Mini Neapolitan Baked Alaskas Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray, line with parchment, then coat parchment.
• Beat 1/2 cup sugar and the yolks with a mixer on medium speed until pale and thick, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Beat in vanilla and warm chocolate. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Whisk whites and salt with a mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until sugar dissolves. Increase speed to medium-high, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Whisk a third of meringue into chocolate mixture. Gently fold in remaining meringue in 2 additions.
• Spread batter into prepared sheet. Bake until cake is set and top is dull, about 25 minutes. Let cool on sheet on a wire rack. Invert cake onto work surface. Using a 2 3/4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 8 circles and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Reserve scraps for another use.
• Coat eight 1-cup teacups or ramekins with cooking spray, then line with plastic, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Pack 1/2 cup strawberry gelato into bottom of each cup. Top with 1/2 cup vanilla gelato, then 1 cake circle. Cover each with plastic, and freeze overnight.
• Let cakes stand for 2 to 3 minutes. Using plastic overhang, unmold cakes onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Wrap with plastic, then freeze.
• Working with 1 at a time, spoon 1/2 cup meringue on cake, spreading it over entire surface with an offset spatula. 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 meringue begins to brown. Alternatively, heat oven to 500 degrees. Bake cakes on top rack until meringue begins to brown, about 2 minutes. (If ice cream begins to soften, freeze for 15 minutes.) Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Prepare the brownie according to the package directions. Allow to cool completely; do not cut the brownie into pieces. Place the cooled slab of brownie on a flat surface. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 18 brownie circles; reserve the brownie trimmings for another use. Transfer the brownie circles to a serving platter.
• Put the marshmallow creme into a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with one corner snipped.
• Working quickly, scoop vanilla ice cream onto each brownie circle. Quickly pipe marshmallow creme in a swirl shape around the brownie and ice cream so that they are completely covered. Use a kitchen torch to carefully heat the marshmallow domes until just browned. Serve immediately or store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Steps:

• Clear some room in the freezer to fit 4 dessert plates. Cut the cake into 1/2-inch thick slices. Cut out four 3-inch disks and place them on the 4 dessert plates. Place 1 scoop of ice cream in the center of each cake disk and place them in the freezer. One at a time, remove the ice cream from the freezer and encase the ice cream in slices of cake. The cake covering the ice cream should fit together nicely, creating a dome. Place them back in the freezer for up to 2 days. To make the meringue, whip the egg whites until foamy, then add the sugar, and continue whipping until stiff and glossy. Spread it over the cake domes with an icing spatula, leaving a relatively smooth surface. Push an eggshell halfway into the top to act as a bowl, which will be filled with liqueur before serving. Do all 4 domes, returning them to the freezer as you finish them. Transfer the remaining meringue to your pastry bag. Pipe meringue decoratively on the domes. Heat the broiler to very hot (or fire up your kitchen torch) and broil until lightly browned all over. Return to the freezer for up to 2 days, until ready to serve.
• When ready to serve, warm a little orange liqueur in the microwave and carefully pour it into the empty eggshells. Ignite the liquor and carry it to the table. After the flame dies down, lift the eggshell off the Alaska with 2 spoons and pour the liqueur over the dessert.

Steps:

• Line an (8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2-inch) metal loaf pan with 2 layers of plastic wrap, allowing 3 inches of plastic to hang over pan sides. Cut ice cream block in half crosswise, and then press the layer of pound cake slices into the bottom of the pan. Add half of ice cream and then add the remaining cake to sandwich the ice cream. Fold plastic overhang atop cake to cover. Freeze for 4 hours, or until frozen solid.
• Wrap hot damp towels around pan sides to loosen cake and ice cream from pan. Fold back plastic from atop cake. Invert a baking dish or large flame-proof plate atop cake. Holding baking dish and pan together, invert cake into dish. Remove pan; keep cake covered with plastic wrap. Freeze while preparing meringue.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Beat egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer until frothy. Add cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Remove plastic from cake. Spread meringue over cake, covering cake and ice cream and completely sealing meringue to dish. Bake until meringue is lightly brown and just set, about 3 minutes. Cut into slices and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Make the orange syrup: Combine the orange juice, sugar and water in a small skillet over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until syrupy and reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, make the ice cream cakes: Coat four 6-ounce freezer-proof bowls or ramekins with cooking spray and line with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Divide the sherbet among the ramekins; use a piece of plastic wrap to press the sherbet into the center and up the sides to create a cup shape. Fill the centers with small scoops of vanilla ice cream and spread evenly. Arrange the ladyfingers on top in a single layer, breaking to fit, then drizzle with the orange syrup. Cover with the overhanging plastic wrap and freeze until very firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Make the meringue: Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until foamy, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Gradually beat in the sugar, then increase the mixer speed to high and beat until stiff shiny peaks form, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat until combined. Transfer to a large piping bag fitted with a 3/8-inch round tip.
• Uncover the ice cream cakes and invert onto a foil-lined baking sheet. Let stand until the ice cream cakes slip out of the bowls easily, then remove the plastic wrap. Pipe the meringue around each ice cream cake in a spiral. Freeze until firm, at least 3 hours or up to 2 days.
• Brown the meringue with a kitchen torch (or bake at 500˚ until golden, 3 to 5 minutes). Use a spatula to transfer the baked Alaskas to a platter or plates.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, line a standard jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
• Mix the cake mix, 4 egg yolks, oil and water in bowl, blend for 2 minutes.
• Pour into pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the oven and cool completely before turning it out of the pan.
• Invert into a flat, clean working surface, carefully peel off the parchment paper
• With a 2 1/2-3 inch cookie cutter, cut out cake into rounds.
• Dust off crumbs and place on a clean baking sheet lined with more parchment paper.
• Top each cake with a scoop of ice cream and put the pan in the freezer until ice cream is firm.
• Leave in the freezer until just before you wish to serve.
• Beat 4 egg whites until soft peaks form, slowly add the sugar and vanilla extract and continue to beat until firm peaks hold.
• Turn on broiler (high heat).
• Remove ice cream cakes from the freezer and quickly frost with the egg white meringue.
• Insert pan into the broiler for about 1 minute, just until the meringue begins to brown. Don't let ice cream melt. Note: If you have a blowtorch use that instead. Serve immediately on chilled plates.

