Chocolate Pound Cake And Neapolitan Baked Alaska Recipes

CHOCOLATE LOVER'S BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Make the fudge sauce: Combine the heavy cream, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add the chocolate and cocoa powder and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until smooth, thick and glossy, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool.
• Make the ice cream cake: Coat a 3 1/2-quart metal or glass bowl with cooking spray and line with plastic wrap, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Scoop one kind of ice cream into the bowl and spread in an even layer. Top with a second kind of ice cream and then a third. Use a piece of plastic wrap to pack in the ice cream evenly. Drizzle with half the fudge sauce and arrange half the pound cake slices in a single layer over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until set, about 30 minutes.
• Uncover the ice cream cake and spread the fourth kind of ice cream on top; repeat with the fifth kind of ice cream. Use a piece of plastic wrap to pack it in. Drizzle with the remaining fudge sauce and cover with the remaining pound cake slices in a single layer. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Make the meringue: Stir the granulated sugar and cocoa powder in a small bowl. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until foamy, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Gradually beat in the sugar-cocoa mixture. Increase the mixer speed to high; beat until the sugar is dissolved and stiff peaks form, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Uncover the ice cream cake and invert onto a foil-lined baking sheet. Let stand until the cake slips out of the pan easily, then remove the plastic wrap. Spread the meringue over the top and sides of the cake, making the top slightly thicker. Make swirly peaks in the meringue using the back of a spoon. Freeze until firm, at least 3 hours or up to 2 days.
• Brown the meringue with a kitchen torch (or bake at 500˚ until golden, 3 to 5 minutes). Use 2 large spatulas to transfer the baked Alaska to a platter and slice into wedges.

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.

NEAPOLITAN BAKED ALASKAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray, line with parchment, then coat parchment.
• Beat 1/2 cup sugar and the yolks with a mixer on medium speed until pale and thick, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Beat in vanilla and warm chocolate. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Whisk whites and salt with a mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until sugar dissolves. Increase speed to medium-high, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Whisk a third of meringue into chocolate mixture. Gently fold in remaining meringue in 2 additions.
• Spread batter into prepared sheet. Bake until cake is set and top is dull, about 25 minutes. Let cool on sheet on a wire rack. Invert cake onto work surface. Using a 2 3/4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 8 circles and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Reserve scraps for another use.
• Coat eight 1-cup teacups or ramekins with cooking spray, then line with plastic, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Pack 1/2 cup strawberry gelato into bottom of each cup. Top with 1/2 cup vanilla gelato, then 1 cake circle. Cover each with plastic, and freeze overnight.
• Let cakes stand for 2 to 3 minutes. Using plastic overhang, unmold cakes onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Wrap with plastic, then freeze.
• Working with 1 at a time, spoon 1/2 cup meringue on cake, spreading it over entire surface with an offset spatula. 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 meringue begins to brown. Alternatively, heat oven to 500 degrees. Bake cakes on top rack until meringue begins to brown, about 2 minutes. (If ice cream begins to soften, freeze for 15 minutes.) Serve immediately.

SOUTHERN-STYLE CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 (8 inch) loaf pans. Sift together the flour, cocoa and baking powder. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 75 to 90 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

NEAPOLITAN POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° (325° for coloured fluted tube pan).
• Using solid shortening or margarine (not oil), grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan (non-stick finish pan, too).
• In large bowl, blend cream cheese and eggs until smooth.
• Blend in cake mix and milk.
• Beat 2 minutes at highest speed.
• Add strawberry milk drink mix to 2 cups batter; pour into prepared pan.
• Stir vanilla into 2 cups batter; pour over strawberry batter.
• Add chocolate milk drink mix to remaining batter; pour over vanilla batter.
• Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool upright in pan 45 minutes.
• Loosen edges; remove from pan.
• Cool completely.
• If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar or serve with ice cream and chocolate sauce.