Angel Food Torte

ANGEL FOOD CAKE I

Steps:

• Beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks, and then add cream of tartar, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
• Sift together flour, sugar, and salt. Repeat five times.
• Gently combine the egg whites with the dry ingredients, and then pour into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan.
• Place cake pan in a cold oven. Turn the oven on; set it to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Cook for about one hour, or until cake is golden brown.
• Invert cake, and allow it to cool in the pan. When thoroughly cooled, remove from pan.

FRUIT-FILLED ANGEL FOOD TORTE

Steps:

• Fold 1-1/2 cups whipped topping into fruit cocktail just until blended. Split cake horizontally into three layers; place one layer on a serving plate. Spread with half of the fruit mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. , Frost top and sides with remaining whipped topping. Arrange mandarin oranges on top. Refrigerate until serving. Serve with orange slices and mint if desired.

ANGEL FOOD TORTE

Steps:

• Slice angel food cake into thirds horizontally.
• If desired, tint the topping pink with a few drops of food coloring.
• Spread each cake layer with topping and 1 cup fruit (well drained, if frozen).
• Reassemble layers and spread remaining topping over entire cake.
• Chill until ready to serve.

ANGEL FOOD TORTE

Steps:

• Slice cake into thirds horizontally. Spread each layer with topping and 1 cup fruit. Assemble layers and pipe with remaining topping. Chill until serving.

ANGEL FOOD CAKE AND BERRY TRIFLE

Steps:

• Add the berries to a bowl along with the sugar and orange juice. Let sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes, until juicy.
• Meanwhile, add the yogurt and honey to a bowl. Stir with a spoon to mix in the honey and smooth out so the mixture will be more spreadable.
• Cut the angel food cake into large chunks using a serrated knife, and add about one-third of the cake to the bottom of a medium trifle dish. Add a layer of the syrupy berries and then a layer of yogurt, reserving a few spoonfuls of yogurt for the end. Repeat the layers until you have no more remaining ingredients. Finish the top with the few spoonfuls of yogurt in the center and the fresh, whole strawberries.
• Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

CLASSIC ANGEL FOOD CAKE (WITH 5 DESSERT OPTIONS)

