A real Wow! version of Baked Alaska Image by Anne Davis via FlickrFrom Denny: A classic dessert that is always a show stopper for guests and family alike. It's also the perfect ending to a romantic dinner during the Love Season of Valentine's Day. Our favorite domestic diva, Martha Stewart, shows us how to create this rich, decadent chocolate dessert. This simple version is a chocolate baked alaska using chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. Could it get any better for lovers - or lovers of chocolate?
In this segment Martha also demonstrates making ice pops from white hot chocolate and more. Cold or hot, Martha thinks hot chocolate reflects the fickleness of human emotions.
Baked Alaska with chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream
From: Martha Stewart
Serving Size: Makes 9
Ingredients:
For the cakes:
2 cups sugar
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
Salt
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup warm water (about 100°)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
6 large eggs, room temperature, separated
For assembling
Vegetable oil cooking spray
6 cups chocolate ice cream (3 pints)
For the meringue
12 large egg whites, room temperature
3 cups sugar
Pinch of cream of tartar
Preparation:
These mini meringue-coated chocolate ice-cream-and-cake concoctions are stunning desserts for a crowd.
Preheat oven to 350°. Make the cakes: Sift 1 1/3 cups sugar, the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt into a bowl. Combine oil, water, and vanilla.
Whisk egg yolks with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. With machine running, slowly pour oil mixture into yolks, and then add sugar mixture.
In a clean mixer bowl, whisk egg whites on medium-high speed, gradually adding remaining 2/3 cup sugar, until medium stiff peaks form. Mix one-third of the whites into cake batter, then gently fold in remaining whites.
Divide batter between two 12-by-17-inch parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets, and spread evenly using an offset spatula. Bake until cakes are set and spring back when touched, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool.
Assemble the baked Alaska: Coat six 11-ounce bowls or ramekins with cooking spray; line with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang. Cut out 6 cake circles to fit in bottoms of bowls (we used a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter), and place in each bowl. Top each with 1/3 cup chocolate ice cream, smoothing surface.
Cut out 6 cake circles to fit on top of ice cream (we used a 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter), and place on ice cream. Freeze until set, about 30 minutes.
Top each cake with 1/3 cup ice cream, smoothing surface. Cut out 6 cake circles to fit on top of ice cream (we used a 4-inch round cookie cutter), and place on ice cream. (This should fit just at the top of the bowl.) Cover assembled cakes with plastic wrap overhang, and freeze for at least 4 hours.
To remove from bowls, open plastic wrap, flip cakes onto a baking sheet, and remove plastic wrap. Freeze cakes while making meringue.
Preheat oven to 500°. Make the meringue: Heat egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl of a mixer set over a pan of simmering water, whisking often, until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm to the touch, about 2 minutes. Transfer bowl to mixer, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 10 minutes.
Cover each assembled cake with 1 cup meringue. Bake until meringue is browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Alternatively, hold a small handheld kitchen torch at a 90-degree angle 3 to 4 inches from surface of meringue.
Move flame back and forth until browned and caramelized. Make ahead. Assembled dishes can be frozen for up to 3 days.
Meringue-covered cakes can be frozen for up to 4 hours.
*** Martha's other two recipes in the video can be found at her site:
Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa
White Chocolate Hot Cocoa with Coconut and Rum
*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:
Dennys Food and Recipes - all kinds of food
Comfort Food From Louisiana - Cajun and more comfort food
Unusual 2 Tasty - different twists on familiar foods, international too
The Social Poets - news, politics
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
The Healing Waters - health news
Dennys People Watching - people in the news
Dennys Food and Recipes
Dennys Funny Quotes - humor
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd - more crazy humor
Dennys Blog Feeds - check out what is posting on all the blogs at a glance
