Pint-sized baked Alaskas
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- Prep Time10 mins
- Total Time10 mins
- Makes6 Servings
John Cullen
Talk about irresistible: When guests break through the warm meringue of our Alaskas, boozy berries spill out from an ice-cream centre.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped strawberries
2 tbsp orange or almond liqueur
6 small round sponge cake dessert cups, or 6 brownies, about 3 in square
500-ml container vanilla or strawberry ice cream, about 2 cups
4 egg whites
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
In a bowl, stir berries with liqueur. Evenly space cake rounds on a large parchment-lined baking sheet. If using brownies, press down in the centres to create a shallow depression. Fill each round with about ¼ cup (50 mL) berry mixture. Drizzle any remaining juice over berries. Place 1 scoop of ice cream, about 1/3 cup (75 mL), on top of each berry mound. Immediately place in freezer to firm ice cream. Leave at least 30 min or up to an hour. Check occasionally to ensure berries don't freeze.
About 10 min before serving, place an oven rack in the centre of the oven, with no racks above it (dessert is very high). Preheat oven to 450F (230C).
Place egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on high until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted, 2 to 3 min. With beaters running, gradually add sugar. Then continue beating until stiff peaks form when beaters are lifted, 2 to 3 min.
Remove baking sheet from freezer. Working quickly, generously dollop meringue over ice cream and berries. Don't worry about it looking perfect. Using the back of a spoon, swirl to cover ice cream and berries, leaving the cake exposed. If using brownies, however, cover cake too. Then swirl meringue into peaks. Place in preheated oven and bake just until peaks of meringues are golden, about 3 min. Watch closely. Serve immediately.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories 295, Protein 6g, Carbohydrates 54g, Fat 6g, Fibre 1g.