Maple Alaska Log Cake

Dough

• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup maple sugar
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 lemon; zest and juice
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups vanilla ice cream (softened)
• 1 cup maple syrup (preferably dark syrup for its robust flavour)

Meringue

• 2 eggs whites
• 1/2 cup maple sugar
• 2 tablespoons Sambuca

Topping

• 4 oz chocolate
• Maple flakes

1. Preheat the oven to 200 ˚C (400 ˚F).
2. Separate the egg whites and yolks into two bowls. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites with half of the maple sugar for about 10 minutes. Set this mixture aside.
3. In the other bowl, beat the egg yolks, add salt, lemon zest and juice and the remaining maple sugar.
4. Fold the second mixture into the first one. Set aside.
5. Sift the flour, then fold into the egg mixture.
6. Lay a cookie sheet out with waxed paper.
7. Spread the cake mixture on the cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes (or until it becomes golden in colour). Remove from oven and let cool.
8. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for a few moments.
9. Using a cloth and keeping the parchment paper, roll the cake to form a log. Let it rest for at least 1 hour.
10. Unroll the cake. Mix ice cream and maple syrup. Spread this mixture over the entire surface of the cake and roll up to form a “log”.
11. Transfer to an oven-proof dish and freeze for at least 1 hour.

Meringue

1. Preheat the oven to 200 ˚C (400 ˚F).
2. In a large bowl, beat egg whites, maple sugar and Sambuca until stiff peaks form, then scoop the meringue on top of the frozen “log” in peaks using a spatula or a pastry bag.
3. Bake in the oven for a few minutes until the meringue peaks are golden in colour*.

Garnish

1. Lay a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Melt chocolate in microwave.
2. Spread the chocolate over the surface of the cookie sheet and sprinkle with maple flakes.
3. Let set and then cut.