Disney Recipe: Bread Pudding Souffle with Bourbon Sauce From the Empress Lilly Restaurant

Paddlefish is a seafood-centric restaurant located inside a huge modern steamboat.

And, while Paddlefish only made its Disney Springs debut in 2017, the steamboat itself has long been a destination for hungry shoppers at Disney World.

Ready for a delicious throwback? D23 is sharing a recipe for a Bread Pudding Souffle with Bourbon Sauce from the Empress Lilly at the Walt Disney World Village!

The Empress Lilly Riverboat opened in 1977 and was named after Walt’s wife Lilly! This restaurant was one of the most lavish on the property at the time. The Empress Lilly closed in 1995 and later become Fulton’s Crab House before transforming again into Paddlefish on February 4th, 2017.

Souffle Ingredients

1⁄2 cup butter, melted, plus more for coating ramekins
1 1⁄4 cups granulated sugar, divided, plus more for coating ramekins
4 eggs
1 pint heavy whipping cream
3⁄4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 small 12-ounce loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup strawberries, hulled and diced
4 egg whites

Bourbon Sauce Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter 1 cup milk
1⁄2 cup sugar
1 egg
1⁄4 cup bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions for Souffles

1. Heat oven to 375°F.

2. Brush 8 (10 oz.) ramekins with melted butter and coat with sugar, tapping out any excess.

3. Using parchment paper, create a collar around each ramekin, making sure the paper extends 11⁄2 inches above the lip of the ramekin. Spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray.

4. Combine butter, 3⁄4 cup sugar, eggs, cream, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Mix well to combine.

5. Add bread to mixture and gently mix until liquid is absorbed into the bread, but bread is not falling apart.

6. Add strawberries to the mixture and fold to combine.

7. Whip egg whites and remaining 1⁄2 cup sugar using an electric mixer with a whip attachment. Whip until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved.

8. Gently fold bread mixture into the egg white mixture.

9. Measure out one cup of batter and spoon into a ramekin. Repeat with remaining ramekins.

10. Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet and place in oven.

11. Cook for 25–35 minutes, until soufflés have risen, the center is firm, and the top is lightly golden brown.

12. Remove from oven, remove collars, and pour bourbon sauce into the center of each soufflé.

13. Serve immediately.

Directions for Bourbon Sauce

1. Combine the butter, milk, and sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until sugar has dissolved. Do not let mixture boil.

2. Combine the egg and 1 tablespoon of warm mixture in a small bowl. Mix well until combined. Stir in bourbon and vanilla.

3. Add the egg mixture to the warm milk mixture and continue to cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and lightly coats the back of a spoon, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and pour over soufflés.

This bygone elegant recipe sounds divine! We can’t wait to give it a try!

Do you remember the Empress Lilly Restaurant at Disney World? Let us know in the comments!