Blackout Baked Alaska Food

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Make layer cake according to recipe in two 9" cake pans. (My favorite chocolate cake recipe is from Add a Pinch) Remove cakes from pans and cool completely on wire rack. Wrap layers with plastic wrap and either freeze or set aside until ready to assemble cake.
• In one 9" cake pan, place 2 long sheets of foil, criss-crossed and pressed solidly against bottom and sides. Evenly spread the softened ice cream in the foil-lined cake pan. Press top of ice cream with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• To assemble cake, place 2 long sheets of plastic wrap criss-crossed and pressed solidly against bottom and sides of the other cake pan. Remove cake layers and ice cream layer from freezer. Unwrap the first cake layer and place in the plastic-lined cake pan right side up.
• Remove plastic wrap from top of ice cream. Lift the ice cream layer out of the pan and invert on top of first cake layer, gently peeling away foil. Unwrap second cake layer and place on top of ice cream layer, right side up. Lift up the excess hanging plastic wrap to cover the cake. Place the assembled cake back in the freezer until ready for the meringue.
• If you plan on finishing making the cake that day, separate eggs and set out whites to come to room temperature.

BLACK HOLE BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• For the Black-Hole Chocolate Disc:.
• In addition to the chocolate melts, you will need an airbrushing machine and edible colors, as well as parchment paper.
• Melt chocolate in two pots until completely liquid. Place a circle of parchment on a turn table and pour the darker shade first. Pour the remaining color on top in design of your choosing and use an offset, narrow spatula to create a galaxy design by making spiraled swiping motions from the inside out. Once done, allow to set in a cool room for one hour. Once the chocolate is set, remove from parchment sheet and rest on something with a hole in the center and using a hot blade, cut out a hole in the center. Smooth edges with your finger.
• Mix various galactic colors in an airbrush machine and paint your black hole. I made mine darkest on the outer edges and lightest near the center.
• For the Meringue:.
• In a stand mixer, beat egg whites, salt and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Drizzle in sugar and vanilla and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Cut off the top of the fudge bundt cake and scoop a layer of your chosen ice cream on top of the ring making sure to leave the hole in the middle. Coat with meringue and torch. Once done chill in freezer until ready to serve. just before serving place the chocolate black hole topper onto the frozen dessert. Serve.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Make the ice cream cake: Brush a 3-quart metal bowl with vegetable oil; line with plastic wrap. Fill the bowl with scoops of the sorbet, vanilla ice cream and half of the chocolate ice cream, alternating small and large scoops to create a mosaic of colors and shapes. Place a piece of plastic wrap on top of the ice cream; press down to close the gaps between scoops and even out the surface. Remove the plastic wrap, sprinkle the ice cream with the wafer crumbs and re-cover with the plastic wrap, pressing gently. Freeze until set, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the wrap and spread the remaining chocolate ice cream in an even layer on top of the crumbs. Cut the pound cake into 1/2-inch-thick slices; completely cover the ice cream with the slices, trimming as needed (you'll use about two-thirds of the cake). Cover with fresh plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
• Make the meringue: Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until foamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the sugar on high speed until the whites are glossy and hold stiff peaks.
• Remove the top layer of plastic wrap, then invert the cake onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. (If necessary, let the cake stand overturned until it slips out.) Remove the rest of the plastic wrap and cover the ice cream completely with the meringue, making the dome-shaped top slightly thicker than the sides. Form swirly peaks in the meringue using the back of a spoon. Freeze for at least 3 more hours.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Bake the cake until the meringue peaks are golden, about 4 minutes, or brown the meringue with a blowtorch. Let the cake soften at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Freeze any leftovers.

FESTIVE BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Line a 900ml pudding basin or deep cereal bowl with a double layer of cling film. Scoop the caramel ice cream into the bowl, patting it down well. Top with the conserve, followed by the vanilla ice cream. Pat down firmly, cover with cling film and freeze for at least 2 hrs or, better still, overnight.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Whisk egg whites until stiff, then slowly whisk in the sugar until firm and glossy. Slice the cake and arrange on a baking parchmentlined baking sheet, to make a round the same size as the top of the ice-cream bowl. Press together well to make sure there aren't any gaps.
• Lift ice cream out of bowl, remove cling film and turn onto the cake. Spread the meringue evenly over the ice cream and cake, making sure there are no gaps. Bake for 4-5 mins until nicely coloured. Serve immediately.

BLACK-AND-WHITE BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Make almond meringue disks:
• Preheat oven to 250°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Using 3 1/4-inch-diameter can as template, outline 8 circles on each sheet of parchment. Turn parchment over on baking sheet (circles should show through).
• Using electic mixer, beat whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean. Gradually add sugar, beating until meringue is stiff and glossy, about 5 minutes. Fold in ground almonds. Spread 1 rounded tablespoon of meringue in each circle on parchment, forming disks about 1/4 inch thick.
• Bake meringue disks 1 hour. Reverse position of sheets and bake until meringues are pale golden and almost firm to touch, about 45 minutes longer. Cool meringues on baking sheets. Carefully peel meringues off parchment.
• Arrange 8 meringues on clean baking sheet; top each with second meringue. Top each stack with scoop of sorbet (don't press; disks are fragile). Cover with foil; freeze while making vanilla meringue or up to 2 days.
• Make vanilla meringue
• Using electric mixer, beat whites in large bowl until soft peaks form. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean. Gradually add sugar, beating until meringue is stiff and glossy, about 5 minutes. Transfer 1/3 meringue to pastry bag fitted with medium star tip.
• Place 1 dessert on work surface (keep remaining desserts in freezer). Pipe meringue over sorbet. covering completely. Return to freezer. Repeat with remaining desserts, adding more meringue to pastry bag as needed. Freeze until meringue is firm, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 500°F. for 30 minutes. Spray large baking sheet with non-stick spary. Transfer desserts to prepared sheet. Bake until meringue is just tinged with brown, no longer than 2 minutes.

