Mini Baked Alaska Recipes

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.

MINI BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Prepare the brownie according to the package directions. Allow to cool completely; do not cut the brownie into pieces. Place the cooled slab of brownie on a flat surface. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 18 brownie circles; reserve the brownie trimmings for another use. Transfer the brownie circles to a serving platter.
• Put the marshmallow creme into a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with one corner snipped.
• Working quickly, scoop vanilla ice cream onto each brownie circle. Quickly pipe marshmallow creme in a swirl shape around the brownie and ice cream so that they are completely covered. Use a kitchen torch to carefully heat the marshmallow domes until just browned. Serve immediately or store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

MINI S'MORES BAKED ALASKAS

Steps:

• Cut the cartons off 6 single-serve chocolate ice cream cups and place each ice cream round on a graham cracker square. Freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, beat 4 egg whites and a pinch of cream of tartar with a mixer until foamy, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Gradually beat in 2/3 cup sugar, then beat on high speed until stiff shiny peaks form, 4 to 5 minutes. Spread the meringue over the ice cream, then brown with a kitchen torch and freeze until serving.

MINI BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Clear some room in the freezer to fit 4 dessert plates. Cut the cake into 1/2-inch thick slices. Cut out four 3-inch disks and place them on the 4 dessert plates. Place 1 scoop of ice cream in the center of each cake disk and place them in the freezer. One at a time, remove the ice cream from the freezer and encase the ice cream in slices of cake. The cake covering the ice cream should fit together nicely, creating a dome. Place them back in the freezer for up to 2 days. To make the meringue, whip the egg whites until foamy, then add the sugar, and continue whipping until stiff and glossy. Spread it over the cake domes with an icing spatula, leaving a relatively smooth surface. Push an eggshell halfway into the top to act as a bowl, which will be filled with liqueur before serving. Do all 4 domes, returning them to the freezer as you finish them. Transfer the remaining meringue to your pastry bag. Pipe meringue decoratively on the domes. Heat the broiler to very hot (or fire up your kitchen torch) and broil until lightly browned all over. Return to the freezer for up to 2 days, until ready to serve.
• When ready to serve, warm a little orange liqueur in the microwave and carefully pour it into the empty eggshells. Ignite the liquor and carry it to the table. After the flame dies down, lift the eggshell off the Alaska with 2 spoons and pour the liqueur over the dessert.

MINI BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, line a standard jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
• Mix the cake mix, 4 egg yolks, oil and water in bowl, blend for 2 minutes.
• Pour into pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the oven and cool completely before turning it out of the pan.
• Invert into a flat, clean working surface, carefully peel off the parchment paper
• With a 2 1/2-3 inch cookie cutter, cut out cake into rounds.
• Dust off crumbs and place on a clean baking sheet lined with more parchment paper.
• Top each cake with a scoop of ice cream and put the pan in the freezer until ice cream is firm.
• Leave in the freezer until just before you wish to serve.
• Beat 4 egg whites until soft peaks form, slowly add the sugar and vanilla extract and continue to beat until firm peaks hold.
• Turn on broiler (high heat).
• Remove ice cream cakes from the freezer and quickly frost with the egg white meringue.
• Insert pan into the broiler for about 1 minute, just until the meringue begins to brown. Don't let ice cream melt. Note: If you have a blowtorch use that instead. Serve immediately on chilled plates.

HOLIDAY BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Line a 3-quart bowl with plastic wrap. Fill base of bowl with peppermint ice cream; layer with mint chocolate chip ice cream, then finish with a layer of vanilla ice cream. Cover surface with plastic wrap and freeze until ice cream is very hard, at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours in advance.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch cake pan with cooking spray, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and spray parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray.
• Place butter and chocolate in a medium glass bowl over a saucepan of hot water (or a double boiler) and stir the butter and chocolate until melted. This can also be done in a microwave by placing butter and chocolate in microwave-safe medium glass bowl and microwaving on High for 1 to 2 minutes or until melted, stirring once. Set aside to cool
• In a separate large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar and vanilla until well combined. In another medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt until combined. Add the cooled chocolate mixture to the eggs and whisk to combine. Add the flour to the chocolate mixture and whisk to combine. Pour into cake pan. Bake 50 minutes to 1 hour until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• When the brownie is completely cool, about 1 hour. Turn brownie out onto a large flat, ovenproof plate. Unmold the ice cream dome on top of the brownie layer. Place back in the freezer.
• With electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar for 2 minutes on medium-high speed. Increase the speed to high and add the sugar in a slow stream until stiff, glossy peaks form.
• Remove ice cream dome from freezer. Remove plastic wrap. Cover the ice cream dome with the meringue, covering it completely, using the back of spoon to make swirly peaks. Freeze for at least 3 hours or up to 2 days.
• Heat the oven to 500°F. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes or until the peaks start to turn a golden brown color. For easier slicing, let cake stand for 30 minutes. Slice and serve.