Recipe: Baked Snowballs (Baked Alaska)

BAKED SNOWBALLS

4 to 6 slices of cake
Ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet
3 egg whites, room temperature
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
4 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Chocolate syrup (for garnish)
Maraschino cherries (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.

Use 2-inch or 3-inch round baking dishes or ramekins. (Square dishes will not work.) Cut each slice of cake into a circle so that it fits into the bottom of the baking dish. Place a circle of cake on the bottom of each dish.

Now fill the dishes to the top with ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet. Then place filled dishes on a cookie sheet and put in freezer.

Place egg whites in a mixing bowl and whip until frothy (like soapsuds).

Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form (like shaving cream).

Gradually add sugar and then vanilla. Continue to beat until smooth and shiny (another 2 to 3 minutes).

Remove ice cream-filled dishes from freezer and spread the snow meringue over the top of each of the ice cream cups. Make very sure the snow forms a "blanket" over the ice cream. There should be absolutely NO ice cream showing.

Put snowballs on cookie sheet and place in oven. Bake until golden brown, from 1 to 3 minutes. Watch very closely, as they brown quickly.

Take snowballs out of the oven and garnish each with chocolate syrup and a cherry. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 to 6 snowballs
Source: Batter Up Kids: Delicious Desserts