Copycat Panera Style Souffles

There is just something decadent about a souffle. Whether it's Maman's Cheese Soufflé or these personal side treats perfect for breakfast on the go, there's magic in that soft and airy egg custard. This savory soufflé comes together with minimal effort. The best part is you can customize it to your favorite flavors and also size.

Ingredients

Unlike the restaurant version of this dish, Copycat Panera Style Soufflés puts you in complete control of the quality of all of the ingredients. Using time saving puff pastry as the crust, this breakfast favorite is as easy to shop for as it is to make.

• Eggs - This is the base of the custard for the soufflés. You can use large or medium eggs.
• Heavy Cream - Gives the custard its richness and airy texture.
• Parmesan - Adds nutty saltiness.
• Mozzarella - This is a fantastic melting cheese that's mild and creamy.
• Salt and Pepper
• Sun Dried Tomatoes in Oil - Adds natural sweetness, a little acidity, and texture with its chew.
• Prosciutto - Salty, savory, and completely irresistible, prosciutto makes these puff pastry quiches extra decadent.
• Rosemary - Adds a pop of woodsy freshness.

How to Make Copycat Panera Style Soufflés

Once you get the method down for making these personal sized quiches, you can have fun swapping out the fillings and making them completely your own. One sheet of puff pastry will make one large souffle that fits a nine-inch pie pan, or four smaller soufflés that will fit into ramekins. Because puff pastry comes with two sheets this is a recipe that is also easy to double.

Time needed: 1 hour.

Flaky puffy pastry is filled with savory toppings and a delicate and rich custard.

1. Mise en PlacePreheat your oven to 400 degrees. Grease your ramekins or pie pan with butter and set aside.
2. WhiskAdd your eggs to a bowl and break the yolks. Whisk them until they are smooth. Add the heavy cream, salt, and pepper and whisk to combine. Stir in the cheese and set aside.

CrustLightly roll out your defrosted puff pastry and then cut it into four equal sized pieces. Arrange each piece of puff pastry into the buttered ramekins. Use a fork to prick holes in the bottom, preventing it from rising.

FillAdd sun dried tomatoes, prosciutto, and the custard to each ramekin. Sprinkle a little rosemary over the top of each one.

FoldFold over the corner of each piece of puff pastry and use the custard to brush a little egg wash onto the dough.

BakeAllow the soufflés to bake for 30-35 minutes until the eggs are puffed and the puff pastry is golden brown.

Variations

The fun of these savory soufflés is that you can have fun coming up with different combinations of fillings. The puff pastry and egg mixture will remain the same, just swap the ingredients out for some of your favorites. Here are just a few ideas.

• Spinach and Artichoke
• Kale and Mushrooms
• Spinach and Bacon
• Three Cheeses
• Ham and Swiss
• Caramelized Onion and Gruyere
• Chorizo and Manchego
• Diced Peppers, Onions, and Ham

Substitutions

Feel free to swap out the puff pastry, cheeses, and heavy cream in this recipe for Dairy Free puff pastry and plant-based options. The baking time may be slightly different if using dairy free puff pastry so check your package for suggested cooking temperatures.

Storage for Copycat Panera Style Soufflés

These egg soufflés are a great make ahead dish that reheat well and can also be eaten both at room temperature and cold. You will want to keep them stored in an air tight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to reheat your Copycat Panera Style Soufflés, microwave them for 2-3 minutes until warm.

Tools

Besides the fillings for these egg soufflés being versatile, so is how you prepare them. They can either be prepared in traditional size ramekins, or a nine-inch pie dish. If you make these in ramekins, you will need four for this recipe. The ideal size for these baked egg soufflés is a five-ounce ramekin.

Top Tip for Copycat Panera Style Soufflés

Puff pastry is a great freezer staple to always have on hand. It makes creating everything from desserts such as Easy Apple Tartlets to this breakfast confection a breeze. Always follow the package directions for defrosting your puff pastry. Some will have you defrost it in the refrigerator while others recommend the counter and letting it come to room temperature.

If your puff pastry feels like it's getting too soft or sticky, just pop it back into the refrigerator so can firm up. This will re-harden the butter and not only make it easier to work with, but also give you those flaky, buttery layers. The melting of the butter is what creates those layers...as the butter melts in the oven the pastry puffs.