Chocolate and Hazelnut Bombe Alaska
It’s funny how some of the major decisions in our life are made on impulse.
One weekend, over a month ago I was in the kitchen (where else?) when my husband walked in and mentioned that a house we had looked at four years ago was again for sale.
“Which one?” I asked.
“The one on so and so street, with the sandstone facade, large kitchen (he knew how to get my attention) and backyard.” he said. “Do you want to have a look?” he continued.
I remembered that one. It was a brand new house we both fell in love with but for one reason or another we didn’t buy it. And now four years later the house was up for sale again.
“Nooooo. I said.” I remembered the last time we bought a house. First there was the heartbreak of being told that our bid was accepted only to be gazumped, the frustration of losing out on several auctions and of course the stress of our last move where I packed over 80 boxes. Plus, I didn’t think it was in our price range. “I’m busy baking.” I told my husband.
He didn’t insist. He just sighed, picked up a newspaper and sat down reading on the dining table. He looked disappointed.
So just to make him happy, even if I knew there was no way I would go through that stress again, I said “Okay, let’s go. Let’s take my Mom.” Little did I realize that my husband and my Mom are a deadly tag team. Together they could convince anyone to do anything.
We got home that afternoon and decided to put in a bid.
Chocolate and Hazelnut Bombe Alaska
I think had I thought about it more, I would have been more rational. I wouldn’t have gotten caught up in the excitement, after all, our current house suits our needs just fine.
So the big news is that we’re moving in a few weeks! I wish I could have said something sooner but you know, nothing’s final until contracts are actually exchanged, which happened last week. I’m scared, stressed and unbelievably excited.
I think that making this Chocolate Bombe Alaska is a bit like moving homes. It’s complicated, stressful and not something you do everyday. In fact, I hesitated making it because of its complexity, but the results are definitely worth it.
There a four components to this dessert. First there is a brownie base, then a layer of chocolate coated coco pops, then a hazelnut mousse and finally, the dessert is covered in italian meringue then torched for colour. I made it as part of a competition Lindt was holding where the prize was a chocolate hamper, which I luckily won.
Sometimes, we should just seize the moment.
Chocolate and Hazelnut Bombe Alaska
Chocolate Bombe Alaska
Brownie Base
- 115 grams butter
- 10 grams melted butter, for greasing pan
- 150 grams sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 280 grams Lindt Excellence 70% cocoa chopped into pieces
- 65 grams flour
- 20 grams cocoa powder
- Pre heat the oven to 180c.
- Melt butter and remove from heat.
- In a separate bowl add the butter to sugar add this to the whisked eggs then add the mixture to the Lindt 70% chocolate.
- Add in the flour and cocoa powder, mix gently.
- Spread in a baking tray and bake for 12 minutes.
- Cool and cut into the base shape.
Rice Crispy Base
- 50 grams cocoa pops flavoured
- 30 grams roasted, chopped hazelnuts
- 100 grams Lindt Excellence 50% cocoa, chopped into pieces
- Combine the hazelnuts and the coco pops in a bowl.
- Melt the chocolate and combine the hazelnut mixture with the chocolate.
- Lay out on a silpat to cool.
Chocolate Bombe Alaska
Hazelnut Mousse
- 65 grams caster sugar
- 20 ml water
- 1 egg
- 4 egg yolks
- 175 grams hazelnut praline paste
- 300 ml cream
- 7 grams gelatin sheet (1.5 sheets)
- Whisk cream until semi-soft then place this in the fridge.
- Using a stand mixer or hand held beater, mix the egg and egg yolks.
- Boil sugar and water until 121c.
- Pour over whisked eggs and beat the mixture until room temperature.
- Fold half of the cream with hazelnut paste a little at a time to loosen the mixture.
- Fold the cream/hazelnut paste to the egg/sugar mixture.
- Allow the gelatine to bloom by soaking in water. Squeeze out the excess water and microwave the gelatine for 10 seconds. Pour some of the cream/hazelnut/egg mixture into the gelatine to temper and then mix.
- Pour the gelatine mixture back into the rest of the cream/hazelnut/egg mixture and fold in the rest of the cream.
Italian Meringue
- 130 grams caster sugar
- 30 grams water
- Egg whites from 4 eggs
- Place the sugar and water in a saucepan and take the temperature to 121c.
- When the heat reaches around 90c, start whisking the egg whites.
- Once the egg whites have reached a semi-soft stage and the sugar has hit 110c, pour the sugar syrup into the egg whites and continue to beat until the bowl has come to room temperature and the mixture has cooled.
To assemble, using silicon moulds, pipe some hazelnut mousse on the mould, followed by the rice crispy base and finally the brownie. Place in the freezer for 2 hours until the mousse has set. Remove from the moulds once set and pipe the Italian meringue. Use a blow torch to colour the meringue.
Lindt Baby
Trissalicious 
Congrats on the house. That is so exciting.
Congratulations on the new house (and kitchen) , and on winning the Lindt competition. What a great chocolate haul!
Congrats on the new house! And the bombe looks delectable 🙂
Well done Trissa on the new house, I know that gazumped
gazumped, eh? i just learned a new word.
congrats, trissa. happy times ahead!
Awwww, how cute is your little nephew!! Looks like he could melt in your mouth 😉
And that Alaska bomb looks fantastic, I wish I could bake as well as you do!
