Baked Alaska Peanut Smores

Contributed by a Helen.  Thanks for sending this in!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 1/3 pound)
• 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 pints premium chocolate ice cream, softened slightly
• 1/2 cup salted roasted peanuts, chopped
• 2 large egg whites 

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• In a bowl stir together crumbs, butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar and reserve about one-fourth mixture.
• Press remaining mixture onto bottom of flameproof 8-inch-square baking pan.
• Bake crust 12 minutes, or until golden, and cool in pan on a rack.
• In a bowl stir together ice cream and peanuts and spread on crust.
• Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture evenly on top, pressing lightly.
• Freeze ice-cream mixture, covered with foil, overnight.
• Preheat broiler.
• In metal bowl combine egg whites and remaining 1/3 cup sugar and set over a pan of simmering water.  Stir mixture just until sugar is dissolved.
• Remove bowl from heat and with an electric mixer beat meringue until it holds stiff glossy peaks.
• Spread meringue over ice cream and broil under preheated broiler about 4 inches from heat until golden, about 30 seconds.
• Freeze dessert, uncovered, 30 minutes to harden meringue and if desired freeze, covered, overnight.
• Cut dessert into 4 squares and halve each square diagonally into triangles.

Serves 8.

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