Dark Angel Food

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CANDY

Steps:

• Line a 9-in. square pan with foil and grease foil with butter; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and vinegar. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage). , Remove from heat; stir in baking soda. Immediately pour into prepared pan; do not spread candy. Cool. Using foil, lift candy out of pan. Gently peel off foil; break candy into pieces., In a microwave, melt dark chocolate coating and 1/2 teaspoon shortening; stir until smooth. Dip half the candies in the melted dark chocolate mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Repeat with milk chocolate coating and remaining 1/2 teaspoon shortening and candies. Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. On a sheet of waxed paper, sift the cake flour with 3/4 cup of the sugar and the cocoa 4 times.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites along with a pinch of salt until foamy, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the cream of tartar over the egg whites and continue to beat until they hold a soft peak, about 5 minutes. Beating continuously, add the vanilla and gradually stream in the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, until the egg whites are thick, glossy and stiff.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer, and using a spatula, gradually fold in the flour mixture, about 1/4 cup at a time, until there are no more pockets of dry ingredients. Spoon the batter into an ungreased 9-inch tube pan. Bake until the cake springs back when pressed with your finger, about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, invert, and allow the cake to cool on a rack 1 hour before loosening the cake from the pan with a knife and unmolding.
• Meanwhile, make the strawberries: Sprinkle the sliced strawberries with the sugar. Stir to coat and let stand about 30 minutes to allow the juices to develop. Top each cake slice with strawberries and their juices before serving.

DARK CHOCOLATE FILLED ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
• Sift the cake flour, cinnamon, salt and 1/3 cup powdered sugar into a bowl.
• Place the remaining 1/3 cup powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add the egg whites and cream of tartar and beat on low speed until frothy, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium-high and whip until stiff peaks form, 5 to 6 minutes more. Pour in the vanilla and mix for 30 seconds more.
• Spoon the sifted ingredients into the egg mixture and whisk to combine.
• Spoon the batter into the lined cupcake pan, creating a heaping mound of batter in each cup. Bake the cupcakes until lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool 10 minutes before removing from the pan, then let cool completely.
• For the dark chocolate filling: Place the heavy whipping cream in a medium mixing bowl and whip until soft peaks are formed, 2 to 3 minutes. Melt the chocolate in a microwave or over a double boiler, then allow the chocolate to cool for 2 minutes. Scrape the chocolate into the whipped cream and whisk to form a thick ganache. Remove 1/2 cup chocolate ganache and place in a small mixing bowl. Add the cayenne pepper to this mixture and whisk it in. Place the regular and the spicy ganache into separate piping bags fitted with medium round tips.
• Use a small knife to make an X on the surface of each cooled cupcake. Pipe the regular ganache into 9 of the cupcakes, pushing the tip of the pastry bag gently into the center of each. Pipe the spicy ganache into 3 of the cupcakes in the same manner.
• For the 15-minute meringue frosting: Place the egg whites and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, and beat until foamy. Add the vanilla extract and cream of tartar and whip the mixture at medium speed until glossy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and slowly pour in 1/2 cup boiling water. Increase the speed to medium-high and whip until stiff peaks form, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Generously top each cupcake with the meringue frosting. Use an offset spatula to create peaks in the mounds of meringue. Top each cupcake with a red cinnamon jelly bean and serve immediately.

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.,