www.chewoutloud.com
Pumpkin Soufflé
This pumpkin soufflé is an easy way to impress your guests this fall.It’s soft, airy, and full of warm fall spices. Everyone always asks for the recipe after the first spoonful.
In This Article
Amy’s NotesKey Recipe IngredientsSubstitutions And VariationsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadPumpkin Soufflé RecipeFrequently Asked QuestionsMore to Bake and Eat View more
This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you.
Amy’s Notes
This Pumpkin Soufflé is my go-to fall dessert that’s light, elegant, and unforgettable. Here’s why I love it so much:
Fluffy and Impressive: These soufflés puff up beautifully in the oven and feel almost weightless on your fork.
Bold Fall Flavors: Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves come together in every spoonful. It’s warm, cozy, and perfectly spiced without being heavy or overly sweet, like this Pumpkin Bread Pudding.
The Sauce Steals the Show: That molasses bourbon sauce is everything. I always make extra so we can drizzle it on everything.
Make-Ahead Friendly: The pumpkin base and sauce can be prepped ahead, which makes this an easy pick for entertaining.
Unexpected and Elegant: Soufflés feel fancy but are surprisingly simple. This one always surprises people in the best way.
Key Recipe Ingredients
Pumpkin Purée – Brings seasonal richness and a velvety texture that helps keep the soufflé light while packing in fall flavor.
Warm Spices – A classic blend of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves gives the soufflé that unmistakable cozy, spiced aroma.
Egg Whites – Whipped to stiff peaks, they create the soufflé’s signature airy rise and tender bite. Be gentle when folding them in.
Cornstarch & Milk – Together they form the base of the soufflé mixture, adding body without weighing it down.
Molasses Bourbon Sauce – Dark, rich molasses and smooth bourbon combine in a simple stovetop sauce that takes this dessert over the top.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite substitutions and variations:
Pumpkin Purée: Use canned pumpkin for convenience, or homemade pumpkin purée for a slightly fresher flavor.
Milk Alternatives: Whole milk gives the richest texture, but half-and-half will make it creamier, while almond or oat milk works well for a lighter version.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
Start by whisking warm milk with fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. This step builds the cozy, aromatic flavor base that makes the soufflé feel like autumn in a spoon.
Once the pumpkin is whisked in, let the mixture cool completely. A cool base is key – it prevents the egg whites from deflating when they’re folded in later.
Butter and sugar the ramekins generously before baking. This helps the soufflés climb sky-high while baking and gives them a delicate, caramelized edge.
Whip the egg whites with sugar until stiff and glossy. This is where the lift comes from – it’s what transforms the soufflé into something light and airy
Gently fold the whites into the pumpkin base. You want to keep as much air in the batter as possible, so the soufflés rise beautifully and stay fluffy inside.
Fill the ramekins to the top and bake just until puffed and golden. The moment they come out of the oven, they’re at their dramatic best – tall, tender, and ready to impress.
While the soufflés bake, warm up the molasses bourbon sauce. It’s rich, slightly smoky, and just sweet enough to balance the warmth of the spices.
Drizzle the sauce over each soufflé right before serving. It melts into the airy center and brings the whole dessert together.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:
Make Bourbon Sauce Early: The Molasses Bourbon Sauce can be made a full day in advance. Let it cool completely, then cover and refrigerate. Warm it gently before serving for a smooth pour. A little goes a long way, but it’s so good you may want extra on hand.
Prep Pumpkin Base Ahead of Time: The spiced pumpkin mixture (before folding in the egg whites) can be made and chilled up to 1 day ahead. Just bring it back to room temperature before adding the whipped egg whites so you don’t lose that delicate rise.
Print
Pumpkin Soufflé
This pumpkin soufflé is an easy way to impress your guests this fall. It’s soft, airy, and full of warm fall spices. Everyone always asks for the recipe, especially after the first spoonful.
