10 Puffy and Pleasing Soufflé Recipes

You'll get a rise out of these sweet and savory recipes

By
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.
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Updated on 02/5/23
Alpine Cheese Souffle

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Have you always wanted to try making a soufflé, but feel intimidated by this sophisticated dish? You might be surprised to learn how simple it is to bake up a perfect soufflé at home, with a few expert cooking tips to help you on your way. Whether you want to try sweet dessert soufflés or savory versions you can enjoy as a main dish at dinner, the principles of making a soufflé are exactly the same for both. Browse our best soufflé recipes below that will get you into practice pulling off this delicious, culinary magic trick. Read on below, too, for a few helpful soufflé-making tips you can rely on.

Tips for Making Souffles:

  • Preheat your oven before starting with a recipe, so you can pop the dish directly inside once it is assembled.
  • Clean all your cooking equipment very well before you get started (except for the soufflé dish, which will need to be greased). Greasy spoons, bowls, or whisks are the enemy of soufflés, because they can stop egg whites from rising, and cause your soufflé to collapse.
  • Do grease your casserole dish (or individual ramekins) before you start mixing up the soufflé batter, so you can pour it right into the prepared vessel, for immediate baking.
  • You have probably heard that opening the oven door while a soufflé is cooking can cause it to sink. This is not a myth. It's important to know that any sudden change in temperature during cooking can lead to a collapsed soufflé. If you need to peek at your soufflé during baking, only do so through the closed oven door.
  • Have fun! Everyone can make a soufflé. Enjoy the process of learning this new skill.
  • 01 of 10

    Alpine Cheese Soufflé

    Alpine Cheese Souffle

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    Transforming a few inexpensive ingredients into a soufflé adds a touch of luxury to everyday meals. Impress your family and friends with a chef-like cheese soufflé that is surprisingly easy to bake up in your kitchen. You'll want to use a strong-flavored, nutty, Alpine cheese for this bistro-classic dish, such as Gruyère, Comté, or Emmenthal.

  • 02 of 10

    Lemon Soufflé

    The Ultimate French Lemon Souffle

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

    When you treat your family or friends to a bistro-style French dinner, complete the meal with a classic lemon soufflé. It sings with bright and sweet lemon flavor and has a beautifully crispy outer crust that you can enhance with a dusting of confectioner's sugar. It is also simple enough to prepare that you may be inspired to start making it for an everyday weeknight dessert, too.

  • 03 of 10

    Macaroni and Cheese Soufflé

    Macaroni and Cheese Souffle

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Meet a magical soufflé that will make you think about the traditional French dish in a whole new way. Good old American ingenuity meets traditional French cuisine in this genius mash-up of macaroni and cheese casserole and the cheese soufflé. It is essentially an elevated mac and cheese, with a rich egg custard bringing a fluffy, custard-like consistency to everyone's favorite pasta bake.

  • 04 of 10

    Salmon Soufflé With Herbs

    Salmon Souffle With Herbs

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Salmon soufflé makes a fun and tasty alternative to the usual salmon quiche at a weekend brunch or a sophisticated dinner offering. It is an inspired use for a can of salmon in your pantry and only needs 2 eggs, some milk, and a few other basic cupboard ingredients.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Carrot Soufflé

    Carrot Souffle

    Justin Bernhaut / Stockbyte / Getty Images

    Carrot cake lovers will especially love this uniquely delicious dessert soufflé. It is loaded with sweet cooked carrots that are mashed and flavored with cinnamon for a nice and puffy, sweet-meets-savory souffle. You could even serve it as a non-traditional side dish for pork or ham at holiday meals or other special occasion dinners.

  • 06 of 10

    White Chocolate Soufflé

    White Chocolate Souffle

    Jonathan Bielaski / Light Imaging / Getty Images

    The sweet taste of white chocolate infuses this light and airy dessert soufflé. Serve it for a special Christmas dessert, enhancing its snowy mountain effect with a generous dusting of icing sugar, and plating the soufflé with red berries. Or, enjoy it at any time of year for a special treat, topping with lemon sauce or raspberry sauce.

  • 07 of 10

    Oatmeal Soufflé

    Oatmeal Souffle

    Shestock / Getty Images

    If you think of oatmeal as dense or stodgy, this light and airy oatmeal soufflé will change all that. It starts off on the stovetop, cooking simple rolled oats in butter and milk. Then you add Greek yogurt, egg yolks, cinnamon, brown sugar, and finally the beaten egg whites. Serve it for a special brunch with a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar on top.

  • 08 of 10

    Savory Sweet Potato Soufflé

    French Savory Sweet Potato Soufflé

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

    Think beyond baked and mashed potatoes with this savory sweet potato soufflé. It is an unexpected twist on traditional sweet potato recipes and can stand as a light dinner on its own, with a green side salad. You'll love the combination of flavors and textures from sweet potato puree, nutty Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses, onion, garlic, and thyme.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Cheese and Leek Soufflé

    Cheese and Leek Souffle

    Getty Images

    Bake up this retro cheese and leek soufflé when you want to enjoy a nostalgic, French-inspired dinner in one dish. It is a stylish way to eat eggs for dinner, and the mild, spring-like flavor of leeks adds lovely balance to nutty Gruyère or Emmenthal cheese. You could also serve it for an elegant first course at multi-course meals.

  • 10 of 10

    Austrian Baked Vanilla Soufflé

    Austrian Baked Vanilla Souffle

    Djete / Getty Images

    Also called Salzburger nockerl, this baked vanilla soufflé originated in 17th century Austria, where it was first baked by the mistress of the archbishop of Salzburg. It is a show-stopping, sweet dessert soufflé, flavored with whipping cream, sugar, lemon, and vanilla, that is traditionally formed into three mounds to resemble the three hills surrounding the city of Salzburg.