Makes 2 x size 2 ramekins

Ingredients

• 20g pastry cream (see below)

• 10g Christmas pudding

• A dash of brandy

• 2 egg whites

• One and half tablespoons of sugar

Method

Place 20g of pastry cream into a bowl (if you’ve made the pastry cream in advance, warm it gently to about body temperature to help the ingredients combine).

Take 10g of Christmas pudding and mix with the pastry cream.

Whisk the egg whites with the sugar; add half the egg white to the pastry cream and mix thoroughly.

Gently fold the other half of the egg whites into the mixture. The aim is to fold in the air bubbles slowly, without breaking them. Continue until the mixture has no streaks. of egg white remaining.

Fill the lined ramekin to the brim with the mixture and level off with a palette knife. Run a thumb nail around the inside of the rim of the ramekins. This will help the soufflé rise evenly without catching on the ramekin.

Place the ramekins on a baking tray and bake at 190 degrees centigrade for eight minutes.

In our picture Stephen uses a pastry case as his ramekin to create a Christmas pudding soufflé tart.

Soufflé Pastry Cream

Makes 12 in size 2 ramekins

Ingredients

• 500ml Milk, full fat

• 1 Vanilla pod, split lengthways, seeds scraped out

• 6 Egg yolks, medium

• 100g Caster sugar

• 25g Plain flour

• 25g Cornflour

• 1 tsp Caster sugar for dusting ramekins

Method

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar over the base of a large, heavy bottomed saucepan (TOP TIP: this will melt and coat the bottom of the pan to help prevent the milk burning).

Bring the milk to the boil with the split vanilla pod and seeds. Infuse at just below simmering point for about 5 minutes. Take off the heat and remove the vanilla pod.

Cream together the egg yolks and sugar and then whisk in the flour and cornflour. Ensure all ingredients are mixed well to ensure a smooth texture.

Pour approximately one third of the hot milk onto the egg, sugar and flour mixture and whisk until well blended. Pour back into the remaining milk, return to the heat and bring up to 86 degrees centigrade for 30 seconds (small bubbles will begin to come through), whisking continuously. Do not boil.

To store transfer to a bowl or container, cover with cling film directly touch the surface (to prevent skin forming) and cool down on ice as soon as possible (this prevents the growth of harmful bacteria). Seal with cling film and refrigerate. This basic pastry cream mix will freeze for up to two months.

Line soufflé ramekins Make sure you use oven-proof dishes. Fancy ones could shatter in the heat of the oven. Take each dish and brush the inside completely with softened butter (not melted). Chill the dishes for five minutes then lightly coat with butter once again. Tip a little caster sugar into each dish; roll the dish around tilting as you go, so it is evenly lined with sugar.