- 50ml/2fl oz water
- 225g/8oz white caster sugar
- 4 free-range egg whites
- 75g/3oz hazelnuts, finely chopped
- 1 small ready-made chocolate sponge
- 500ml/1lb 2oz vanilla ice cream
- 500ml/1lb 2oz toffee ice cream
- 500ml/18fl oz double cream
- 175g/6oz demerara sugar
- 175g/6oz butter
- 1 tbsp golden syrup
- 1 tbsp black treacle
- For the baked Alaska, place the water and sugar into a pan and bring to the boil. Skim the surface and wipe the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush to remove any sugar crystals, then increase the heat so that the syrup boils rapidly.
- Insert a sugar thermometer. When the sugar mixture reaches 110C/225F beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks are formed.
- When the sugar mixture reaches 121C/250F remove from the heat. It will have formed a syrup.
- Turn the electric mixer onto the lowest setting then pour the sugar syrup into the egg whites in a thin, steady stream, continuing to beat until all the syrup is incorporated.
- Continue to beat at a slow speed until the mixture is almost cold, this can take up to 15 minutes.
- Fold the hazelnuts into the egg white mixture then spoon into a piping bag fitted with a plain nozzle.
- Place the chocolate sponge onto a serving plate and top with alternate scoops of vanilla and toffee ice cream.
- Pipe the meringue around the ice cream, covering completely from top to bottom. Glaze the meringue with a mini-blowtorch, or bake briefly in a very hot oven.
- For the toffee sauce, pour the cream into a pan and heat gently. Add the sugar and butter and whisk until melted. Whisk in the syrup and treacle.
- To serve, cut wedges of baked Alaska and place on serving plates. Drizzle the sauce over the top.