Angel Food Cake With Grapefruit Compote

RUBY GRAPEFRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine the water, honey, zests, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice berries in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer, until cinnamon is unfurled and mixture is aromatic, about 10 minutes. Strain.
• Meanwhile, cut peel and white pith off the grapefruits and oranges with a serrated knife. With a sharp paring knife, cut between the membranes, catching any juices in a bowl, to release segments. Add the juices to the honey-spice mixture. Put the fruit segments in a bowl.
• Pour the hot liquid over the citrus, add the grenadine or vermouth and stir to combine. Serve the citrus compote with biscotti.

ROSEMARY-THYME ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH PINEAPPLE COMPOTE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Sift the cake flour, 3/4 cup superfine sugar and the salt onto a piece of parchment paper. Sift the flour mixture a second time onto another piece of parchment; set aside. Beat the egg whites in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until frothy, about 1 minute. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form, about 4 more minutes. Gradually beat in the remaining 1 cup superfine sugar; increase the speed to high and beat until the egg whites are stiff and glossy, about 7 minutes. Beat in the vanilla, rosemary, thyme and lemon zest.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the flour mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, until fully incorporated with no pockets of dry ingredients. Transfer the batter to an ungreased 10-inch angel food cake pan. Bake until golden and the cake springs back when pressed, 40 to 45 minutes. Invert the cake pan onto a small funnel or bottle neck and let cool completely, at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the compote: Combine the brown sugar, rum, 1/2 cup water and the rosemary and thyme sprigs in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; simmer, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Add the pineapple, return to a gentle simmer and cook until the pineapple is softened and the liquid is syrupy, about 10 minutes. Stir in the vanilla. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until cool, about 1 hour. Remove the herb sprigs.
• Loosen the edge of the cake with a knife, tap the sides of the pan against the counter and unmold the cake onto a platter. Slice and serve with the compote.

GRILLED ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH CITRUS COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the Citrus Compote: Zest 1 grapefruit and set aside for the Grapefruit Whipped Cream. Cut off the top and bottom of an orange and place it on the counter flat side down. Cut the outer peel and pith off. Cut into chunks, removing as much pith as possible. Repeat with the remaining citrus fruits (including the zested grapefruit). Add the citrus chunks to a medium saucepot with 1/2 cup of water, the sugar and a handful of mint. Bring to low boil over medium heat and cook, occasionally stir gently making sure not to break up the fruit too much, until slightly syrupy and the sugar is dissolved, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, discard the mint and reserve, it will thicken slightly as it cools.
• For the Grapefruit Whipped Cream: Add the cream and zest to a stand mixer with a whisk attachment or a bowl with a hand mixer and whip on medium-high speed until peaks are medium-stiff. Refrigerate.
• For the Angel Food Cake: Preheat your outdoor grill to medium heat. Slice the angel food cake in half along the equator. Place each half on the grill and toast on both sides until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes per side.
• Place the bottom of the grilled angel food cake on a platter and spoon about half of the whipped cream over top. Use a slotted spoon to spoon some of the citrus compote over the whipped cream (don't use too much syrup or the whipped cream will be too runny). Place the top half of the cake on top (like a whipped cream sandwich). Spoon the other half of the whipped cream over top and spoon more of the citrus compote on. Garnish with mint leaves. Slice and serve like a layer cake.

FRUIT COMPOTE WITH ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk until sugar dissolves. 2. Add pineapple, kiwi and mango, toss gently to coat. Cut cake into 6 slices. Spoon fruit mixture evenly over each slice.

GRAPEFRUIT COMPOTE WITH POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Using a sharp paring knife, slice off stem and blossom ends of each grapefruit. Cut away the peel, and cut along the membranes to release segments. Place in a medium bowl, and set aside. Squeeze juice from membranes into a small saucepan.
• Add sugar to juice in pan; bring to a boil over high. Add rosemary, and reduce heat to medium. Cook until liquid is syrupy, about 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove rosemary and discard.
• Pour syrup over grapefruit in bowl; cover, and refrigerate until chilled, 45 minutes to 1 hour. To serve, spoon compote over pound cake slices, and garnish with rosemary sprigs, if desired.