Baked Alaska

dessert dish of ice cream, sponge cake and meringue

Baked Alaska is a dessert made of ice cream on top of slices of sponge cake or Christmas pudding and covered with meringue. The whole dessert is then baked in a very hot oven for just long enough to cook the meringue.[1] The meringue is a good insulator, and the short cooking time prevents the heat from getting through to the ice cream.

Banana Baked Alaska

Its name, but not the recipe, was made at Delmonico's Restaurant in 1867 to honour the new American territory of Alaska.[1]

February 1 is Baked Alaska Day.[2]

Variations change

A slightly changed dessert called Bombe Alaska came from Noel, Alaska. Some dark rum is splashed over the Baked Alaska, and the whole dessert is flambéed while being served.

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Baked Alaska: History, Facts & Recipes for this classic dessert". www.foodreference.com.
  2. "American Holidays - National Holidays - Food Holidays". statesymbolsusa.org.