Pillsbury butter flake crescent rolls are the base to this cheesy spinach and cheese egg souffle. Add in some eggs, fresh spinach, bacon and 4 cheeses for a savory breakfast your family will love!.
A few weeks ago, I ran across a news article that was written in 2008. The moment I saw the words “Panera” and “copycat,” I knew I was in love. I don’t know how I found this. What I found was that they were featuring one of my favorites at Panera Bread…the egg souffle!.
Don’t get me wrong. I love so many of Panera’s treats. Scones, bagels, muffins, smoothies. It’s not often that I go in there actually wanting a meal. But when I do want something savory at breakfast, these souffles are what I head for. I knew I needed to create my own Spinach and Cheese Egg Souffle.
If you love this souffle, you may want to try our feta and sundried tomato souffle. The flavor is AMAZING!.
Panera Bread’s savory spinach bacon soufflé is a fan favorite menu item. This cheesy soufflé baked in a cup features a fluffy egg base mixed with spinach, bacon, and parmesan cheese. It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch or lunch. While you can easily grab this soufflé from your local Panera cafe, it’s surprisingly simple to recreate this signature dish in your own kitchen.
In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to make a spinach bacon soufflé cup inspired by Panera Bread’s recipe. With just a handful of ingredients and a little bit of effort, you can enjoy this warm and cheesy soufflé without leaving home.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Eggs
- Milk
- All-purpose flour
- Frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- Cooked, crumbled bacon pieces
- Shredded parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Butter or oil for greasing
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep the Ingredients
- Thaw, drain, and squeeze out excess moisture from frozen spinach. Set aside.
- Cook bacon until crispy; let cool and crumble into small pieces.
- Shred or grate parmesan cheese.
- Crack eggs into a mixing bowl. Add milk, salt, and pepper. Whisk well until fully combined.
Make the Soufflé Batter
- Add flour to the egg-milk mixture. Whisk thoroughly to remove any lumps.
- Fold in the prepared spinach, 3/4 of the bacon bits, and 1/2 of the parmesan cheese into the batter.
Bake the Soufflés
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a muffin tin with butter or oil.
- Pour soufflé batter evenly into prepared muffin cups, filling each cup 3/4 full.
- Sprinkle remaining parmesan cheese atop each soufflé.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes until puffed and golden brown.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan.
- Garnish with reserved bacon bits before serving.
And that’s it! Follow these simple steps and you’ll have warm, fluffy soufflés just like Panera’s. The preparation is easy enough for a weekday breakfast or brunch.
Tips for Making the Soufflés
- Use high quality eggs for best rise.
- Don’t open the oven during baking.
- Rotate the pan midway for even baking.
- Make sure to thaw spinach fully and squeeze dry.
- Fold ingredients gently to retain air.
- Use a light touch when portioning the batter.
- Let baked soufflés rest before removing from pan.
How to Store and Reheat
While these soufflés are best enjoyed fresh from the oven, you can prepare them in advance:
- Allow baked soufflés to fully cool, then cover tightly and refrigerate up to 3 days.
- To reheat, wrap chilled soufflés individually in a damp paper towel and microwave in 30 second intervals until hot.
- Baked unfilled soufflé cups can also be frozen for up to 1 month. Thaw, fill, and reheat as directed.
More Delicious Add-Ins
Customize your soufflé blend with these tasty mix-ins:
- Diced tomato and basil
- Caramelized onions and gruyere
- Sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese
- Sautéed mushrooms and thyme
- Chopped broccoli and cheddar
- Chorizo and Manchego cheese
- Pesto and shredded chicken
The options are endless for creative soufflé fillings!
Nutrition Information
Panera’s spinach bacon soufflé provides a nutrition-packed start to your day:
- 210 calories
- 13g protein
- 11g fat
- 13g carbohydrates
- 3g fiber
Boosted with protein, vitamins, and minerals from nutrient-rich eggs, spinach, and milk It’s a satisfying meal sure to keep you full and fueled until lunchtime.
Origin of Panera’s Soufflé
While Panera Bread offers an array of fresh bakery items, sandwiches, salads and more, the spinach bacon soufflé remains a long-time breakfast favorite. Here’s some history behind this signature dish:
- Added to menus in 1995 shortly after Panera’s founding
- Rave reviews made it a permanent menu fixture
- Customers love the fluffy texture and savory flavor
- Often enjoyed with fruit, oatmeal or breakfast sandwich
- One of Panera’s top-selling breakfast selections
- Available in limited quantities at opening time
With a creamy, eggy base and hearty mix-ins, it’s easy to see why Panera’s soufflé has been a beloved part of their breakfast menu for over 25 years. Now you can enjoy this cafe classic at home anytime!
Recreating Panera’s signature spinach bacon soufflé is an easy weekend baking project with impressive results In less than 30 minutes, you can make multiple soufflés that will transport your tastebuds straight to your favorite bakery-cafe Impress family and friends at brunch or enjoy a grab-and-go breakfast through the week.
How do you know when a souffle is done?
Depending on the size dish you use, cooking times can vary. The top of the souffle should be golden brown and look “puffy”. If you stick a knife in the center, it should come out clean.
How to Make an Easy Souffle
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Put 5 eggs, milk, heavy cream, cheddar cheese, monterey jack cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, bacon, and salt in a small bowl that can go in the microwave. Mix well.
- Microwave this mixture for 30 seconds. Mix it up, and then keep heating it in the microwave for 20 seconds at a time, about 4–5 times. You want the egg mix to get a little thicker. Even though it’s not quite done yet, it will be a little thicker, which will help the crescent roll dough stay in place when you fold it over the top.
- Take the crescent roll dough out of the package and cut it into four rectangles. Press the perforated triangles together to make rectangles. Roll out each rectangle until it’s about a 6×6 square.
- Spray cooking spray on 4 ramekins or souffle dishes that are about 4-5 inches across. Spread out a crescent roll and put one in each dish. Let the edges hang over the sides. Pour On top of the egg mixture, sprinkle the Asiago cheese (that’s right, 4 cheeses in all!) and divide it among the 4 ramekins. Fold the crescent roll dough overtop the egg mixture.
- Use the last egg and lightly beat it in a small dish. Brush the egg on top of the crescent roll dough with a pastry brush.
- Put it in the oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until the top is golden.
COPYCAT Panera’s Souffle Recipe
FAQ
What is panera souffle made of?
How many calories are in panera spinach and bacon souffle?
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Nutrition Information
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Value
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Calories
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550 Cal
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Calories from Fat
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330 Cal
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Fat
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37 g
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Saturated Fat
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19 g
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