Angel Almond Cupcakes Food

ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to the lower middle position and preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. Line a second pan with 2-4 liners - this recipe makes about 14-16 cupcakes. Set aside.
• In a food processor or blender (I use this one), pulse the sugar until fine and powdery. Remove 1/2 cup and set aside to use in step 3; keep the rest inside the food processor. Add the cake flour and salt to the food processor. Pulse 5-10 times until sugar/flour/salt mixture is aerated and light.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip egg whites, water, and cream of tartar together on medium low until foamy, about 1 minute. Switch to medium-high and slowly add the 1/2 cup of sugar. Whip until soft peaks form, about 5-6 minutes. See photo above for visual. Add the vanilla extract and beat just until incorporated.
• In several additions, slowly sift the flour mixture into the egg white mixture using a fine-mesh strainer, gently folding after each addition. To avoid the cupcakes from deflating or tasting dense, don't add the flour mixture all at once. Sift and very slowly fold in several additions. This is important! Spoon batter into liners, filling only 2/3 full to avoid spilling over the sides.
• Bake the cupcakes until very lightly browned around the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes. For around 3 dozen mini cupcakes, bake for about 10-12 minutes, same oven temperature.
• Allow the cupcakes to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
• Spread or pipe homemade whipped cream onto cupcakes. I used a small icing spatula for some, but a Wilton 8B tip looks wonderful (see picture above!). Garnish with fresh berries.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a muffin pan with baking spray. On a counter, set two bowls apart the width of the muffin pan, then test setting the muffin pan upside down and on top of the bowls (this will be used for cooling the cupcakes after baking).
• Separate the egg whites and let them stand to come to room temperature.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cake flour.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the egg whites, water, orange extract, maple syrup and cream of tartar. (You can also use a large non-reactive bowl and a hand mixer.) Mix on low speed until the mixture is foamy, then turn up to medium speed and gradually begin to add the granulated sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, over a period of 2 to 3 minutes. After all the sugar is added, turn up the speed to high and beat until medium peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes. The mixture should be modestly glossy and the tips of peaks formed when you dip your finger into the mixture should flop over a bit.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer, and using a fine mesh strainer, sift in half of the dry ingredients. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture with a spatula. Then sift and fold in the remaining dry ingredients.
• Using a 1/2 cup measure and a spatula, spoon the batter into 12 muffin cups. The batter is very fluffy and will rise significantly over the top of the muffin tin. If desired, gently smooth out the tops of the cupcakes, taking care not to deflate the airy batter.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until the tops are slightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the tin from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then, set the pan upside down between the two bowls until fully cooled, about 45 minutes.
• When ready to serve, remove the cakes from the pan (you may need to use a sharp knife to release the edges from the pan). Spread the top of each cupcake with a very thin layer of maple cream. Slice raspberries in half, then place them cut side down on the top of the iced angel food cupcakes. Serve immediately. (The cakes are best eaten the day of baking. If desired, you can bake and freeze the cakes by wrapping them in plastic wrap and placing in a sealed plastic bag; however, this can slightly deflate the cakes. We tried this and they tasted nearly as good after freezing; however, eating the day of is the preferred option.)

ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place paper baking cups in 30 -36 regular sized muffin cups.
• Beat cake mix, cornstarch, vanilla and water in extra large glass or metal bowl on low speed for 30 seconds; beat on medium speed for 3 minute.
• Fill cups 2/3-3/4 full of batter. Refrigerate remaining batter while cupcakes are baking.
• Bake 12-20 minutes or until golden brown and cracks feel dry; cool.
• Frost with your favorite frosting or fruit - I prefer fat free cool whip and cut berries but have also plucked a bit of cake out of the center filled it with strawberry jam and then made a frosting with the jam and powdered sugar.

ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND BERRIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 30 to 36 regular-size muffin cups.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix and water with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 1 minute. Pour batter into muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.
• Bake 12 to 20 minutes or until cupcakes are golden brown and cracks on top feel dry. Remove from muffin cups to cooling rack. Cool.
• In medium bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on medium-high speed until slightly thickened. Reduce speed; beat in granulated sugar and vanilla bean paste. Increase speed; beat mixture until stiff peaks form. Spoon whipped cream into decorating bag fitted with large star tip.
• Pipe whipped cream on top of cooled cupcakes; garnish with berries. Sprinkle tops with powdered sugar.

