Baked Alaska With Chocolate Cake And Chocolate Ice Cream Recipes

BAKED ALASKA WITH CHOCOLATE CAKE AND CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Cakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment. Make the cakes: Sift 1 1/3 cups sugar, the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt into a bowl. Combine oil, water, and vanilla.
• Whisk egg yolks with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. With machine running, slowly pour oil mixture into yolks, and then add sugar mixture.
• In a clean mixer bowl, whisk egg whites on medium-high speed, gradually adding remaining 2/3 cup sugar, until medium-stiff peaks form. Mix one-third of the whites into cake batter, then gently fold in remaining whites.
• Divide batter between the prepared baking sheets, and spread evenly using an offset spatula. Bake until cakes are set and spring back when touched, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool.
• Assembly: Coat six 11-ounce bowls or ramekins with cooking spray; line with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang. Cut out 6 cake circles to fit in bottoms of bowls (we used a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter), and place one in each bowl. Top each with 1/3 cup chocolate ice cream, smoothing surface. Cut out 6 cake circles to fit on top of ice cream (we used a 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter), and place on ice cream. Freeze until set, about 30 minutes.
• Top each cake with 1/3 cup ice cream, smoothing surface. Cut out 6 cake circles to fit on top of ice cream (we used a 4-inch round cookie cutter), and place on ice cream. (This should fit just at the top of the bowl.) Cover assembled cakes with plastic wrap overhang, and freeze for at least 4 hours.
• To remove from bowls, open plastic wrap, flip cakes onto a baking sheet, and remove plastic wrap. Freeze cakes while making meringue.
• Meringue: Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Heat egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl of a mixer set over a pan of simmering water, whisking often, until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm to the touch, about 2 minutes. Transfer bowl to mixer, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 10 minutes.
• Cover each assembled cake with 1 cup meringue. Bake until meringue is browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Alternatively, hold a small handheld kitchen torch at a 90-degree angle 3 to 4 inches from surface of meringue. Move flame back and forth until browned and caramelized.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch round mixing bowl or deep 8-inch square container with foil. Spread ice cream in container, packing firmly. Cover and freeze 8 hours or until firm.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x8 inch pan.
• Prepare cake mix with egg and almond extract. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven according to package instructions, until center of cake springs back when lightly touched.
• Beat egg whites with cream of tartar, salt and sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment or heavy brown paper. Place cake in center. Turn molded ice cream out onto cake. Quickly and prettily spread meringue over cake and ice cream, all the way to paper to seal. Return to freezer 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Bake the Alaska on the lowest shelf, 8 to 10 minutes, or until meringue is lightly browned. Serve at once.

STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan; line bottom with parchment paper. Stir bittersweet chocolate, butter, and unsweetened chocolate in small saucepan over low heat until chocolates melt and mixture is smooth. Cool 10 minutes. Whisk 3/4 cup sugar and eggs in large bowl until well blended, about 1 minute. Whisk in chocolate mixture. Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt over; stir to blend. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until top looks dry and tester inserted into center comes out with some thick sticky batter attached, about 17 minutes. Cool cake in pan to room temperature.
• Cut around cake in pan. Place cutting board over pan and invert, tapping out cake. Peel off parchment. Using 3-inch round cutter, cut out 6 cake rounds (save remaining cake for another use). Line small baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange cake rounds on prepared sheet. Using 2 1/4- to 2 1/2-inch-diameter ice cream scoop, place scoop of strawberry ice cream in center of each round, leaving about 1/4-inch plain border. Freeze until ice cream is solid, about 2 hours.
• Combine remaining 3/4 cup sugar and egg whites in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of gently simmering water and whisk until mixture is very warm, about 2 minutes. Remove bowl from over water. Using electric mixer, beat meringue at high speed until very thick and billowy, about 2 minutes. Place baking sheet with cake rounds on work surface. Mound 2 heaping tablespoons meringue atop ice cream on 1 cake round. Spread meringue evenly over to cover, sealing meringue to plain cake border and swirling decoratively. Repeat with remaining desserts. Freeze uncovered on baking sheet until meringue is solid, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 500°F. Transfer desserts still on baking sheet from freezer directly to oven. Bake until meringue is deep brown in spots, turning sheet as needed for even cooking, about 3 minutes. Transfer to plates.