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lowest position; heat oven to 350. You'll need a 10-inch tube pan with removable bottom. Line bottom with nonstick foil, cutting to fit around the tube; place into pan.
• Whisk together cake flour, 1/4 cup sugar and the salt; transfer mixture to a sieve set over a small bowl.
• In large bowl, beat the egg whites with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes until frothy and well blended. Add the cream of tartar; increase speed to medium-high and beat until soft peaks start to form, about 3 minutes. While still beating, add the remaining 1 cup sugar in a slow stream; continue to beat until whites are very thick and hold firm peaks when beaters are lifted, about 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla.
• Transfer mixture to a large, wide bowl. Sift 1/3 of the flour mixture over whites; fold in with a rubber spatula. Repeat twice with the remaining flour, folding in until incorporated. Scrape batter into pan and spread evenly. Run a knife through the batter to remove any air pockets.
• Bake 35 minutes, or until top of cake springs back when pressed with fingertip or a skewer inserted into cake comes out clean. Immediately invert the pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely, upside down.
• To loosen cake, run a knife around all sides of pan. Lift cake out of pan by tube. Loosen cake from bottom; invert to unmold.
• Heavenly Bananas Foster Bread Pudding: 1/2 baked angel food cake cut into cubes (6 cups), 2 1/4 cups milk, 3 large eggs, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/4 cup spiced rum, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3 sliced 1/2-inch thick firm ripe bananas, confectioners' sugar for dusting, lowfat vanilla ice cream (optional). Heat oven to 350. Spread out angel food cake cubes on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, tossing three times, until lightly toasted and dry. Turn off oven. Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, rum and vanilla in a large bowl until sugar is dissolved. Gently stir in cake cubes and banana slices; pour into an 8-inch square baking dish. Cover dish with foil. Let stand 30 minutes at room temperature for cake cubes to absorb most of the milk mixture. Heat oven to 350. Bake, covered, 30 minutes. Remove foil; continue to bake 25 minutes or until pudding is set. Let stand 15 minutes. Dust top with confectioners' sugar. Serve with small scoops of vanilla ice cream. Serves 8.
• Lemon Angel Torte: Cake: 1/2 recipe angel food cake batter. Lemon Filling: 3/4 teaspoon unflavored gelatin, 1 tablespoon water, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/3 cup each orange juice and water, 1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream, 1/2 cup sliced toasted almonds, confectioners' sugar for dusting. Cake: Line a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with double thickness of nonstick foil extending 2-inches over ends of pan. Prepare batter adding 1 teaspoon almond extract and 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest instead of the vanilla extract in step 3. Bake 28 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into center comes out clean. Immediately invert the pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely. To loosen cake, run a knife around long sides of pan. Lift out of pan by foil ends and place in freezer with foil to firm up. Lemon Filling: Sprinkle gelatin over water in small cup to soften. In medium saucepan, whisk sugar and cornstarch until blended. Stir in lemon zest and juice, orange juice and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a gentle boil. Stir in gelatin. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Transfer to a bowl; stir in sour cream. Cover surface of filling with plastic wrap; let cool to room temperature. To assemble torte using a serrated knife, cut cake lengthwise into three even layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/2 cup Lemon Filling. Top with a second layer; spread with another 1/2 cup filling. Place last layer on top, cut side down. Spread sides of torte with remaining filling. Press almonds around sides of torte. Refrigerate 1 hour. To serve dust top with confectioners' sugar. Using the back of a large knife, score the sugar into a diamond pattern, or sear the score lines by placing a 12-inch metal skewer over a stovetop burner until end is red hot. Use a kitchen towel to pick up skewer; singe diamond pattern into sugar. Serves 8.
• Frozen Berry Angel Shortcake: Prepare angel food cake with these changes. Line the bottom of 9x3-inch springform pan with nonstick foil, then attach the sides of the pan. Substitute raspberry extract for the vanilla in step 3, and add 3 drops liquid red food color with the extract. Spread in prepared pan and bake as directed. Cool the cake completely, in pan, upside down on a wire rack. To loosen cake, run a thin bladed knife around sides of pan; remove pan sides. Invert cake and remove pan bottom. To assemble shortcake using a serrated knife, cut cake into 2 layers. Place bottom layer, cut side up, on pan bottom and spread with 1/3 cup strawberry topping. Spoon 3 cups slightly softened lowfat strawberry ice cream or frozen yogurt over topping. Spread another 1/3 cup strawberry topping over ice cream. Top with remaining cake layer, cut side down. Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight. (Once the cake is frozen, it can be wrapped and stored in freezer up to 2 weeks). To serve transfer frozen cake to a serving plate. Frost with 2 cups thawed lite whipped topping or lightly sweetened whipped cream. Decorate with strawberries or raspberries. Refrigerate 30 minutes to soften slightly before serving. Serves 12.
• Chocolate Speckled Angel Cake: Prepare angel food with the changes. After adding flour in step 4, fold 2oz finely chopped bittersweet chocolate and 1 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest into batter. Spread in prepared tube pan; bake as directed. Cool cake and remove from pan as directed. To serve place cake on a serving plate. In a 1-cup glass measure, combine 2oz chopped bittersweet chocolate, 4 teaspoons butter and 2 teaspoons light cornsyrup. Microwave on high 45-60 seconds until melted; whisk mixture until glaze is smooth. Let stand 1 hour or until glaze sets. If desired, garnish the top of the cake with 3.5oz chocolate bar (we used Lindt's intense orange dark chocolate with almond slivers) cut into small triangles. Arrange chocolate pieces in glazed or serve alongside cake. Serves 12.
• Peach Melba Cupcakes: Prepare angel food with these changes. You'll need 24 jumbo paper cupcake liners. Double up the liners, 2 per cupcake, and arrange on a large baking sheet. After adding flour in step 4, spoon the batter into a gallon-size ziptop bag; seal bag and cut off a 1/2-inch corner. Pipe the batter into the liners, filling each almost to the top. Smooth tops with an offset spatula. Bake 20 minutes, or until pick inserted in centers come out clean. Cool on baking sheet on wire rack. Melba Sauce: puree in a blender 1 thawed 10oz package frozen raspberries in syrup. Scrape berry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over medium bowl to remove seeds; discard seeds. To assemble cupcakes you'll need 1 thawed 1-pound bag frozen sliced peaches (any thick slices should be cut into thinner slices). If desired, toss peaches with 1/4 cup sugar. Carefully peel back inner paper liner; remove cupcake. Slice off rounded top with a serrated knife; cut top into quarters. Place cupcake bottom back into outer paper liner and spoon some Melba Sauce over cut surface. Top with a dollop of whipped nondairy topping. Place 3-4 peach slices into whipped topping. Drizzle with more sauce; add another dollop of whipped topping. Stick cupcake top quarters into cream. Serves 12.

