Christmas Baked Alaska

== Description ==
You can use any ice cream flavor. We recommend chocolate. Leave the ice cream in room temperature for an hour to soften.
== Ingredients ==
* 1 quart ice cream - softened
=== Sponge cake base ===
* 3 large eggs
* ⅓ cup sugar
* ½ cup flour
* 2 tsp cornstarch
=== Meringue ===
* 4 egg whites
* ¾ cup confectioner's sugar
== Directions ==
=== Sponge cake base ===
# In a small sauce pan, bring a cup of water to simmer over low heat.
# Preheat oven to 425°F (or 210°C).
# Beat the eggs and sugar in a small steel mixing bowl over the simmering water (double boiler), until the temperature reaches about 110 - 120°F (or 40 - 45°C).
# Remove from heat.
# Continue beating until light and creamy - until it cools down again.
# Add the flour and starch, then fold gently.
# Be careful not to overmix.
# On a greased baking pan, line up a sheet of silicon or wax paper.
# Spread the sponge base mixture thin over the sheet of silicon or wax paper.
# The shape is not important as this will just be the cake base that will be hidden by the meringue.
# A rough rectangle will be okay.
# Bake quickly in the oven for about 4-5 minutes, then remove from oven and let it cool.
# The cake should come off the paper quite easily.
# In your choice of mold (we used an oblong-shaped mold - see picture), cover the bottom and sides with pieces of the cake.
# Put in the softened ice cream to fill the mold.
# Cover the top with cake, then freeze for about 3 hours.
=== Meringue ===
# Beat the egg whites with the confectioners sugar until stiff.
# Place in a piping bag.
# Preheat oven to 425°F (210°C).
# Unmold the frozen cake-ice cream on a baking tray.
# Pipe the meringue mixture all around to completely cover the cake-ice cream.
# You can make shapes with the meringue.
# When completely covered with the meringue, put it in the oven to bake for 2 - 4 minutes.
# The meringue surface will bake very quickly, and the edges will start to brown.
# When the edges have browned enough, remove from the oven.
# The meringue surface will be baked, while the ice cream inside remains frozen.
# Decorate with cherries or candies, then serve.
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Category:Cake Recipes