Baked Alaska — ice cream baked in meringue
Baked Alaska is a dramatic American dessert: a block of ice cream on a sponge cake base, covered entirely in stiff meringue, then briefly baked in a very hot oven so the meringue browns while the ice cream stays frozen. The trick is that meringue is a remarkable insulator.
i. Origin & history
Baked Alaska is reputedly named for the 1867 American purchase of Alaska. It is associated with Delmonico's restaurant in New York, which served a version called "Alaska, Florida" in honour of the cold-and-hot contrast.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 8 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 1 small sponge cake or 6 sponge fingers
- 1 litre vanilla ice cream
- 60 ml brandy or rum
- 6 egg whites
- Pinch salt
- 300 g caster sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla
iii. Method
- Line a small bowl with cling film; press ice cream into it; freeze 4 hours until rock-hard.
- Place sponge base on an oven-safe plate; brush with brandy.
- Turn frozen ice cream onto the sponge; remove cling film. Return to freezer.
- Whip egg whites with salt and lemon juice; gradually add sugar; whip to stiff glossy peaks. Whisk in vanilla.
- Cover the entire ice-cream dome with meringue, sealing to the plate at the edges. Make decorative peaks.
- Bake at 230 °C for 3-4 min — just enough to brown the meringue tips.
- Serve immediately, flamed with brandy at the table for spectacle.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Modern baked Alaska uses a chef's torch instead of the oven. Norwegian omelette is the French name. Bombe Alaska uses multiple ice-cream layers.
vi. Common questions
What is baked alaska?
Baked Alaska is ice cream baked in meringue, from north american cuisine. The trick is that meringue is a remarkable insulator
Where is baked alaska from?
Baked Alaska is from the north american dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does baked alaska keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: Eat at once.