ANGEL ALMOND CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine cake mix,water and almond extract in large mixing bowl.
• Beat at low speed with mixer until moistened.
• Beat at medium speed for one minute.
• Line medium muffin pans with paper baking cups.
• Fill muffin cups two-thirds full.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown, cracked and dry.
• Remove from muffin pans.
• Cool completely.
• Frost with frosting.

LOW-FAT CHERRY-ALMOND ANGEL CAKE

Steps:

• Move oven rack to lowest position (remove other racks). Heat oven to 350°F. In extra-large glass or metal bowl, beat cake mix, cold water and extract with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 1 minute. Carefully fold in cherries. Pour into ungreased 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan. (Do not use fluted tube cake pan or 9-inch angel food pan or batter will overflow.)
• Bake 37 to 47 minutes or until top is dark golden brown and cracks feel very dry and not sticky. Do not underbake. Immediately turn pan upside down onto glass bottle, or rest edges on 2 to 4 cans of equal height until cake is completely cooled, about 2 hours. Run knife around edge of cake; remove from pan.
• In medium bowl, mix butter, powdered sugar and enough cherry juice for desired spreading consistency. Spread glaze over top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down side. Garnish with whole cherries, if desired.

ALMOND CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cream butter at medium speed until smooth, add sugar and beat until well.
• Add two eggs, beat until smooth.
• Dump in the rest of your ingredients (you can whisk the dry ones together in a separate bowl first as way to "quick-sift" them) and beat until nice and smooth.
• Fill cupcake liners (or greased tins) 2/3 full, bake until golden brown (about 20 minutes, depending on your oven).
• Makes 24 regular size or approx 10 jumbo size.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• In small saucepan, stir cocoa and 1/3 cup water over low heat about 1 minute until mixture thickens and just begins to boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• In large bowl, with electric mixer at high speed, beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks from when beaters are lifted.
• Add sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, beating well after each addition until stiff peaks form when beaters are lifted.
• Quickly add cocoa mixture and beat 20 seconds until just blended.
• In a small bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
• Fold into egg white mixture, one fourth at a time.
• Spray 12 regular muffin cups with vegetable cooking spray.
• Divide batter evenly between muffin cups.
• Bake 10-15 minutes until cupcakes begin to pull away from sides of pan.
• Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Run a knife around edge of cupcakes to loosen.
• Remove cupcakes and cool on wire rack.
• Invert onto serving plate.
• Garnish each with a little whipped cream and a strawberry, if desired.

ORANGE & ALMOND CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3½. Line 2 x 12-hole muffin tins with muffin cases. Put the butter and caster sugar in a large bowl and blend with an electric hand whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well between each addition. Add the flour, almonds, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Mix again, then add the orange zest and juice, and almond extract. Give a final mix to combine everything.
• Use 2 dessertspoons to divide the mixture between the cases. Bake for 22-25 mins, changing the tins over after 15 mins. Remove from the oven, leave to cool for 10 mins in the tins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Can now be frozen for up to 3 months.
• To make the icing, tip the butter into a large bowl and blend with an electric hand whisk until smooth. Add the icing sugar, cream cheese, almond extract and orange juice. Mash everything together first with a spatula (to avoid a mess), then go in with the electric whisk and mix until smooth. Add your food colouring and mix again until you have an even colour. (If you're using liquid food colouring, it will make the icing runny, so add a little more icing sugar.)
• Fit the piping bag with a large curved star point piping nozzle, then fill the bag with half of the icing and twist the end closed. To pipe, hold the piping bag directly above the centre of the cake and, applying a steady pressure, pipe in a swirl, working out towards the edge of the cupcake. When you reach the edge, swipe the nozzle to create a smooth finish - you can always cover this bit with leaves, so don't worry too much if it looks messy. When you have piped 12 cupcakes, empty any remaining icing from the bag back into the bowl with the reserved icing. Add a little more colouring to create a deeper shade (and a little extra sifted icing sugar if the icing gets too runny). Whisk again, then refill your piping bag and ice the remaining cakes. Can be stored somewhere cool for up to 1 day (the fridge is fine, just make sure that you remove 30 mins before eating).
• Before serving, add a few leaves, if you like: pinch off small pieces of green sugar paste or fondant icing and shape into leaves. Use a sharp knife to add detail, then stick onto the cupcakes. See tips, below left, for how to build your bouquet.