Riley, I can't bring a Baked Alaska to the Pinnacles. It's an hour and a half away; and there's no oven though, during the summer, it often feels like an oven. Remind me again why we're hauling five families and an entire lunch over there for a party?!?
Our compromise: I brought rhubarb pies to the birthday picnic and promised to make him a Baked Alaska for his real birthday 'cake.'
I took Riley with me to the store - to pick his ice cream flavor(s) - and he immediately honed in on 'Moose Tracks' ice cream. Never heard of it? Me neither. But he was set on it. He selected a vanilla version and a mint version with ribbons of fudge and chunks of chocolate. Not quite sure what the 'tracks' are - poop?!? - but he loved that it fit his theme.
Make the cake and prepare the ice cream ahead of time so all you have to do is assemble and brown the meringue before serving this dramatic dessert.
Ice Cream...
Let the ice cream soften, slightly, so that you can scoop it and press it into your mold/bowl. Select a bowl that leaves at least 1" of a border between it and the size of the cake.
Once the ice cream is softened, line a bowl with plastic wrap. Spoon the ice cream into the bowl and press it into the right shape.Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and return it to the freezer to harden completely. I usually do this step the night before.
Cake...
2 C white whole wheat
flour
1 C raw turbinado sugar
¾ C unsweetened cocoa powder
2 t baking powder
1½ t baking soda
1 t espresso powder
1 C milk
½ C sunflower oil
2 eggs
2 t vanilla extract
1 C boiling water
Preheat oven to 350º F. Butter your baking dish.
Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and
espresso powder to a large mixing bowl. Whisk to mix thoroughly.
Add milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture
and mix together until well combined. Carefully whisk in boiling water and beat on high speed for about 1
minute to aerate the batter.
Pour the cake batter in to the buttered dish and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Mine - because my pan was deep - took 80 minutes. If I had split the batter into two dishes, it probably would have taken half the time.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the end of the pan and invert the cake onto a wire cooling rack.
Once you're all set to assemble, separate 8 eggs, placing the whites in a large stainless steel bowl. Add 1/8 t cream of tartar, 1/8 t salt, and 2 T organic granulated sugar.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar, salt and sugar until stiff peaks form. Line a baking sheet with parchment or heavy brown paper. Place cake in center. Turn molded ice cream out onto cake. Quickly and prettily spread meringue over cake - make sure to have lots of little peaks because that is what browns. Return to the freezer.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Bake the Alaska on the lowest shelf, 8 to 10 minutes, or until meringue is lightly browned. Serve immediately!
Looks yummy
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