CHOCOLATE BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• For the ice cream: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush 1 baking sheet with almond oil; set aside. Place the almonds on another baking sheet and toast them until light golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup water and cook over medium-high heat, without stirring, until a medium amber color. Remove the caramel from the heat, immediately add the almonds and stir quickly to thoroughly combine. Turn out onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading quickly to an even thickness. Allow the brittle to cool completely. Coarsely chop and reserve. Heat the milk, cream and 1/2 cup sugar in a medium saucepan until the sugar dissolves and the milk starts to simmer. Add the cocoa powder and chocolate and whisk until smooth. Place the egg yolks and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on high speed until pale yellow and ribbons form, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the stand and slowly whisk in the hot chocolate mixture. Pour the egg and chocolate mixture back into the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thickened and the mixture coats the back of the spoon. Do not allow the mixture to boil! Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strain into a bowl set over an ice bath and stir in the coffee liqueur, vanilla and salt. Stir until the mixture is cold. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the custard and chill completely in the refrigerator, at least 4 and up to 24 hours. Pour the chilled custard into the bowl of an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's directions. Stir in the coarsely chopped almond brittle. Spray a 2 quart glass bowl with cooking spray, line with plastic wrap and spray the plastic wrap. Scrape the ice cream into the bowl and smooth the top. The ice cream will not fill the bowl; you're looking for the larger surface of the ice cream to be about 8 inches in diameter. Press more plastic wrap over the top and freeze until solid, at least 4 hours. For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter 1 (9-inch cake) pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat, add the sugars and whisk until dissolved. Add the coffee, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla extract and continue whisking until smooth. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake on the middle rack until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the pans on a baking rack for 20 minutes. For the meringue: Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Fill a medium saucepan 1/4 full with water. Set the saucepan over medium heat and bring the water to a simmer. Combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer and place over the saucepan. Whisk constantly until the sugar is dissolved and the whites are warm to the touch, about 3 minutes. Transfer the bowl to the electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and, starting on low speed and gradually increasing to high speed, whip until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 10 minutes. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and the chocolate and mix until combined. Immediately fill a pastry bag, fitted with a #5 star tip, with the meringue.
• To assemble: Unmold the ice cream onto the cake and pipe the meringue onto the ice cream in a decorative fashion (or spoon the meringue over the ice cream and swirl with a rubber spatula). If the ice cream starts to soften, return the cake to the freezer for 15 minutes. Place in the oven and bake until the meringue just starts to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350F degrees degrees.
• Mix flour, brown sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt with fork in ungreased square pan.
• 8 x 8 x 2 inches.
• Mix in remaining ingredients except chocolate chips.
• Sprinkle chocolate chips over batter.
• Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.
• Cake can be mixed in bowl if desired.
• Cut ice cream lengthwise into halves.
• Place one half on plate.
• Freeze.
• Return remaining ice cream to freezer for another use.
• Prepare cake as directed except.
• Mix in bowl and grease and flour pan.
• Bake as directed.
• Cool.
• Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
• Place cake on cookie sheet.
• Place ice cream on cake 1 inch from one side.
• Trim the other side of cake around ice cream, leaving a 1 inch edge.
• Freeze cake and ice cream.
• Heat oven to 500 degrees.
• Beat egg white and cream of tartar until foamy.
• Beat in brown sugar, 1 tablespoons at a time.
• Continue beating until stiff and glossy.
• Working quickly, completely cover cake and ice cream with meringue, sealing it to foil on cookie sheet.
• Bake on lowest oven rack until meringue is light brown, 3-5 minutes.
• Trim foil to edge of meringue, transfer cake to serving plate.
• Cut into 6 slices.
• Cut each slice into halves.
• Serve immediately.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt chocolate in a double boiler, and set aside.
• Separate 4 eggs into two bowls. To the yolks add 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Using an electric mixer, beat until the mixture is thick and pale yellow. Set aside. Using the mixer, whisk the egg whites and a pinch of salt until they hold soft peaks. Slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar until the whites are stiff and shiny.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold the melted chocolate into the yolk mixture; then, fold the chocolate mixture into the meringue. Do not overmix. Spread the batter in an even layer, about 1/2 inch thick, on the baking sheet. Bake until the cake is spongy and moist, and slightly crisp on top, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely.
• Using a 3-inch round cutter, press eight circles of cake. Position circles on a large baking sheet lined with parchment. Place a large scoop of ice cream on each circle. Sprinkle with toasted nuts. Put baking sheet in freezer.
• Separate the 12 remaining eggs, reserving yolks for another use and placing whites in a large bowl. Add a pinch of salt and cream of tartar. Using an electric mixer, whisk until frothy; then, increase speed to high and mix until soft peaks form. Slowly add superfine sugar, whisking until meringue is very stiff. Add remaining teaspoon of vanilla; whisk until blended.
• Fit a pastry bag with a large closed-star tip, and fill the bag with meringue. Remove baking sheet from the freezer. Starting at the base of each cake, pipe rosettes in a circular pattern until cake and ice cream are completely covered. Freeze at least 30 minutes.
• When ready to serve, preheat the broiler. Place baked alaskas under the broiler for 10 to 15 seconds, until meringue is caramelized on the edges. (This may also be done with a kitchen blowtorch.) Transfer to plates, and serve immediately.