Flambe Showstopper Baked Alaska Recipes

YETI BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Make the cake mix according to pack instructions, adding the blue and purple sprinkles to the raw batter.
• Bake in a 7" round cake tin that has been greased and lined with baking parchment and leave to cool on a wire rack.
• Double line the base of a 2-pint glass bowl with plastic wrap, leaving the edges quite long so that you can get the ice cream out easily.
• Leave the purple ice cream to soften slightly and then spoon it into the bottom of the bowl. Smooth over and then put into the freezer for 2 hours to set firmly. Repeat with the blue layer-which should come to the top of the bowl approximately.
• When the cake has cooled down, trim around the edge so that it fits the bowl exactly and press it down onto the ice cream. Put back in the freezer.
• Using the fondant, make a face for the Yeti and set aside. Brush with water and sprinkle over the sanding sugar.
• Stir the caster sugar and water in a small pan fitted with the sugar thermometer, until dissolved. Heat gently until the mixture starts to thicken and turn yellow (240F).
• Whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar to soft peaks and slowly drizzle in the hot syrup, whisking constantly until the mixture is stiff and glossy. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle.
• Remove the ice cream from the freezer and upturn it onto a serving plate. Remove the plastic wrap and stick the face onto the side of the ice cream. Pipe the yeti's fur all over in long spikes. Return to the freezer until ready to serve.
• Just before serving, brown the meringue lightly with a Brule torch.

SIMPLE BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Lay ice cream bricks side by side; measure length and width.
• Trim cake 1 inch larger on all sides than ice cream measurements.
• Place cake on a piece of foil.
• Center ice cream on cake.
• Cover; freeze till firm.
• At serving time, beat together egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar to soft peaks. Gradually add in sugar beating after each tablespoon is added.
• Transfer cake with ice cream to a baking sheet.
• Spread with egg white mixture, sealing to edges of cake and baking sheet all around.
• Swirl to make peaks.
• Place oven rack in lowest position.
• Bake in a 500F degrees oven about 3 minutes or till golden.
• Slice; serve immediately.

INDIVIDUAL BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• To make the chocolate sauce: chop the chocolate to a rough consistency.
• Heat the cream just to a scald, then pour over the chocolate.
• Do not stir.
• Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then stir with a whisk until smooth.
• Makes about 1 cup.
• To make the raspberry sauce: Puree the raspberries in a blender with the remaining ingredients.
• Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds.
• Refrigerate until needed.
• Makes about 1 cup.
• To assemble the ice-cream bases: line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Using a 3" round cookie cutter (or a glass) cut 6 circles out of the cake, and place them on the parchment.
• Place a scoop of ice cream in the center of each piece of cake, making sure you leave a small margin of cake visible all the way around.
• Place in the freezer until the meringue is ready.
• To prepare the meringue: combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy, 1-quart saucepan over medium heat.
• Bring to a boil, then cook until the syrup reaches 230 degrees F.
• (thread stage) on a candy thermometer.
• Meanwhile, place the egg whites in the bowl of your mixer, and fit the whip attachment to your mixer.
• When the syrup reaches the thread stage, start whipping your egg whites on high speed.
• When the syrup reaches 245-250 degrees F.
• (firm-ball stage), lower the speed of the mixer to low, and very, very, VERY slowly start pouring the syrup in, in a slow, steady, thin stream until it is all used up.
• Immediately return the mixer to high speed and continue whipping until the meringue reaches a very stiff peaked consistency.
• Transfer the meringue to a piping bag fit with a plain tip.
• Remove the ice cream bases from the freezer.
• Now you are going to create a meringue"beehive" around each scoop of ice cream.
• I find it easier to do this by removing one ice-cream scoop at a time to a cake turntable or a flat-work surface that I can spin around, like a small plate, pipe the meringue, then using a thin spatula, returning it carefully to the parchment.
• To pipe the meringue you need to start at the bottom edge of the cake, pipe a ring of meringue around the icecream so that it completely covers the cake edge.
• Then continue to pipe a line of meringue all around the scoop of ice cream, making sure you completely cover the ice cream, and that each line of meringue rests on top of the previous one.
• Finish with a small circle at the top.
• Repeat with remaining ice cream bases.
• Return them to the freezer until ready to serve.
• Just before service, decorate your plate: choose an oversize plate, like a dinner plate.
• Then using the sauces, paint or spoon or swirl them on to your hearts content.
• Any design you like.
• I like to just use squiggles, but anything goes at this point.
• Now- if you don't have a torch, you will need to turn your oven to broil.
• If you have a torch, get it ready.
• Remove the meringues from the freezer, and dust the top of each one with the confectioners sugar in a fine mesh strainer.
• If you are using a broiler, place the baking sheet under the broiler but leave the door open and watch.
• You will only need about 30-45 seconds, just enough time for the meringue to turn golden brown.
• Remove from the oven, place one in the center of each plate, and serve.
• If you are using a torch, turn your torch to a med-low setting, and carefully, gently use the torch to brown the outside of the meringues.
• Place one meringue on each plate, and serve.
• Notes: You can use any type of cake you want here- this recipe is more a method than anything.
• I've used chocolate chiffon as a base, I've used spongecake, poundcake, leftover slices of cupcakes!
• Anything, anyflavor, but it needs to be at least 1/4" thick.
• You can also use any flavor ice-cream- experiment, go wild.
• Sorbet is great this way- I've done mango sorbet, and lime sorbet- they taste terrific.
• Experiment, have fun, and don't be intimidated by this dessert.
• It's fun, and it's easy, and your friends and relatives will"oooohhhh!
• "and"ahhhhh!
• "you to death!