MINI BAKED ALASKAS!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Use a 9 x 5" metal bread loaf pan for this recipe; it needs to have sharp corners. Do not use ceramic bakeware with rounded corners.
• Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Trim it very well to fit perfectly. Do not grease the pan in any way.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and cornstarch twice. (Or, whisk it very well).
• In a separate bowl, combine the granulated sugar and egg. Beat on high speed until it reaches the consistency of soft whipped cream. This can take anywhere from 5-8 minutes. It will be fluffy and pale yellow with soft, floppy peaks.
• Melt the butter and milk together in the microwave. Stir in the almond extract
• Fold one-third of the flour mixture into the eggs. The proper folding technique is: down the middle with the narrow part of the spatula and then sweep the sides of the bowl. Take your time and do this carefully until all of the flour mixture is incorporated, adding 1/3 of the flour mixture at a time.
• Finally, stir in the hot milk and butter mixture all at once and fold in very well.
• Pour the batter into the pan, and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove the pan from the oven, and let cool for 10 minutes. Then, run a knife along the edges of the pan and invert the cake carefully onto a cooling rack. If the cake doesn't flop out, use a rubber spatula to help it. The cake is very forgiving and does not tear easily. The parchment paper will stick to the surface of the cake. Gently peel it off, but if any more than a thin layer of cake sticks to it, let it cool completely before pulling it off. You can make the sponge cake the day before.
• Next, scoop two perfect spheres of the sorbet by using an ice cream scoop. Level off the surface of the sorbet with the scoop to make a flat bottom. Then, dip your finger in warm water, and then push a hole for the cherry in the center of each scoop. This is optional.
• Move the sorbet scoops to cupcake liners (or parchment paper) and freeze until very firm.
• To assemble, use the edges of your ice cream scoop to cut out perfect-sized rounds of sponge cake. Top each cake round with one of the sorbet scoops. Place back in the freezer.*
• Next, whip the egg whites in a medium bowl on high speed until soft peaks start to form. Stream in the sugar and beat until combined. Don't beat the egg whites past the point of soft peaks--no stiff peaks! (The large amount of sugar should prevent stiff peaks, but be careful, still!)
• When ready to serve, pipe the egg whites (or use a spoon) over the sorbet-cake bombes. Use a fork to make ridges in the egg whites.
• Using a culinary torch, brûlée the egg whites from a safe distance.
• Serve immediately.

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.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Line a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• Place the softened ice cream into the loaf pan and spread evenly.
• Place the piece of cake on top of the ice cream, press down lightly, and place the pan in the freezer for 1 hour.
• After an hour, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 2-quart saucepan and place over high heat. Stir just until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Clip on a candy thermometer and bring the mixture to 240 degrees F.
• While the syrup is cooking, place the egg whites, salt, and vanilla into the bowl of a stand mixer and, using the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs on high speed until they reach medium peaks, 4 to 5 minutes.
• When the sugar syrup reaches 240 degrees F, remove from the heat and, with the stand mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour the syrup in a thin steady stream into the egg white mixture, being careful not to come in contact with the whisk. Once all the syrup has been added, increase the mixer speed to high and whisk until stiff peaks are formed and the mixture has cooled, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the loaf pan from the freezer, turn upside down onto a heatproof serving platter, and remove the plastic wrap. Completely cover the ice cream cake combo with a 1-inch layer of meringue all around, sealing the meringue to the pan around the bottom edge.
• Use a propane torch to brown the meringue all over. Serve immediately. May be frozen once the meringue has browned.

BLACKOUT BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray; line with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine the boiling water and espresso. Whisk in 1/4 cup cold water, then the oil, whole egg and vanilla.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture until just combined. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack, then invert onto a baking sheet. Discard the parchment paper. Line the pan with another piece of parchment paper.
• Using a 2 1/2-inch cutter, cut the cake into 8 rounds and transfer to the prepared baking pan; freeze for 30 minutes. Using a 2-inch-wide ice cream scoop, top each cake with a scoop of sorbet; cover the pan with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 3 hours or overnight.
• In a small saucepan, combine the remaining 1 cup granulated sugar with 1/4 cup water and cook, stirring, over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Boil until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites at medium speed until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. With the mixer on low, drizzle in the sugar syrup, then beat on high speed until the egg whites are stiff and glossy, about 8 minutes. Pipe or spread the meringue over each cake to cover. Freeze for up to 1 hour.
• Preheat the broiler. Broil the meringue-covered cakes until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.