Baked Alaska


Baked Alaska
The name may be odd, but Baked Alaska is an elegant dessert. The core of this version is a "sandwich" of vanilla ice cream and blackcurrant sorbet between 2 layers of sponge soaked in rum-flavoured syrup.

This is then covered in a layer of meringue and put in a very hot oven for just a few minutes to brown the outside.

The magical and delicious effect comes from the contrast between the hot meringue and the cold ice cream and cake inside.

It is a little tricky to get right, but the main elements can be prepared several days in advance.
42K 17 4.2
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Last modified on: November 12th 2017

Keywords for this recipe:
For 1 dessert, you will need:

Change these quantities to make: 1 dessert 2 desserts 3 desserts
How long does it take?
Time required for this recipe:
PreparationRestingCookingStart to finish
1 hour 42 min.5 hours5 min.6 hours 47 min.
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Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - 1 hour
Baked Alaska

The rum-soaked sponge

Make 2 cups + 2 tablespoons Génoise (Genoa sponge) in a 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) tin or mould.

Stage 2 - 5 min.
Baked Alaska
Cut the cake in half lengthways.

If necessary, trim off any crusty edges to neaten the sides. Sit the pieces on a baking sheet.

Note: when cutting cake like this, a serrated knife makes the job easier.

Stage 3 - 3 min.
Baked Alaska
Prepare the soaking syrup by mixing 23 cup Sugar syrup and 2 tablespoons rum in a bowl.

Stage 4 - 2 hours
Baked Alaska
Use a brush to soak both pieces of cake generously with the syrup.

Put in the freezer for at least 2 hours.

Stage 5 - 1 hour
Baked Alaska

The ice creams

Once the soaked cake is fully frozen, cover one with a layer of 1 ¾ cup Vanilla ice cream.

Spread quickly, the flatten the top with a palette-knife.

Put back in the freezer for an hour.

Stage 6 - 5 min.
Baked Alaska
After this, add 1 ¾ cup blackcurrant sorbet as a second layer and flatten the top as before.

Stage 7 - 5 min.
Baked Alaska
Place the second piece of soaked cake on top, then neaten the sides, adding a little more ice cream to fill any gaps.

The "sandwich" should be a tidy rectangular block in 4 layers: soaked cake base, vanilla ice cream, blackcurrant sorbet and soaked cake lid.

Stage 8 - 2 hours
Baked Alaska
Sit this ice-cream sandwich in an oven-proof dish, cover with plastic film and return to the freezer one last time for at least 2 hours.

The assembled block can be made in advance and kept like this for several days.

Stage 9 - 2 min.
Baked Alaska

Finish the dessert

About 15 minutes before you intend serving, preheat the oven to 460°F (240°C). Take the ice-cream sandwich in its dish out of the freezer.

Stage 10 - 5 min.
Baked Alaska
Prepare a French-style meringue by beating 3 egg whites to stiff peak stage and folding in 23 cup caster sugar at the end.

Stage 11 - 5 min.
Baked Alaska
Cover the ice-cream sandwich completely with an even layer of meringue, using a palette-knife once more, if possible, to smooth the surface.

Stage 12 - 7 min.
Baked Alaska
Put any leftover meringue into a forcing bag with a fluted nozzle and pipe decorations on the top and around the base.

Finish by scattering a few flaked almonds over.

Stage 13 - 5 min.
Baked Alaska
Bake in the very hot oven for about 5 minutes, just enough to lightly brown the meringue and give it a thin crust.

You can also finish the dessert under the grill or with a torch, like for a crème brulée.

Stage 14 - 5 min.
Baked Alaska
Serve a slice to each guest, either on its own or with a little real custard (crème anglaise).
Remarks
Baked Alaska* can be varied with different types of cake and ice cream. Instead of genoa sponge, you could use provençal colombier for pentecost or almond macaroon cake, for example. The ice cream can be just one flavour or a combination, and you can replace the rum with a different liquor, such as Calvados (this would be a "Norman" version).

Though it is not essential, you can flambé the dessert (using rum) at the table just before serving - guaranteed to impress your guests!

*Translator's note: the French name is even more bizarre: "omelette norvégienne" or Norwegian omelette!

Keeping
The sandwich of cake and ice cream will keep for several days/weeks in the freezer.
Source
Home made.
Nutritional information
Whole recipe
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
3,573 Kcal or 14,959 Kj80 gr603 gr165 gr
179 %31 %57 %25 %
Per 100 g
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
204 Kcal or 854 Kj5 gr34 gr9 gr
10 %2 %3 %1 %
Per dessert
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
3,573 Kcal or 14,959 Kj80 gr603 gr165 gr
179 %31 %57 %25 %
% are calculated relative to a Recommended Dietary Intake or RDI of 2000 k-calories or 8400 k-joules by day for a woman (change to a man).
Possible allergens in this recipe: Egg, Milk, Gluten, Nuts
How much will it cost?
  • For 1 dessert : 6.94 €

Change currency:

Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Génoise (Genoa sponge)Génoise (Genoa sponge): You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Framboisier, Fraisier (French strawberry cake), Black Forest gateau, ... All
Vanilla ice creamVanilla ice cream: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Ice-cream Vacherin, Peach Melba, Profiteroles, Poire Belle Hélène, Little caramelized peach tarts, ... All
Blackcurrant sorbetBlackcurrant sorbet: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Peach and blackcurrant sundae, Ice-cream Vacherin, Peach and blackcurrant coupe, ... All
Sugar syrupSugar syrup: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Strawberry sorbet, Peach and verbena feuilleté, Pistachio tiramisu, Peach and mint salad , Framboisier, ... All
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