Rocky Road Horror Picture Show Baked Alaska Recipes

RASPBERRY BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Slice the cake into six 1/2-inch-thick slices. Cut six (2 1/2-inch) circles--one from each slice--with an unfluted round cookie cutter, discarding the scraps. (You can also use a small knife.) Place the cake rounds 2 inches apart on a flat dish that will fit in your freezer.
• Soften the sorbet and ice cream just enough to be able to scoop them with a standard 2 1/4-inch-diameter ice cream scoop (15 to 30 seconds in the microwave works). Fill half the scoop with raspberry sorbet and the rest of the scoop with vanilla ice cream and place an ice cream ball, flat side down, in the middle of each cake round. Freeze for at least 30 minutes, until the ice cream is very hard.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• To make the Swiss meringue, place the egg whites and sugar in a heat-proof glass bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk the mixture almost constantly, until it reaches 120 degrees F on a candy thermometer and the sugar has dissolved. Pour the mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add the vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt and beat on medium speed for one minute, then on high speed for 5 minutes, until the egg whites form stiff, glossy peaks.
• Transfer the cake rounds and ice cream to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Working quickly, spread the meringue with a spoon or small spatula, making lots of peaks all over with the back of the spoon. (You can also use a pastry bag fitted with a large fluted tip and pipe the meringue thickly around each ball of ice cream and cake.) Be sure all of the ice cream is covered with meringue. Bake for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, until the edges of the meringues are browned, turning the pan once to brown evenly. Transfer to dessert plates, drizzle Fresh Raspberry Sauce around each baked Alaska, and serve immediately.
• Place the raspberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and the framboise into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Pour into a container and chill. The sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• In a 2-quart bowl, fold the coffee liqueur into the chocolate mousse. Slice the cake into 1/2-inch thick slices. Line a 3-quart stainless steel mixing bowl with plastic wrap. Line the inside of the 3-quart plastic-lined bowl with one layer of the sliced cake. Then spread a layer of the chocolate mousse on the sliced cake. Then place a layer of the sliced strawberries on the chocolate mousse. Then layer a spoonful of soft ice cream. Keep repeating the layers until the bowl is filled to the top. Wrap the top of the bowl with plastic and freeze for 45 minutes to an hour, until the mousse has set.
• When you are ready to serve, make the meringue by whisking the egg whites. When the egg whites are half way whipped, begin to rain in the sugar. Keep mixing until whites form a soft peak.
• To unmold the layered cake, remove the top piece of plastic wrap. Place the serving plate upside down on the top of the bowl. Flip and remove the bowl. Remove the plastic that lined the bowl and spread the meringue over the whole exposed cake layer. Use a blowtorch to caramelize the meringue to a light golden color.
• Slice the dessert in wedges like a pie and serve.
• In a stainless steel bowl over a double boiler, melt together the chocolate, butter, vanilla, and the 2 tablespoons of water. Remove from heat when melted.
• In a separate stainless steel bowl over a double boiler, whisk together the egg yolks, the 3 tablespoons of water and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Whisk until it thickens and doubles in size. Be sure to not let the egg yolks cook onto the sides of the bowl. You must constantly stir the egg yolk mixture when the bowl is placed over heat. Place the egg yolk mixture bowl in a ice water bath to cool, and bring down mixture to room temperature. Once it is cooled, fold the egg yolk mixture into the chocolate mixture.
• In a third bowl, whisk the egg whites, cream of tartar, and the 4 tablespoons of sugar together until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Be careful to not overmix the mixture and break down the fluffiness of the peaks.
• In a fourth bowl, whisk the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped heavy cream into the chocolate mixture, again being careful to not over mix and break down the whipped ingredients. Refrigerate for an hour before use.
• Propane Gas Torch Warning: Propane gas torches are highly flammable and should be kept away from heat or flame, and should not be exposed to prolonged sunlight. Propane gas torches should only be used in well-ventilated areas. When lighting a propane gas torch, place the torch on a flat, steady surface, facing away from you. Light the match or lighter and then open the gas valve. Light the gas jet, and blow out the match. Always turn off the burner valve to "finger tight" when finished using the torch. Children should never use a propane gas torch without adult supervision.