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY ANGEL FOOD TORTE

Steps:

• Split cake horizontally into four layers. In a large bowl, beat the cream, confectioners' sugar and cocoa until stiff peaks form., To assemble, place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with a third of the raspberry jam. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill until serving. Just before serving, garnish with raspberries and mint leaves.

TOFFEE BRITTLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Slice cake into 3 layers.
• Break toffee bars into tiny pieces.
• Whip the whipping cream, add the butterscotch topping to it.
• Frost bottom layer, sprinkle toffee bits on top of whipped cream.
• Place next layer of the cake on top of first, repeat, continue with 3rd layer.
• Frost sides of stacked cake with remaining whipped cream.
• Sprinkle toffee bits all over sides of cake.
• Drizzle butterscotch topping all over cake.

MOCHA ANGEL FOOD TORTE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the milk, pudding mix and coffee; beat on low speed for 2 minutes or until thickened. Fold in half of the whipped topping., Cut cake in half horizontally; place the bottom layer on a serving plate. Spread with half of the pudding mixture. Top with remaining cake., Fold remaining whipped cream into remaining pudding mixture; spread over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with crushed candy bars. Chill for 2 hours before serving.

ANGEL FOOD CAKE III

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Be sure that your 10 inch tube pan is clean and dry. Any amount of oil or residue could deflate the egg whites. Sift together the flour, and 3/4 cup of the sugar, set aside.
• In a large bowl, whip the egg whites along with the vanilla, cream of tartar and salt, to medium stiff peaks. Gradually add the remaining sugar while continuing to whip to stiff peaks. When the egg white mixture has reached its maximum volume, fold in the sifted ingredients gradually, one third at a time. Do not overmix. Put the batter into the tube pan.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cake springs back when touched. Balance the tube pan upside down on the top of a bottle, to prevent decompression while cooling. When cool, run a knife around the edge of the pan and invert onto a plate.

ELEGANT CHOCOLATE ANGEL TORTE

Steps:

• To make strawberry puree, mash 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries (or frozen strawberries thawed) in blender or food processor. Cover, blend until smooth. Puree should measure 1 cup.
• Move oven rack to lowest position.
• Sift cocoa over contents of cake flour packet, stir to blend. Proceed with mixing cake as directed on package. Bake and cool as directed for 10-inch tube pan. Carefully run knife along side of pan to loosen cake; remove rom pan. Using a serrated knife, slice cake horizontally into four layers.
• Prepare whipped toppying mix as directed on package, using 1 cup nonfat milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Blend in strawberry puree.
• Place bottom cake layer on serving plate; spread with 1/4 of topping. Set next cake layer on top; spread with 1/4 of topping. Continue layering cake and topping. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Slice cake with sharp serrated knife, cutting with gentle sawing motions. Serve sliced cake with strawberry garnishes. Cover; refrigerate leftover cake.

PEACH ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine cake mix, peaches and juice (do not add water). Mix well.
• Pour into tube pan or 2 loaf pans.
• Bake according to directions on cake package.
• If desired, serve with whipped topping.

PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Put the dry angel food cake mix and crushed pineapple in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase the speed to medium and beat for one more minute. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish.
• Bake until the cake springs back when pressed in the center, 25 to 30 minutes. Place the cake on a wire rack and let cool completely, about 2 hours. Slice with a serrated knife. Refrigerate any leftovers.

STRAWBERRY ANGEL FOOD DESSERT

Steps:

• Crumble the cake into a 9x13 inch dish.
• Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Mash the cake down with your hands and spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake.
• In a bowl, combine strawberries and glaze until strawberries are evenly coated. Spread over cream cheese layer. Chill until serving.