Cocoa Angel Food Cake

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.,

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, mix confectioners' sugar, cake flour, and cocoa. Sift together 2 times, and set aside.
• In a clean large bowl, whip egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar with an electric mixer on high speed until very stiff. Fold in white sugar 2 tablespoons at a time while continuing to mix. Fold in flour mixture, a little at a time, until fully incorporated. Stir in vanilla. Pour into a 10 inch tube pan.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for approximately 1 hour, or until cake springs back when touched.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the cake ingredients.
• Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Alternatively, use an electric hand mixer. Let stand for about 30 minutes to bring to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, sift 1 cup of granulated sugar, cake flour, and cocoa into a medium bowl. Sift again and set aside (reserve the sifter, you will use it again). Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 F.
• With the mixer on medium speed, beat the egg whites until frothy.
• Add the cream of tartar and beat on high speed, gradually adding the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar. Continue beating for 3 to 5 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
• Sift half of the flour-cocoa mixture over the beaten egg whites and gently fold it in with a spatula until blended but still streaky.
• Sift the remaining flour-cocoa mixture over the egg whites and continue folding until well combined.
• Spoon the batter into a two-piece 9.5-inch tube pan. Run a butter knife or spatula through the batter to release any air bubbles.
• Bake the cake for about 38 to 42 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or cake tester inserted into the cake comes out clean.
• Invert the pan and cool the cake completely.
• Slide a knife or spatula around the pan and center tube to loosen the cake. Grasp the center tube to remove the cake from the outer pan; use a knife or spatula to release the cake from the bottom of the pan.
• Place the cake on a cake plate or cake stand and dust with confectioners' sugar, or frost with the optional fluffy chocolate frosting. If desired, garnish with shaved chocolate. Make the Optional Frosting
• Gather the frosting ingredients.
• Put the semisweet and milk chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl; set aside.
• Pour the cream into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until steaming hot. Do not let the cream boil.
• Pour the cream over the chocolate chips and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until melted. If there are still lumps of chocolate, place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir until smooth. Alternatively, microwave on low in short bursts, stirring frequently, until the mixture is smooth.
• Let the chocolate mixture stand, stirring every 15 minutes, until cooled to room temperature, about 70 F to 75 F. Cooling will take about 1 to 2 hours.
• Add a pinch of salt, the vanilla, and 2 to 3 pieces of butter to the chocolate mixture. Beat with an electric mixer with whisk attachment on low speed, adding the butter a few pieces at a time until smooth and well combined. Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
• Increase the speed to high and beat for about 4 to 5 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed.
• Frost the cake, garnish with the shaved chocolate, if desired, and served.

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.

COCOA ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH ORANGE GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. and have ready an ungreased 10-inch tube pan (about 4 inched deep) with a removable bottom.
• In a small bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and 1/2 cup sugar. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat whites with salt on medium speed until white, opaque, and beginning to hold their shape. Gradually add the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, beating at high speed until whites hold soft (not stiff), slightly glossy peaks. Beat in vanilla.
• Sift one third cocoa mixture over whites and fold in gently but thoroughly, scraping bottom of bowl to prevent lumps. Sift and fold in remaining cocoa mixture, half at a time, in same manner and pour batter into pan. With a knife, make series of side by side chops in batter to remove air bubbles and smooth top. Bake cake in middle of oven 40 to 45 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Invert cake over neck of a bottle and cool completely.
• Run a thin knife around edge of cake and remove side of pan. Run knife under bottom of cake and around center tube to loosen cake and invert cake onto a rack.
• While orange glaze is still warm, quickly pour over cake, spreading evenly over top with a spatula and allowing excess to drip down outside. (Alternatively, spoon glaze into a plastic bag and squeeze into one corner. Snip off corner to make small hole in bag and streak glaze over cake from center outward.)
• While glaze is still wet (to avoid cracking), transfer cake to a platter. When glaze is set, cover cake loosely with plastic wrap or place under a cake dome and keep at room temperature until ready to serve.
• If cake is kept more than 1 day (before or after serving), it should be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.