You need this Neapolitan Pound Cake Baked Alaska in your life! Piled high with fluffy toasted meringue. It uses a frozen pound cake and couldn’t be easier!

slices of Baked Alaska dessert on a plate

I am excited to share with you some recipes inspired by my recent Panama Canal cruise with Princess Cruises. This was a hosted event. All opinions, photos, and recipes are my own. This is my final Princess cruise inspired recipe for this time, and OH what a special recipe it is! Let me tell you about the night I ALMOST had Baked Alaska…

Baked Alaska being served aboard the Coral Princess cruise ship

The dining room had an “American” themed dinner planned with meatloaf, mashed potatoes, turkey, and so much more. This was the final night of our 10 day Panama Canal cruise, and we were feeling relaxed and pampered. As we were enjoying our meal, an announcement was made to please turn our attention to the kitchen doors, and much to our surprise and delight, men and women began pouring out, all of them dancing around holding Baked Alaska piled high with the most perfectly toasted fluffy meringue!

slice of Baked Alaska dessert with chocolate drizzle and mint

You guys… I was too full to eat it!! Seriously too, too full from 10 days of indulging in dessert every day. Even though we took advantage of the exercise room and we booked ACTIVE excursions, I couldn’t handle one more dessert. My husband happily took my portion, and I vowed to recreate an inspired recipe at home.

Pound Cake sliced in half and layered with chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream

How to Make Baked Alaska at Home

I’m really not super fancy, so enter this EASY Neapolitan Pound Cake Baked Alaska recipe that uses a frozen pre-made pound cake. You know these things you find in the frozen aisle of your grocery store? Alternatively, you can use any grocery store pound cake found in the baking aisle. Well, slice that right down the middle and place your favorite ice cream flavors.

toasted meringue cake on a plate with the text how to make quick and easy baked Alaska at home

Put the top back on and place it back in the freezer while you make the meringue.

This can be done days, weeks, even months ahead of time as long as you wrap it up well before freezing.

Fluffy meringue piled high on the EASY Pound Cake Baked AlaskaHow to Use Meringue Powder

When ready to serve, you’re going to make some meringue. There are a few ways to make the meringue. The easiest method is to use a meringue powder that you whip up with sugar and water. Seriously don’t be scared of this step! You can find meringue powder at most craft and baking supply stores (like Michael’s and Joanne’s). I’ll post a link to it at the bottom as well.

Toasted meringue frosting on top of Baked Alaska dessert

Meringue can be made with egg whites if you do not have meringue powder. Two teaspoons meringue powder + 2 tablespoons water = 1 large egg white.

Want an easier substitution? You can substitute meringue in this recipe with a jar (or two) of marshmallow fluff.

 

How to Toast Baked Alaska

Next, you get to set it on fire with a kitchen torch! This is a small, handheld torch. It can be used to toast meringue, marshmallows, creme brulee, bananas foster, and more.

If you do not own a kitchen torch, you can bake it in the oven. Be sure that the meringue covers the pound cake and ice cream entirely. The meringue acts as a barrier to prevent the ice cream from melting immediately. You will only be toasting the meringue for 1-2 minutes while keeping a constant watch over it.

Pound Cake Baked Alaska fluffy torched meringue close up

Glory, hallelujah! Let’s take a moment to really appreciate that toasted meringue. It’s like a giant, glorious marshmallow created just for you.  Except it’s full of cake and ice cream, so it’s the definition of perfection.

Can Baked Alaska be Prepared in Advance?

You can freeze the pound cake and ice cream for up to 3 months if it is wrapped tightly.

We prefer to make the meringue and serve it fresh, but you could prepare Baked Alaska topped with meringue before you freeze and store it. You will need ample space in your freezer to allow the meringue to freeze solid before wrapping the whole cake in plastic wrap. Otherwise, the meringue will stick to the plastic wrap and be messy.

slice of pound cake Baked Alaska dessert with Neapolitan ice cream center

How to Serve Baked Alaska

A drizzle of chocolate sauce before serving or on top of the cake is a nice addition.

You can also serve it alongside fresh strawberries, a sprig of mint, and chocolate curls or shavings.

slice of Neapolitan Pound Cake Baked Alaska Recipe with chocolate drizzle

EASY Neapolitan Pound Cake Baked Alaska Recipe- uses a frozen pound cake!!

Pound Cake Baked Alaska

You need this Neapolitan Pound Cake Baked Alaska in your life! It is piled high with fluffy toasted meringue and starts with a frozen pound cake. It couldn't be easier!
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Ingredients

  • 16 oz frozen pound cake, thawed, (such as Sara Lee)
  • 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream, softened
  • 1/2 cup strawberry ice cream, softened
  • 1/2 cup chocolate ice cream, softened
  • 1 tablespoon meringue powder
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract, or vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Pound Cake Baked Alaska

  • THAW the frozen pound cake for at least 10 minutes. SLICE lengthwise into 2 even layers.
  • SCOOP ice cream into three rows down the length of the pound cake. TOP with the second cake layer.
  • WRAP in plastic wrap and place back into the tin. Place in freezer until ready to use.

Meringue

  • COMBINE meringue powder, water, and sugar in the bowl of your electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. WHIP for 5 minutes.
  • ADD flavor extract and whip for an additional 5-10 minutes. The meringue should be stiff but still spreadable.
  • SPREAD meringue all over the pound cake or put into a piping bag with a large open tip and pipe all over the pound cake.
  • Use a small kitchen torch to TOAST the meringue if desired. Alternatively, you can put it in the oven at 475 degrees F for 1-2 minutes (watch carefully through the oven window).

Notes

If you are putting this Pound Cake Baked Alaska in the oven, be sure that the meringue covers the pound cake and ice cream entirely. The meringue acts as a barrier to prevent the ice cream from melting immediately.
Replace ice cream with any flavor(s) that you prefer.
Meringue can be made with egg whites if you do not have meringue powder. 2 teaspoons meringue powder + 2 tablespoons water = 1 large egg white.
You can substitute meringue in this recipe with a jar (or 2) of marshmallow fluff.

Nutrition

Serving: 8g, Calories: 124kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 18mg, Sugar: 12g, Calcium: 30mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @katrinaskitchen on Instagram with the hashtag #katrinaskitchenrecipes

toasted meringue with the text how to make quick and easy baked Alaska at home