Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (2024)

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Baked Alaska is a classic, old-fashioned dessert that you can easily make at home. This showstopping frozen treat comes together with minimal effort and no baking—plus, it's easy to customize!

By

Stephanie Loo

Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (1)

Stephanie Loo

Stephanie Loo is a pastry chef at Restaurant Daniel, freelance writer, recipe developer, and food stylist who contributed to the Eater, Bon Appetit, Food52, Epicurious, The Kitchn, and Simply Recipes.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated May 19, 2023

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Baked Alaska naturally has that wow factor, making it look complicated and difficult to make. This easy version requires no baking at all and has a short list of ingredients. The outermost layer is a meringue, which covers a bombe of three different flavors of ice cream. At the bottom is a layer of store-bought (or homemade, your choice!) pound cake. The whole thing gets torched for a dramatic look.

Baked Alaska is an old-fashioned dessert that is still popular today and is the perfect crowd-pleasing finale to serve at any gathering.

What Is Baked Alaska?

Early versions of baked Alaska are said to have originated in the early 1800s. However, most food historians credit French chef Charles Ranhofer for inventing this iconic frozen dessert. It’s said that Chef Ranhofer created the baked Alaska at Demonico’s in New York City to celebrate the United States’ purchase of Alaska in 1867.

Baked Alaska has stood the test of time and is still a cherished dessert. It is often seen at restaurants but can easily be made at home. It’s a simple trifecta of cake, ice cream, and torched meringue.

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Tips and Tricks for a Successful Baked Alaska

There are no special tools or ingredients required for this baked Alaska. It does take a few hours of (hands-off) freezing time, so you’ll want to plan accordingly. It’s important to make sure that the ice cream center is completely frozen before assembling the dessert. If it’s not completely solid, the baked Alaska will melt when you torch the meringue.

Tip

I highly recommend assembling the ice cream and cake the day before (or a few days before), freezing it overnight, and applying and toasting the meringue just before serving.

How to Toast the Meringue

There are two ways to toast the meringue: with a hand-held torch (my personal preference) or in the oven. With a kitchen torch, you are able to have more control over the browning, and it’s more fun! However, the oven works well too for those that don’t have a torch.

  • If using a kitchen torch, place the frozen baked Alaska on a serving plate and hold the torch about 6 inches away from the meringue. Brown the meringue by moving the torch in a circular pattern, until you see the meringue starting to brown. Be careful not to leave the torch in one place for too long or the meringue will burn.
  • If using the oven, preheat the oven to 500°F and bake the frozen baked Alaska for 3 to 5 minutes, just until the meringue is golden brown.

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Recipe Variations

The flavor combinations for baked Alaska are endless! Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream are classic, but you can use any mix of ice cream flavors. Contrasting colors will make for the most dramatic effect when you slice into the dessert.

Any flavor of pound cake will also work for this recipe. For the easiest assembly, opt for store-bought pound cake, or make your own. If baking your own pound cake, make sure to let it completely cool before slicing and assembling.

Make Ahead and Storage

Since baked Alaska is a frozen dessert, it’s perfect for making ahead. Finished baked Alaska can be stored uncovered in the freezer for up to 1 week. However, for the best meringue texture, it’s best to make the meringue the day that you intend to serve it.

Wrap leftover slices of baked Alaska in a layer of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 1 month.

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Baked Alaska

Prep Time45 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Chill Time4 hrs 15 mins

Total Time5 hrs 5 mins

Servings12 servings

Yield1 (9-inch) baked Alaska

If you’re using frozen pound cake, defrost it according to the package directions first.

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray

  • 2 pints ice cream (any 2 flavors), softened in the fridge for 30 minutes

  • 1 quart ice cream, any flavor, softened in the fridge for 30 minutes

  • 1 loaf pound cake, store-bought orhomemade

  • 6 large egg whites, room temperature

  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 cup (200g)granulated sugar

  • 1/3 cup water

Special Equipment

  • 1(3-quart) metal bowl
  • Stand mixer
  • Candy or frying thermometer

Method

  1. Freeze the ice cream center:

    Spray a 3-quart metal bowl with cooking spray. Line with plastic wrap, leaving several inches of overhang around the edges.

    Fill the lined bowl with alternating scoops of the various ice cream flavors, saving half of the quart of ice cream. Place a piece of plastic wrap on the top of the ice cream scoops and gently press down to fill in any gaps. Smooth out the top.

    Freeze for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the top is mostly firm. Return the remaining ice cream to the freezer while the bowl freezes.

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    Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (8)

    Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (9)

  2. Add the pound cake:

    Cut the pound cake into 1/2-inch slices.

    Once the ice cream is mostly firm, remove the plastic and spread the remaining ice cream over the top. Place pound cake slices on top, making sure they fit snugly together. Cut some of the pound cake to fill in any gaps, as needed.

    Place a piece of plastic wrap up over the cake to cover and freeze until solid, about 4 hours or up to 1 week in the freezer.

    Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (10)

    Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (11)

    Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (12)

  3. Make the meringue:

    Once the ice cream has frozen, make the meringue. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt on medium speed until soft peaks form.

    While the eggs are whipping, add the sugar and water to a medium pot over medium heat. Gently stir until the sugar is mostly dissolved, then stop stirring. Cook the sugar syrup until the temperature reads 235°F.

