Frozen Apricot Soufflé
An elegant frozen dessert combining dried California apricots with a light, airy meringue and whipped cream, flavored with almond and vanilla extracts. This impressive soufflé is frozen until firm and dusted with cocoa powder and confectioners sugar before serving.
Ingredients
- •½ pound dried California (Pacific) apricots
- •1 cup water
- •1 cup sugar
- •6 large egg whites
- •2 cups chilled heavy cream
- •½ teaspoon pure almond extract
- •¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- •Equipment: a 1 1/2-quart soufflé dish; kitchen string; a candy thermometer
- •Garnish: unsweetened cocoa powder and confectioners sugar for dusting
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Wrap a collar of parchment paper or foil around soufflé dish to extend 3 inches above rim of dish and secure with kitchen string.
5 min
- 2.
Simmer apricots with water in a small saucepan, covered, until very tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain, reserving cooking liquid. Purée apricots in a food processor (mixture will not be completely smooth), then transfer to a large bowl.
8 min
- 3.
Cook sugar with reserved cooking liquid in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Boil, without stirring, washing down any sugar crystals from side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water, until syrup registers 238°F (soft-ball stage), about 10 minutes.
10 min
- 4.
Meanwhile, beat egg whites with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until they just hold stiff peaks. While continuing to beat, gradually pour hot syrup in a thin stream down side of bowl into whites (be careful not to let syrup touch beaters, or it will spatter and harden), then continue to beat until meringue has cooled to room temperature, about 5 minutes.
5 min
- 5.
Beat cream with extracts in another bowl using cleaned beaters until it just holds soft peaks.
5 min
- 6.
Whisk about one third of meringue into apricot pure to lighten, then fold in remaining meringue.
5 min
- 7.
Fold whipped cream into apricot mixture gently but thoroughly, then spoon into soufflé dish, smoothing top. Cover surface with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 8 hours.
480 min
- 8.
Let soufflé stand at room temperature to soften slightly before serving, about 15 minutes. Remove collar and dust top of soufflé with cocoa powder, coating it completely, then dust very lightly with confectioners sugar.
15 min
