How to make Baked Alaska
Baked Alaska Recipe Rating
Baked Alaska was a totally new revelation to us. It's not a very common dessert over here in the UK, I believe it is more popular in the States though. So when my Mum found a recipe for it in one of her many cook books she decided she had to have a go at making it.
The first attempt was a huge success, loved by all who were lucky enough to try it (not me and the hubby sadly). So when we were next home to see our parents she decided to make it again - this time though it was a total flop! Thanks to using expensive baking caster sugar, the egg whites didn't stiffen and peak like they should have and when attempting to bake, it just ran and melted even more - granted it was still eaten as a big gooey mess by my husband, mum and sister (not me!) But on a third attempt it again turned out perfectly (see the picture for this attempt) so I eventually got to try the ellusive Baked Alaska masterpiece! Now I should say that I am a bit strange with my desserts - I don't like hot and cold mixed, ice cream on anything else (it is served in a seperate bowl if I eat it) no cream of any sort usually, oh and I dont actually like merigue very much! Yep so this is technically a dessert I shouldn't enjoy, but with all that taken into account it was actually really quite nice. I only had a small piece but all the rest was gladly accepted and eaten by everyone else, and finished off by the next door neighbours!
So this is a great recipe if you like Baked Alaska or like the idea of trying to heat ice cream in the oven (just to see if it'll work!) Just dont use expensive baking sugar! I'm sure this will be a great treat that the kids will love, as will the rest of the family. Perfect party piece to impress your friends with too - the ice cream really does stay cold under the warm crisp meringue. Plus it is really quite simple to make, some you get the eggs whipped up enough.
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 1 punnet, approx 225g Raspberries (or other berry)
- 1 20cm Flan sponge base
- 1 tub Vanilla ice cream
- 5 large Eggs, Whites only
- 170g Caster Sugar
- 3tbsp Cointreau (or other liquor)
How to make Bakes Alaska
- First you will want to soak your berries in the Liquor of your choice for around 2 hours
- You could make your own base, but buying a flan base is easier and actually more cost affective. Place the flan on an oven proof dish. Pile your berries into your flan base and spread out evenly.
- In a large bowl (or mixer) start whipping the egg whites until the start to stiffen and peak.
- Preheat over to 230c and move the shelves to make sure you have enough space to place the dessert in the centre, so it wont catch the shelf above. It is quite tall when finished.
- Slowely add in the sugar a bit at a time until it is all combined. You should be able to make peaks in the mixture which will hold their shape
- Scoop the ice cream on top of the berries until you have a large mound covering the berries but not overflowing the edge of the base.
- Next you will either want to scoop or pipe the egg white mixture all over the ice cream, making sure to cover it entirely. all the way down to the base.
- Place in the oven immediatly for 4-5 minutes, no longer as it will start to melt. The merigue will crisp and brown on the edges and peaks just a little
- Serve immediatly, this does not keep (it'll melt) And enjoy!