Steps:

• In medium bowl, mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).
• Gather pastry into a ball. Shape into flattened round on lightly floured surface. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make the baked pastry more flaky. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly before rolling.
• Heat oven to 475°F. With floured rolling pin, roll pastry into round 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1 inch from rim of pie plate. Fold and roll pastry under, even with plate; flute as desired. Prick bottom and side of pastry thoroughly with fork. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown; cool on cooling rack.
• Pack scoops of ice cream, alternating flavors, in pie crust. Cover and freeze about 2 hours or until firm.
• Heat oven to 475°F. In medium bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; continue beating until stiff and glossy. Do not underbeat. Beat in vanilla. Spoon meringue onto ice cream; spread gently, sealing meringue to edge of crust. Bake 2 to 4 minutes or until top is light brown. Serve immediately, or cover and freeze no longer than 48 hours. Store in freezer.

Steps:

• Line 4 individual pudding moulds with cling film - brushing with oil first will help. Divide the ice cream between them, shaping so an even thickness covers the base and sides with a hollow in the middle. Mix the jam with 2 tsp of the kirsch, spoon into the ice-cream hollows, cover and freeze overnight.
• For the base, heat oven to 180C/ fan 160C/gas 4. Butter and line a 20cm square cake tin. Reserve 2 tbsp of the almonds, then whizz the rest in a food processor until finely chopped and tip into a bowl with the flour, butter, beaten whole eggs and 100g caster sugar. Beat until smooth, then spread into the tin and bake for 15-18 mins until golden and springy. Cool on a wire rack. This cake will sit quite happily in a tin for 24 hrs, but stamp out the bases on the day or the edges will dry overnight.
• For the meringue, whisk the egg whites until stiff, then add the remaining sugar and continue whisking until the meringue is thick and glossy. Can be chilled for up to 5 hrs. With a 7cm round cutter or rim of a pudding mould, cut 4 bases from the almond sponge. Drizzle with the rest of the kirsch, then sit them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
• When you're ready to serve, heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Turn 1 ice cream out onto each round of cake, peeling off the cling film, then spread over meringue using a knife or small spatula until completely covered. Scatter with remaining almonds and bake for 3 mins until the tips of the meringues are just browning. Lift onto serving plates with a fish slice and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Spray 4 (6-oz) custard cups with cooking spray. Spoon 1/4 cup sherbet into each cup, pressing firmly up sides of cups. Scoop 1/3 cup ice cream onto raspberry layer in each cup, spreading to edge and pressing firmly. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Freeze at least 2 hours or until firm.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 8-inch square pan with cooking spray; line with waxed paper. Grease waxed paper with shortening; lightly sprinkle with cocoa.
• In large microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and butter uncovered on Medium (50%) 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring after 30 seconds, and then at 15-second intervals; stir until smooth. Stir in 1 1/3 cups of the sugar with whisk. Add whole eggs, one at a time, stirring just until blended after each addition. Gradually add flour, baking powder and salt, stirring with whisk just until blended. Stir in 2 teaspoons of the vanilla. Spread batter in pan.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool 5 to 10 minutes on cooling rack. Run small metal spatula around edge of pan to loosen brownie. Invert pan on cooling rack; remove pan and waxed paper. Cool completely, about 40 minutes.
• Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. Using 3 1/4-inch cutter, cut out 4 brownie rounds. Place rounds on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Remove ice cream cups from freezer. Run small metal spatula around edge of each cup to loosen ice cream. Immediately turn each cup upside down onto a brownie round; remove cups. Freeze ice cream-topped brownies just until ready to use.
• Heat oven to 450°F. In small deep bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and remaining 1/4 teaspoon vanilla with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Do not underbeat.
• Using offset spatula, spread meringue over ice cream-topped brownies, carefully sealing meringue to bottom edge of brownie. Bake 3 to 4 minutes or until browned. Serve immediately.