Angel Food Cake With Chocolate Hazelnut Frosting

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ICING

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift flour and cocoa 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 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 batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on the lowest oven rack at 350° for 30-40 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., For icing, in a small bowl, beat the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, sour cream, milk and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

CONTEST-WINNING CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift the flour, 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and cocoa three times. Set aside. , Add cream of tartar, vanilla and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 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. Mixture will be thick. , 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 40-45 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. , For frosting, In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add the sugar, cocoa and salt; beat until stiff peaks form. Frost top and sides of cake.,

GLAZED CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Sift flour, 1 cup sugar and cocoa together twice., Add cream of tartar, vanilla and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Gradually fold in flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time., Gently transfer to an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on lowest oven rack until top springs back when lightly touched and cracks feel dry, 40-50 minutes. Immediately invert pan; cool completely in pan, about 1 hour., Run a knife around sides and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate. For glaze, in a microwave, melt chocolate chips with cream; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together cake flour, cocoa, espresso powder, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium speed until frothy. Add cream of tartar and increase speed to high. Continue beating while gradually adding sugar until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Remove bowl from mixer. Add half the flour mixture and gently fold in until streaky, then add remaining flour mixture and fold in until well incorporated (do not overmix, as this will deflate the meringue, creating a dense cake).
• Gently spoon batter into an ungreased 9 1/2-inch tube pan with removable bottom; smooth top. Run a knife or small spatula through batter to release air bubbles. Bake until a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Invert pan; let cake cool completely in pan. Run a knife around the inner and outer perimeter of the pan to loosen. Use knife to release cake from bottom of pan and remove.
• Frosting: Place both chocolates in the bowl of a stand mixer; set aside. In a small saucepan, bring cream and corn syrup to a boil. Pour over chocolate; let stand 2 to 3 minutes.
• Whisk, starting in center and working outward, until chocolate is smooth. Let cool at room temperature, whisking occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Attach bowl to stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium speed, gradually adding butter, until frosting is smooth and silky.
• Using a serrated knife, split cake in half horizontally. Place bottom layer on a cake plate. Measure 2 cups frosting and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Top with second layer. Use remaining frosting to cover cake completely, using spatula to create a smooth finish or create swirls. Garnish with chocolate shavings, if desired. Serve immediately.

TRIPLE HAZELNUT CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• To make the cake, grease 2 (9 by 2-inch) round cake pans with shortening and line bottoms with parchment rounds. Grease parchment and dust each pan with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess. Set pans aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, liqueur, and hazelnut extract until blended and set aside.
• In a large bowl of an electric stand mixer, gently combine on low speed 3 1/3 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and hazelnuts until blended. Add the butter and sour cream and beat on low speed until dry ingredients are moistened.
• Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 1/2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. In 3 separate additions, add the egg mixture to the batter, beating for 30 seconds after each addition. Divide batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake on the center rack for 40 to 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, discard parchment and cool cakes completely on wire racks, 1 to 2 hours.
• To make the hazelnut filling, in a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat.
• Sprinkle with flour and whisk until smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low, add the sugar and cream and cook, whisking constantly, for 7 to 10 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Stir in the hazelnuts, salt, liqueur, hazelnut extract, and chocolate and cook just until chocolate melts. Set aside in a bowl and cool completely.
• To make the chocolate buttercream frosting, melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over medium heat until smooth. Set aside, off the heat, and cool completely. In a large bowl whisk together the sugar and egg whites until blended. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and whisk until mixture reaches 140 degrees F.
• Remove mixture to a large bowl of a stand mixture with a whisk attachment and beat on low speed for 1 minute to cool slightly. Increase speed to high and beat for 4 minutes or until mixture is cool to the touch and doubled in volume. Reduce speed to low and add the softened butter 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition, until all of the butter has been added. Continue to beat until mixture looks smooth. Fold in the melted chocolate and the hazelnut extract and beat until fluffy.
• To assemble the cake, split each cake layer horizontally in half to make 4 separate layers. Spread equal amounts of the hazelnut filling between each layer and frost top and sides of cake with the buttercream. To garnish, press chopped hazelnuts onto the sides of the cake. Using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip, pipe rosettes around the top rim using remaining frosting. Place whole hazelnuts and chocolate curls on the top of the cake.
• Tip: To make this cake an easier undertaking, take the time to search out hazelnuts that have already been peeled. If peeled nuts are unavailable, working in batches, boil nuts in 2 cups water along with 2 tablespoons baking soda for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Run nuts under water and slip off skins. Dry the nuts well and toast on a baking sheet in a 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool and finely chop and proceed with recipe. If you purchase the nuts already peeled, toast in a 350 degree F oven for only 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Place rack in center of oven and 15 minutes before baking, preheat to 375°.
• Divide sugar in half.
• Sift one half 3 times.
• Set aside.
• Sift the other half of sugar with the flour and cocoa 3 times.
• Set aside.
• Put egg whites in 4 quart grease-free bowl and beat on low speed with electric mixer until foamy.
• Add cream of tartar, vanilla and salt and increase speed to medium.
• Add the 3/4 cup sugar, one T at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Continue beating on medium until whites have increased their volume fivefold and hold their shape but are still shiny and moist.
• Gently and thoroughly fold in flour mixture, by thirds.
• Pour into ungreased 10" tube pan.
• Smooth the surface and cut through batter 5 or 6 times with a rubber spatula to break large air pockets.
• Bake 30-35 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Invert over a narrow-necked bottle and allow to cool.
• When completely cooled use a knife to loosen it from the side of the pan and turn out on wire rack.
• Drizzle Chocolate Glaze over top and allow to run down sides of cake.
• Chocolate Glaze: Combine chocolate, butter and water in bowl and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring once a minute until smooth.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift together confectioners' sugar, flour and cocoa three times; set aside. , Add cream of tartar and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 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., Spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on the lowest oven rack at 375° 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. , In a large bowl, combine the first five frosting ingredients; cover and chill for 1 hour. Beat until stiff peaks form. , Spread over the top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator. Garnish with chocolate leaves if desired.

ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH YUMMY CHOCOLATE WHIPPED CREAM ICING

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients (except cake) on high with mixer until light and fluffy (5-10 minutes) Ice cake with frosting; You can cut the cake into 2 layers and also put frosting in middle.
• Especially good to put some toffee candy on top of the frosting in the center of the cake also.