This recipe for Copycat Panera Cheese Soufflés is a great make-at-home version of Panera’s popular Four-Cheese Baked Egg Soufflé!
Did you see my post on Instagram with my version of Copycat Panera Cheese Soufflés? I had a breakfast tradition with my niece where I’d pop by and drop off breakfast for her, (usually a Panera Soufflé) but during the early days/months of the pandemic, we could not find them in town at any Panera! I decided I would make my own copycat Panera cheesy soufflés! They were so good and I was able to continue my tradition of having a super fast (socially distanced) breakfast break with my niece before work.
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Puff pastry, eggs, and cheese are in full supply at my grocery and I hope they are at yours too. Go grab the ingredients and follow this easy recipe for Copycat Panera Cheese Soufflés! The soufflés are made with Gouda, I think, but I prefer Asiago or milder cheeses. I love BellaVitano so I use it along with some gooey, melty Monterey Jack. I have tried pepper jack cheese for a slightly spicy version that was also great!
I’ve baked these in vintage FireKing bowls, a cast iron baby bundt pan, and pyrex but I’m sure a muffin tin would work great also. They sell the baking paper molds like they use at Panera on Amazon, or you could get reusable little tart pans like these. I’m putting both of these on my Amazon wish list!
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TIPS:
*I’ve tried making them on a sheet pan without the tart liners and they spread out too much. They will work but they will spread!
*Whenever I made these in the past the egg would run all over. I’ve seen a million recipes for these soufflés but the best tip by far came from eatatourtable.com Gluten-Free Panera Copycat Cheese Soufflé recipe. Her recipe instructions microwave the egg mixture until it’s thick so it won’t run. Genius!!!
Like Copycat Recipes? Here are some more!
Copycat J. Alexanders Carrot Cake – with zucchini AND carrots!
Copycat Twin Peaks Air Fryer Mozzarella Bites
Copycat Dunkin’ Stuffed Bagel Bites
White Chocolate Raspberry Lime Scones – inspired by Schwans Signature™ Scones
Copycat Panera Four Cheese Breakfast Soufflé
Equipment
- small oven safe shallow bowls or large muffin tins or
- baking paper/tart molds Optional
- parchment paper Optional
- cheese grater If needed
Ingredients
- 4 Eggs Lightly beaten
- ½ tbsp Milk
- 2½ tbsp Parmesan Cheese Grated
- ½ cup Cottage cheese
- ¾ cup Shredded cheese Combine Monterey Jack, cheddar, Asiago, Gouda, or any 2 flavorful kinds of cheese of your choice. I used a combination of Monterey and *Sartori Espresso BellaVitano and they were amazing!
- ⅛ tsp Salt & pepper
- ½ box puff pastry 1 sheet thawed (all butter is the best) follow the microwave instructions on the box to quick thaw if necessary)
- 1 pinch Herbs I used turmeric and chives. Just a pinch of turmeric gives it a rich yellow color. Sometimes I use Za'atar!
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. (*if using paper tart pans preheat the oven according to the package directions.)
- Beat eggs, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized microwaveable bowl. I used my 2 cup Pyrex. (Set aside a tablespoon of egg mixture and add a splash of milk or cream to it to brush on the pastry before baking.)
- Stir the cheeses into your egg mixture until combined. (Add turmeric, chives, or a fresh herb of your choice, if desired.)
- Microwave the egg mixture in thirty-second increments stirring gently to scrape down the sides. When it’s starting to set up enough to where it’s not runny, like a thick pudding, it’s ready to spoon into the pastry and bake. I got this tip to microwave the mixture from eatatourtable.com!
- Roll the puff pastry out until you can cut squares or rectangles to fit your tart pans. If the dough is getting flimsy gently fold it over in parchment and set it in the freezer for a few minutes.
- Line your tart pans or dishes with parchment paper. Add the puff pastry and poke a few holes along the bottom with a fork. If you are using a seasoned cast iron muffin pan don’t line or butter it. I have used oven-safe shallow Fire King or Corningware bowls and a cast iron muffin pan.They don’t have to be perfect, the bottom and sides need to be covered leaving a little puff pastry at the corners to fold over. *Is your puff pastry frozen? Don’t worry, wrap a sheet in a paper towel and microwave in 10-second increments until you can unfold it and roll it out.
- Divide the egg mixture and spoon it into the pastries.
- Gently fold the corners of the pastry over the egg mixture. Don’t worry if it covers a lot of the egg. They will puff and bake up beautifully. Brush the puff pastry with the egg mixture you set aside earlier. This will make the puff pastry that is showing on top nice and brown.
- Bake for twenty to twenty-five minutes or until the pastry is puffed and browned.
- Remove to a wire rack to cool. Use tongs or spoons to remove the soufflés and set them on cooling racks.
- Top with fresh herbs or grated cheese and serve. They are delicious leftover and reheated, but they are best when served while still warm and crispy!
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you try these copycat Panera cheese Soufflés. They look so fancy but I promise they are easy! Have you made anything at home that you’ve been craving and can’t get because of the quarantine? What are your favorite copycat recipes?