YUM! This sounds and looks great! Just found your blog and lovin’ it!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
Oh Wow! Congratulations of your new home, very exciting and I share your hesitation & whatnot over the move, ugly stuff that moving house, but Oh So Worth It.
Great little bombe alaska, haven’t made one for ages, they really do look a treat don’t they.
Congratulations on the new digs! 🙂
yummy congrats on the move!
Haha I love your connecting moving to baking. I definitely know how you feel though. I had a similar experience with my recent rat cupcakes cause they were quite complicated thought not nearly as stressful as moving. This dessert is beautiful!
It’s obvious to me that you were meant to have that house! Congratulations!
Your bombe looks divine and congratulations again on winning the Lindt competition! This is your lucky month!
Congratulations Trissa, that is wonderful news!! And I’ve said this before but that nephew of yours is just TOO CUTE! I love that pic! Not to mention your Bombe Alaska which of course made my mouth water!! Beautiful work Trissa and once again congrats on the new house!
congrats! You must be looking forward! and did I hear large kitchen? 😉
Trissa, congratulations on the house! You must be thrilled. Anyway, I think the house is meant to be yours… Your chocolate Bombe looks lovely and that grumpy baby is adorable.
The bombe looks heavenly!
I want a new house too…sighs…I wish someone else would do all the moving for me…
Beautiful Baked Alaska, it looks like a lot of fun to make. I’ll have to put it on my very long to do list.
How exciting and how horrifying all at once! I hate packing and moving – but to go to a home you love would be a dream once you are settled… get HElP! Hire all your packing! Congratulations! And, whose baby is that – whose gorgeous baby?
WOnderful looking baked Alaska!
YUM!
🙂
Valerie
That’s my little nephew! 🙂
Congrats! Obviously that house was meant for this time in your life, whilst the one you had was for the last four years 🙂
I’ll be sorry to be losing you as a neighbour, Trissa! I’m sure the new house’s kitchen will be churning out delicious recipes as soon as you move in. PS: Your piping on the bombe alaska is just beautiful 🙂
I love how the recipe so perfectly suits the story. Congrats on the new house, and good luck with the move!
Congrats on the house! Love your last comment, seize the moment. We’ve been looking for a place for 12 months now, with too much uuming and aahing.
Congratulations on the new house Trissa!! Lots of work to look forward too! We’ve been in this house now for 11 years and I keep thinking we should actually move to another house or start doing something to this one. It seems to be the forever struggle…
And you chocolate alaska bombe looks amazing!
Congratulations on the house and winning the Lindt hamper and on having the baby! Haha just kidding on the last one 😛
I want the baby…….and the new house.
Congratulations on the house! Such good news! As usual I love all the sweet things hat come out of our kitchen Trissa!
That’s great news! and a “large kitchen” is what I always look for too =) Love the bombe alaska, so being burnt like this.
This dessert is just beautiful and what a textural feast for the palate. I keep meaning to buy a kitchen torch and this, I think, just sealed the deal. Wow.
And congrats on your new home. How exciting that it’s the one you had your eye on a few years ago. I hope you share some pictures once you’re settled.
And the Lindt muse is adorable–another congrats for winning the competition. 🙂
Trissa, my dear!!! CONGRATULATIONSSS!!!! :)))) on bid being accepted and the new house 😀 *HUGS* Wish a whale of fun in the new place!!
nawww i want a lindt baby! hehe congrats on the new house dude!
congratulations on getting a new house and your lindt baby looks adorbs! i have always wanted to make a baked alaska but a chocolate one just about sold me! hope i have some good news to share soon so i can use it as a reason to make this:)
Woohoo! Congrats on the move Trissa! Here’s to hoping it isn’t as stressful for you.
What a stunning combo for your bombe alaska. Congrats on your Lindt prize. Your nephew is SO ADORABLE!
Congras on the good news. Moving house is a big thing. Must be a great house and did I hear big kitchen? jealous!
Congrats on the new purchase! When we bought our house 5 years ago I was so stressed at the auction. Somehow we came out with the highest bid. From apartment in Pyrmont to victorian terrace in Erko. Love it!
Yayyyy I cant wait till you are all settled into your new house. Lots of new memories for you and Dan. I bet Bizou and Baci will love it there too. I heart Bomb Alaska, now that I have an all new blowtorch I might just go and make one this summer. Love the Photo of James. eheheh. So adorable.
Congrats Trissa! Looking forward to see more cooking and baking from your new kitchen.
Ahaha! Lindt baby’s expression is priceless!
Congratulations on the new house, that really is exciting news and will definitely be worth the short term stress 🙂
Congratulations on moving to a new house!! This excellent 3 layered cake with the meringue on top dessert looks amazing, beautiful & ooh so festive!!
I love all of your beautiful pictures & when I saw that last picture, I was smiling!!
I wish you tons of calm in the next few weeks!! Yeah to a bigger kitchen!
Congratulations on the house Trissa.It’s strange how thing work out in the end huh? Even with a four-year delay!
Your dessert looks fantastic and that baby… such a sweetie!
Magda
New digs! Congratulations! Moving house is never fun, but think of that glorious big kitchen that awaits!
Congratulations on your new home, and more importantly on winning the Lindt competition Trissa!
This looks absolutely de-lic-ious!