Course Side DishCuisine AmericanDiet VegetarianMethod Bake
Prep Time 20 minutes minutesCook Time 20 minutes minutesTotal Time 40 minutes minutes
Servings 8
Calories 168kcal
Author Amy Dong
IngredientsPumpkin Souffle:½ cup whole milk1 tablespoon cornstarch¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon¼ teaspoon ground allspice⅛ teaspoon ground cloves¾ cup white sugar plus 1 TB, divided¾ cup canned pure pumpkin10 large egg whites¼ teaspoon fine saltMolasses Bourbon Sauce*¼ cup sugar1 tablespoon salted butter1 tablespoon pure molasses3 tablespoons water2 tablespoons Bourbon
InstructionsMake the Molasses Bourbon Sauce – can be done ahead of time:Stir all sauce ingredients, except for Bourbon, in a heavy small saucepan. Cook on medium, stirring frequently, until sauce bubbles. Turn heat down to simmer. Simmer about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add Bourbon, continuing to stir. About 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool at room temp. Sauce will thicken upon standing. If desired, warm up sauce a bit before serving.Make the Souffle: Whisk together the milk, cornstarch, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and 1 TB sugar in a small, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil at medium heat, whisking. Lower heat to simmer. Whisk on simmer another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in pumpkin and let cool to room temp.Preheat oven to 400F. Put rack on lower third. Butter ramekins and coat with granulated sugar, shaking off excess. Place prepared ramekins in a large shallow baking pan.Beat egg whites with salt in a large bowl, using electric mixer. Beat until soft peaks. Add remaining 3/4 cup sugar a little at a time, beating. Beat until stiff and glossy peaks.Very gently fold one third of egg whites into cooled pumpkin mixture. Fold in remaining whites very gently but thoroughly. Divide mixture among ramekins, mounding if needed.Bake soufflé until puffed and golden brown. About 18-20 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired. Serve immediately with sauce.
Notes
If desired, you can use pure maple syrup instead of the molasses bourbon sauce, though the sauce is truly delicious.
Sauce can be made a day ahead. Pumpkin mixture, without egg whites, can be made 1 day ahead and chilled.
Use canned pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, to keep the flavor balanced and the texture light.
Let the pumpkin mixture cool completely before folding in egg whites so they don’t deflate.
Soufflés can be assembled 1 hour before baking and kept in freezer (note that this can affect bake time.)
A little of the Molasses Bourbon sauce goes a long way, but if you’d like more sauce, double the amount. It’s great for pancakes, waffles, on ice cream, etc.
This recipe is part of our Pumpkin Recipes Collection.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you!
Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week!
NutritionCalories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 161mg | Potassium: 176mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 3644IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need ramekins for this recipe? Yes, ramekins work best to help the soufflés rise properly. Six-ounce ramekins are ideal and don’t require adjustments to the bake time. Why did my soufflé deflate after baking? It’s totally normal for soufflés to deflate a bit after coming out of the oven. To get that signature puff, serve them immediately while they’re still tall and airy. How do I know when the soufflé is done baking? It should be golden brown on top and puffed up. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. How long does it keep? Pumpkin soufflé is best served immediately from the oven. But if you have any leftovers, they will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
More to Bake and Eat
Pumpkin Trifle – This Pumpkin Trifle is super easy, feeds a large crowd, and is teeming with fall flavors. It’s the ideal last-minute holiday dessert, show-stopping yet quick to prepare.
Pumpkin Pie Bars – Easier than baking a whole pie, these pumpkin pie bars are made with a homemade pumpkin filling layered between a flour and pecan crust and a sweet crumble topping.
Pumpkin Cupcakes – These moist Pumpkin Cupcakes with whipped cream frosting will have your home full of fall aromas. Your family will come running for these tender, flavorful cupcakes.
Chewy Pumpkin Snickerdoodles – These Chewy Pumpkin Snickerdoodles are the ideal holiday cookie for any cookie exchange or for baking with the kids.
The post Pumpkin Soufflé appeared first on Chew Out Loud.