Chocolate Soufflé

Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Lightly brush bottom and sides (up to the rim) of two 5-ounce ramekins with 1 teaspoon melted butter. Add 1 tablespoon white sugar to each ramekin; rotate until sugar completely coats inside ramekins, then tip to discard excess sugar.

Pour 3 cups hot water into a pot set over low heat. Place chocolate pieces in a metal bowl; set the bowl over the pot of water until chocolate melts. Do not let the bowl touch the water and do not let the water simmer or boil.

Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour until incorporated and mixture thickens, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in cold milk until mixture becomes smooth and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Add milk mixture to melted chocolate; mix in salt and cayenne pepper until thoroughly combined. Add egg yolk; mix to combine. Leave the bowl above the hot (not simmering) water to keep chocolate warm while whipping egg whites.

Whisk egg whites and cream of tartar in a bowl until mixture begins to thicken; a drizzle from the whisk should stay on the surface for one second before disappearing into the mixture.

Whisk in 1 teaspoon sugar for 15 seconds. Repeat twice more until all remaining sugar added; continue whisking until mixture holds soft peaks and has a consistency of shaving cream, 3 to 5 minutes.

Mix a little less than ½ egg white mixture into chocolate mixture until thoroughly incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Gently fold in remaining egg white mixture with a spatula until no white remains. Divide batter between the prepared ramekins; place on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven until soufflés have puffed and risen above tops of rims, 12 to 15 minutes.

Enjoy!