ROCKY ROAD FUDGE

Steps:

• Combine butter, evaporated milk, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a hard boil for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in the chocolate until melted and smooth. Fold in the almonds and marshmallows. Pour into an 8 by 8-inch square baking pan. Chill until firm, about 2 to 4 hours. Cut into 12 squares.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Whip the egg yolks with 2 tablespoons sugar until creamy and yellow.
• Whip the egg whites to soft peaks and add the remaining sugar to the whites. Continue to whip the whites to stiff peaks.
• Carefully fold the beaten egg whites into the yolk/sugar combination.
• Using the same care, fold in the sifted flour.
• Line a cookie sheet with the baker=s parchment paper, pour the cake batter, and spread the batter out to evenly coat the pan. Bake in the center of the oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
• Cool the cake quickly near an open window and on a rack.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Assemble the baked Alaska by cutting the sponge cake to the basic shape of the bombe mold. The largest piece will be used for lining the mold and a smaller piece will be used for the top which later will be inverted to become the bottom.
• Line the bombe mold with plastic wrap and then line the plastic with the larger piece of baked and cooled cake.
• Remove the ice cream and sorbet from the freezer and allow to soften for 10 minutes. Spoon or scoop the sorbet first into the cake lined mold and create an even layer on the bottom (later the top) of the mold.
• Cover the sorbet with the ice cream in the same fashion, smoothing out the ice cream as you go, into one even layer.
• Place the remaining layer of cake on top of the ice cream layer to act as a seal and place the whole bombe into the freezer for 4 to 5 hours. This can be done well in advance of finishing the baked Alaska.
• To finish the Alaska whip the egg whites to soft peaks, add the sugar and continue to whip to stiff but not dry peaks. Pour the meringue into a pastry bag fitted with a star tube and unmold the bombe. Use hot towels to help loosen the bombe if necessary and invert the bombe onto a heat proof serving platter.
• Remove the plastic wrap and pipe a decorative design of meringue all around the base of the, now revealed, cake covered bombe. Cover the entire bombe with this meringue in as decorative a design as you can manage, being as creative as you like, but working quickly to avoid melting too much of the ice cream and sorbet. The baked Alaska is now ready for a quick visit to the very hot oven to brown the meringue but not melt the ice cream. Place the Alaska into the oven for just 5 minutes to brown the meringue to a light golden color.
• Serve immediately.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Slice the cake into half-inch layers; cut the cake layers in such a way that you can form a large oval 1/2 - inch thick and 1- inch larger all around than your ice cream mold. Arrange the oval on the platter, cover airtight with plastic wrap, and set aside. Be sure oven is preheated to 450 degrees in time for step 2. Beating the meringue: Start beating the egg whites at moderate speed until they are foaming, beat in the salt and cream of tartar, then gradually increase speed to fast until egg whites form soft peaks. Gradually beat in the sugar, sprinkling in 1/4 cup at a time, beating half a minute between additions. After all has gone in, add vanilla, and continue beating for several minutes at high speed until eggs form stiff, shiny peaks. Set aside ice-cream mold in a basin of tepid water, run a knife around edge, and unmold the sherbet or ice cream upon the cake in the platter. Immediately spread the meringue over it with a spatula, starting at bottom of cake and bringing it up to a peak at the top of the dessert. Meringue should be about 1- inch thick over the sherbet or ice cream, in order to insulate it from the heat of the oven. Sieve confectioner's sugar all over surface of meringue, making a layer about 1/16 -- inch thick. Browning: Set in upper-middle level of preheated 450 degree oven for 3 to 4 minutes, to brown meringue lightly. Just before serving, place a sparkler on top of the baked Alaska and light.

BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Cut a piece of cardboard the size of the cake. Wrap in aluminum foil. Set aside. Line the loaf pan with plastic wrap so it hangs well out over the edge. (The plastic wrap will be used to help lift the ice cream and cake loaf from the pan when it comes time to frost with meringue, bake and serve.)
• Spoon the ice cream into the loaf pan. Scatter the dry cherries or candied fruit, if you are using, as you layer the ice cream into the loaf pan. Press down on the ice cream to make it as even as possible. Fill the pan about 3/4 full or to within 1-inch of the top edge of the loaf pan. Place one slice of cake on the ice cream. Place the cardboard on top. Bring the pieces of plastic wrap up over the top of the ice cream loaf to cover, then place in the freezer. The Baked Alaska may be prepared up to two weeks ahead to this point and stored in the freezer before serving.
• About 30 minutes before you plan to serve the dessert, place the ice cream loaf in the refrigerator to temper slightly if it is very firm. Turn on your broiler.
• Place the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Whisk to combine. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Whisk gently until sugar dissolves completely (there should be no gritty feeling when you rub some of the mixture between your thumb and index finger), and the egg whites are uniformly hot (about 130 degrees).
• Remove the bowl from the pan and return to the electric mixer. Whip on medium speed until the meringue is cool and increased in volume. It should be stiff but not dry and lumpy.
• Unmold the ice cream loaf onto an oven proof serving platter. Top the loaf with another slice of the cake. Frost the cake with the meringue about 1-inch thick. Seal the ice cream loaf completely with meringue. Use a pastry bag fitted with a star tip to pipe additional meringue along the edges for a decorative effect.
• Immediately place the cake in the oven. Watch the meringue very closely. As it browns, move the pan so that it colors evenly. It should bake no more than 5 or 6 minutes.
• Serve at once with red fruit or caramel sauce