    With the mixer running, carefully and slowly drizzle in the hot sugar syrup. Increase the speed to high and whip until the meringue is at room temperature and holds a stiff peak.

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  4. Assemble the baked Alaska:

    If you don’t own a kitchen torch, preheat the oven to 500°F.

    Remove the bowl from the freezer and remove the top layer of plastic wrap, then invert the cake onto a large plate. Remove the rest of the plastic wrap.

    Spread or pipe the meringue all over the ice cream, making sure that it is completely covered and touching the plate, creating a seal. If spreading instead of piping, form swirly peaks in the meringue with the back of a spoon. Work quickly so that the ice cream doesn’t melt.

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    Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (18)

  5. Toast the meringue:

    Using a blow torch, brown the meringue by holding it about 6 inches from the baked Alaska and moving it constantly in a circular motion.

    If you don’t have a blow torch, you can bake the meringue. Heat the oven to 500°F and bake for 3 to 5 minutes until the meringue is golden brown. Serve immediately.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

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    Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (20)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
312Calories
11g Fat
49g Carbs
6g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories312
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g15%
Saturated Fat 6g30%
Cholesterol 43mg14%
Sodium 204mg9%
Total Carbohydrate 49g18%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 42g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 95mg7%
Iron 1mg5%
Potassium 237mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Surprise! This Impressive Homemade Baked Alaska Is Easy (2024)

FAQs

Can you buy ready made baked Alaska? ›

Vanilla ice cream and sponge cake topped with a meringue covering.

How does the ice cream not melt in a baked Alaska? ›

Baked Alaska is a baked dessert consisting of cake, ice cream, and meringue. So how does the ice cream not melt during the baking process? The meringue insulates it from the heat. The treat is baked in a hot oven for a few minutes or just long enough to firm and brown the meringue.

What is a interesting fact about baked Alaska? ›

In 1867, the United State's controversial purchase of Alaska from Russia inspired Ranhofer to add a new item to Delmonico's menu. His take on the Norwegian omelette was made of walnut spice cake, banana ice cream, and an igloo-shaped mound of meringue.

Why is the baked Alaska so difficult? ›

They're not as difficult to make when all of the layers are chilled, but what makes Baked Alaska seem impossible is that the whole dessert goes into the oven — and yet, when sliced, reveals a still-frozen interior of ice cream.

Which supermarket sells baked Alaska? ›

baked-alaska | ASDA Good Living.

Has baked Alaska been discontinued? ›

Now, four years later, Baked Alaska will return exclusively to Ben & Jerry's nationwide Scoop Shops so fans can enjoy being reunited with their favourite flavour scooped in a crunchy waffle cone or swirly sundae!

What do the French call baked Alaska? ›

In France, Baked Alaska is called omelette norvégienne or 'Norwegian omelette'.

What is the difference between baked Alaska and bombe Alaska? ›

What is the difference between bombe Alaska and baked Alaska? A bombe Alaska is coated with hot, high-proof rum before serving and set alight or flambéed. A baked Alaska is browned using a torch or the broiler setting in an oven.

Which state eats the most ice cream Alaska? ›

One thing about Alaskans is that they love ice cream. It's been said that Alaska consumes more ice cream per capita than any other state in the country!

Why do they call it a baked Alaska? ›

Etymology. The name "baked Alaska" was supposedly coined in 1876 at Delmonico's, a restaurant in New York City, to honor the acquisition by the United States of Alaska from the Russian Empire in March 1867.

Can you freeze baked Alaska after cooking? ›

Finished baked Alaska can be stored uncovered in the freezer for up to 1 week. However, for the best meringue texture, it's best to make the meringue the day that you intend to serve it. Wrap leftover slices of baked Alaska in a layer of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 1 month.

Which US president invented the baked Alaska? ›

The earliest version of Baked Alaska appeared in 1802 with Thomas Jefferson. He was one of the first presidents of the USA to serve ice cream at a state banquet in the White House. Legend has it that Jefferson asked for the ice cream to be encased in a hot pastry, creating one of the first versions of Baked Alaska.

What flavor ice cream is in baked Alaska? ›

This nostalgic dessert has three components: a brownie base, (three!) ice cream layers, and meringue. It's a baked dessert (yes, a baked dessert) that defies all logic. After baking and freezing the brownie base, pistachio, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream are layered on top before being topped with meringue.

Why doesn't the ice cream melt in baked Alaska? ›

The answer is the meringue and the cake. Both the meringue and cake surround the icecream preventing the heat from getting to the icecream and preventing it from melting. Cake and meringue both contain lots of air pockets that act as a cushion insulating the ice-cream and preventing it from melting.

What is the outer layer of a baked Alaska made from? ›

The outermost layer is a meringue, which covers a bombe of three different flavors of ice cream. At the bottom is a layer of store-bought (or homemade, your choice!) pound cake. The whole thing gets torched for a dramatic look.

What is another name for baked Alaska? ›

Bombe Alaska, also known as Baked Alaska, omelette norvégienne, omelette surprise, or omelette sibérienne, is a dessert made from ice cream and sponge cake topped with a baked meringue.

What is baked Alaska dessert made of? ›

Baked Alaska is an old-school dessert that consists of a layer of cake, a frozen ice cream center, and a coating of toasted marshmallowy meringue. It's essentially a fancy version of an ice cream cake, and though it is, admittedly, fussier to make than your average dessert, it's totally worth it for that wow-factor.

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