk (heat it until its just about to simmer) in a saucepan over medium heat; remove from heat.
• Combine sugar and yolks in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on high speed until pale, about 4 minutes.
• On low speed, beat in flour.
• Beat in half the hot milk, ladling it in a little at a time (this is called tempering and prevents the yolks from scrambling).
• Whisk this mixture into remaining hot milk in pan.
• Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking, until thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Pour into melted chocolate, stirring to combine, then stir in vanilla and salt.
• Let cool 10 minutes.
• Whip egg whites In a copper bowl (or use an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment), beat egg whites with a handheld whisk until foamy.
• Add cream of tartar (if using).
• Continue beating (on medium if using electric mixer) until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add the sugar, beating (on medium-high with mixer) until medium-stiff peaks form.
• (Do not overbeat or the souffle will not rise as high; if the eggs are overbeaten, start again.)
• Combine custard and whipped whites Whisk one-third of egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten until mostly combined.
• Gently but thoroughly fold in remaining whites.
• Bake and serve Carefully spoon mixture into the prepared dishes, dividing evenly.
• Bake 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 375F (do not open oven door); bake until set (the outside should look firm), about 13 minutes longer.
• Remove parchment collars, and serve immediately.
• A souffle dish has straight sides that enable the souffle to climb.
• You will need parchment paper and kitchen twine to form a collar that supports the souffle as it rises.
• (If you dont have twine, secure the collar with tape.)
• The collars help the souffles to rise straight up; you can eliminate this step if you want, but the tops will be uneven.