Raspberry Baked Alaska Food

VANILLA-RASPBERRY BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Dacquoise: Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Use a pencil to trace six 3 1/2-inch-diameter circles on a piece of parchment. Turn over parchment and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Using a food processor, finely grind almonds. Transfer to a small bowl and whisk in confectioners' sugar. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together egg whites and salt until frothy. Continue beating on high speed while gradually adding superfine sugar until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from mixer and gently fold almond mixture into meringue. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip. Use a small amount of meringue to adhere prepared parchment to each corner of baking sheet. Pipe rounds of meringue using traced circles as a guide, starting at outer edge of each circle and moving toward center. Bake until firm and dry, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Let cool completely on sheet.
• Filling: Line six 4-inch bowls with plastic wrap and freeze until chilled, at least 20 minutes. Spread about 6 tablespoons sorbet into each bowl, pressing firmly into bottom to create a smooth surface and prevent air pockets. Freeze until solid, about 1 hour. Spread about 1/2 cup ice cream evenly over sorbet in each bowl, pressing firmly to create a smooth surface and prevent air pockets. Place one dacquoise round, top-side down, on ice cream, pressing gently to adhere. Wrap overhanging plastic over the top and freeze until solid, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Unwrap plastic on top of bowls (dip exterior of bowls in warm water to loosen, if necessary). Invert bowls onto a rimmed baking sheet, remove plastic wrap, and refreeze until ready to serve.
• Meringue Topping: Just before serving, combine egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of a stand mixer set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch. Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a 3/8-inch plain round tip (such as Ateco #804); decoratively pipe meringue over each bombe to cover. Lightly brown meringue all over with a small kitchen torch. 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.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY BAKED ALASKAS

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan, then line bottom with wax paper and butter paper.
• Melt chocolate and butter in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring, until smooth. Remove bowl from pan and whisk 3/4 cup sugar into chocolate mixture. Whisk in whole eggs and salt, then sift cocoa over and whisk until just combined.
• Pour batter into baking pan, spreading evenly, and bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out with a few crumbs adhering, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes, then invert onto rack and cool completely.
• Cut cake into 6 equal pieces, then arrange 1 piece in each gratin dish, trimming to fit. Top each piece of cake with a large scoop of ice cream (about 1/2 cup), then freeze, covered, just until ice cream is hard, about 25 minutes (do not let ice cream become rock hard unless making ahead - see cooks' note, below).
• Make meringue just before serving:
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Beat egg whites and a pinch of salt with an electric mixer until they just hold soft peaks. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar a little at a time, beating at high speed, and continue beating until whites just hold stiff, glossy peaks, about 5 minutes in a standing mixer or about 12 minutes with a handheld.
• Remove gratin dishes from freezer and mound meringue over ice cream and cake, spreading to edge of gratin dish. Bake on a baking sheet in middle of oven until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Serve immediately.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Lift the One Bowl Brownies out of the pan using the overhanging foil. Use a 9-inch stainless steel bowl to cut out a circle; reserve the circle.
• Completely line the same 9-inch bowl with plastic wrap, leaving a 6-inch overhang around the edge. Scoop the softened ice cream into the bowl and use a rubber spatula to smooth it down. Carefully lift the brownie round with a flat spatula and place on top of the ice cream. If it breaks, that's ok, just use the brownie pieces to fill in the gaps. Fold the plastic wrap over the top of the brownie and place in the freezer until solid, 4 hours. Place a marble slab in the freezer to chill. (If you don't have a marble slab, place a baking sheet lined with foil in the freezer; it works just as well.)
• When ready to serve, place a small saucepan of water over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Add the egg whites to the bowl of a stand mixer, and then place the bowl over the simmering liquid, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the hot water. Whisk until the egg whites are frothy, then add the sugar a tablespoon at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in the cream of tartar. Keep whisking the eggs over the heat until the sugar has dissolved and the egg whites are warm, 2 to 3 minutes. Move the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat until stiff, glossy peaks form, 8 to 10 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and mix until combined.
• Remove the bowl with the ice cream from the freezer. Unwrap the top of the plastic wrap, pop the molded ice cream/brownie out of the bowl and place it brownie-side down on the chilled marble slab. Remove the plastic wrap. Completely cover the ice cream and brownie with the meringue, making sure to seal the edges on the chilled slab. Bring the baked Alaska out to your guests, set it on the table and use a kitchen torch to brown the meringue!
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F; line a 13-by-9-inch cake pan with foil and leave a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Spray with nonstick spray.
• Add the butter to a medium glass bowl and melt in the microwave. Add the cocoa, granulated sugar and brown sugar, and stir vigorously until the mixture is smooth. Stir in the eggs one at a time, stirring well until mixed in completely after each addition. Add the flour, salt and vanilla extract and again stir vigorously until the batter is well combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth down and even the top. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center of the brownie comes out clean with just a few crumbs, 30 minutes. Let cool completely.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line a 20cm cake tin. Beat together the butter and sugar using a hand whisk or freestanding mixer, for 5 mins until pale and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and eggs, then fold through the flour, lemon zest and milk. Spoon the mixture into the tin, smooth over and bake for 18-20 mins until golden and firm to the touch. Leave to cool completely before starting the meringue.
• Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks in a clean bowl, then add the sugar 1 tbsp at a time while whisking continuously, until you have a thick, glossy mixture that holds its shape when the beaters are lifted away from the bowl. Quickly beat in the vinegar.
• Remove the ice cream from the freezer 10 mins before you assemble to soften slightly. Place the sponge on a serving plate. Spread the jam over the top of the sponge in an even layer. Scoop balls of the ice cream into a mound in the middle of the sponge, leaving a 1-2cm gap of sponge around the edge. Gently smooth the side and top of the ice cream with a palette knife. Spoon and swirl the meringue around the outside of the ice cream and cake base with a large spoon. Use a blow torch to evenly brown the outside of the meringue, if you have one. Cut into wedges to serve.

SPUMONI BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter and chocolate; stir until smooth. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually stir into chocolate mixture. Stir in hazelnuts., Spread into a greased 8-in. round baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake), 35-40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., Meanwhile, line an 8-in. round bowl (1-1/2 qt.) with foil. In a smaller bowl, place 1 qt. ice cream; add the pistachios, almond extract and, if desired, food coloring. Quickly spread ice cream over bottom and up sides of foil-lined bowl, leaving the center hollow; cover and freeze for 30 minutes., In a small bowl, combine cherries, cherry juice, rum and remaining 1 qt. ice cream. Pack ice cream into hollow center of 8-in. bowl; cover and freeze., In a large heavy saucepan, combine egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar. With a hand mixer, beat on low speed 1 minute. Continue beating over low heat until egg mixture reaches 160°, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; beat until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved., Place brownie on an ungreased foil-lined baking sheet; top with inverted ice cream mold. Remove foil. Immediately spread meringue over ice cream, sealing to edges of brownie. Freeze until ready to serve, up to 24 hours., Preheat oven to 400°. Bake until meringue is lightly browned, 2-5 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate; serve immediately.

RASPBERRY SORBET FOR BAKED ALASKA BOMBE

Steps:

• Combine raspberries and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to break up fruit. Reduce to a simmer, and cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and working in batches, puree mixture in a blender. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl (you should have 1 cup). Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Reserve 2 tablespoons for coulis. Freeze remaining mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions, then transfer directly to bombe mold.