Pear Brandy Souffle (Soufflé Aux Poires Williams)

Aunt Cookie's Note:

I recently acquired a bottle of pear brandy and wasn't too sure what to do with it (besides drink it, obviously). I found this recipe on-line and plan to make it soon. I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS YET so I can't guarantee that it's good. I'll repost when I've tried it.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 35 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 4 ripe pears (about 1-1/2 lbs total weight)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons pear brandy
• 8 egg whites
• 3 tablespoons sugar

For the pastry cream

• ¾ cup whole milk
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. For the pastry cream: Scald the milk. Beat the egg yolks with sugar until light and thick. Stir in the flour and cornstarch.
2. Stir half the hot milk into the egg mixture. Then add that mixture to the remaining hot milk in the pan.
3. Bring to a boil, whisking until the pastry cream thickens. Simmer for 2 minutes.
4. Rub the surface of the hot cream with some butter.
5. For the souffle: Peel and core the pears and put them along with the lemon juice into a food processor.
6. Purée the pears and then pour into a saucepan.
7. Cook the purée for 10-15 minutes. It should be thick enough to hold a shape. Allow to cool.
8. Stir the cooled purée into the pastry cream and add the pear brandy. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the surface of the pear cream. It can be refrigerated up to 3 hours.
9. Preheat oven to 425°F Thoroughly butter a 2-qt. soufflé dish.
10. Whip the egg whites until stiff, then beat in the sugar and continue beating until they are glossy.
11. Reheat the pear cream (if necessary) until it is hot to the touch.
12. Fold one-quarter of the egg whites into the warm pear cream, mixing thouroughly.
13. Gently fold the cream into the rest of the egg whites and pour into the prepared dish.
14. Bake the soufflé in a heated oven 20-25 minutes. The soufflé should be puffed and brown.
15. To Serve, dust with powdered sugar.