Almond Angel Food Cake

ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift confectioners' sugar and flour together twice; set aside. , Add the cream of tartar, extracts and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Gradually fold in flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time., Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through the batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on the lowest oven rack at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned and entire top appears dry. Immediately invert pan; cool completely, about 1 hour. , Run a knife around side and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate.

ALMOND ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• For strawberries, combine berries, 2 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp orange juice and orange rind in a bowl. Chill, covered, in fridge 2 hours.
• For cake, place almonds and 2 Tbsp sugar in food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Sift together the flour, powdered sugar and salt into a bowl. Tip in almond mixture and stir to combine. Set aside. Beat egg whites in a large bowl at high speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar and beat to soft peak stage. Add 3/4 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp at a time, gradually beating to stiff peaks. Sprinkle flour mixture over egg white mixture, 1/4 cup at a time and fold together. Fold in almond extract. Spoon batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan and spread evenly. Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour or until cake springs back when lightly pressed with finger.
• While cake bakes, prepare creme anglaise. Combine 2/3 cup sugar and yolks in large saucepan, stirring with wire whisk til blended. Gradually add milk stirring constantly with whisk. Cook over medium heat until mixture coats back of a spoon (around 8 minutes), stirring constantly. Pour mixture inot a bowl and stir in vanilla. Cover and chill. Mixture will thicken as it cools.
• Invert cake pan and cool (my mom always balanced it on a glass pop bottle). Loosen cake from sides of pan using a narrow metal spatula. Invert onto serving plate. Serve with strawberries and creme anglaise.

WONDERFUL ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Set oven to 325 degrees.
• Prepare an angel food cake pan (ungreased).
• Fift flour and 3/4 cups sugar 4-5 times (this is important!).
• Beat egg whites with salt until stiff.
• Add in the cream of tartar and almond extract; beat again.
• Add in remining sugar (1 tablespoon at a time).
• Add in almond extract.
• Sift or spoon flour mixture over top (a small amount at a time); fold (DO NOT BEAT!) in lightly.
• Pour into ungreased angel food cake pan.
• Bake for 1 hour (my cake has even been done in 40 minutes in my air-convection oven).