Chocolate Souffle

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons plus 4 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg, separated
• confectioners' sugar

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400°. Rub a 10oz ramekin with softened butter. Sprinkle the sides and bottom with 2 teaspoons sugar, tapping out any excess. In a small saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons sugar with cocoa and flour. Stir in the milk. Cook carefully over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils and is smooth and thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Gradually add remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and continue beating until sthe sugar is dissolved and egg white is glossy and stands in soft peaks. Stir in the egg yolk into the chocolate base. Fold the chocolate base into egg whites. Spoon the mixture rinto a prepared ramekin. Bake 17-19 minutes, until the souffle is puffy and shakes slightly in center. Sprinkle with conectioners' sugar. Serve immediately, with whipped cream if desired.