Espresso Chocolate Chip Angel Food Cake

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH ESPRESSO GLAZE

Steps:

• 1. Move oven rack to lowest position. Preheat oven to 350. Pour cake mix and cocoa into clean mixing bowl; whisk together.
• 2. Add 1-1/3 cups water. Mix and bake according to package directions in 10" ungreased tube pan.
• 3. Prepare glaze when cake is cool. Place espresso granules in water in small microwave safe bowl; stir to dissolve. Mix in frosting. Microwave on HI for 20-25 seconds or until just pourable. Stir to blend.
• 4. Spread glaze over top of cake allowing some to drizzle down sides. Let glaze set and serve. Garnish with chocolate covered espresso beans if desired.

LOW-FAT CHOCOLATE CHIP ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Move oven rack to lowest position (remove other racks). Heat oven to 350°F. Make cake mix as directed on box--except gently stir chocolate chips into batter. Bake, cool and remove from pan as directed.
• To serve, cut into 12 slices. Drizzle each slice with chocolate syrup; top with berries.

ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE CHIP ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift together the espresso powder, cake flour, and salt. Set aside.
• Put the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites on medium speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar. Increase to high speed and slowly pour in the sugar. Continue whipping until the whites are stiff but still shiny, about 3 minutes.
• Reduce to low speed and add the vanilla extract and lemon juice. Add the reserved flour mixture. When the flour mixture is almost completely incorporated, remove the bowl from the machine and fold in the chocolate chips. Make sure that the chocolate chips are spread throughout the batter and that the flour is evenly mixed into the egg whites. Do not over mix.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and cut through it a few times with a dull knife to break up any air pockets.
• Bake until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Invert the cake on a rack and let it cool upside down in the pan.
• Unmold the cake and slice it with a serrated knife.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the cake: Sift the cake flour with the cocoa and 3/4 cup of the sugar into a large bowl.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until foamy. Sprinkle the cream of tartar over the egg whites and continue to beat until they hold a soft peak. Add the vanilla extract and gradually beat in the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer and, using a spatula, gradually fold in the flour mixture, sprinkling in about 1/4 cup at a time. Pour the batter into an ungreased 9-inch angel food cake pan and bake until the cake springs back when pressed with your finger, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 1 hour, then loosen the cake from the sides and center of the pan with a knife before unmolding.
• For the strawberries: Combine the strawberries and sugar in a medium bowl and toss gently to coat every slice. Let the strawberries stand for about 30 minutes to allow the juices to develop. Serve over the chocolate angel food cake.

ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour three 8-inch round cake pans, then line with parchment paper and butter the parchment. Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat together the brown sugar and butter in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat on high speed until light and fluffy.
• In a small bowl, combine the instant espresso with just enough water to make a paste (approximately 1/4 cup); stir until the espresso has dissolved. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
• Turn the mixer to low speed and add the flour mixture in parts, alternating with the sour cream. Mix in the dissolved espresso. Stir in 1 cup boiling water until just blended. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn them out onto racks and allow to cool completely.
• For the vanilla buttercream: Beat the butter and shortening with an electric mixer until fluffy, then slowly add the vanilla. Add in the confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time, then turn the mixer to medium-high speed and beat for 5 minutes more.
• To assemble: Level off the top of each cake layer with a serrated knife. Smear about 1 tablespoon buttercream on a cake plate to help secure the cake, then top with one of the cake layers. Add approximately 1 cup buttercream and spread it evenly around the top. Add a second cake layer and another cup of buttercream, again spreading all around to cover the top of the cake. Add the final cake layer. Working with small amounts of buttercream, cover the sides and top of the cake. Add interesting patterns with buttercream combs, or texture the outer part with a spatula. Serve immediately or cover to keep fresh.

MOCHA CHIP ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together espresso powder, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon water until powder dissolves.
• In a large, wide bowl, using an electric mixer, beat egg whites on medium-high until foamy, about 1 minute. Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form, 4 minutes. Continue to beat, gradually adding sugar, until stiff glossy peaks form, about 2 minutes. (If using a stand mixer, gently transfer egg-white mixture to a large, wide bowl for easier folding.)
• Place cake flour and salt in a fine-mesh sieve and sift over egg-white mixture in 3 additions, gently folding with a rubber spatula after each addition. Gently fold in espresso mixture and chocolate chips. Gently spoon batter into an ungreased angel-food cake pan with a removable bottom. With a knife, cut through batter to release air bubbles, then smooth top. Bake until cake is golden brown and springs back when lightly pressed, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Invert pan on a baking sheet; let cake cool in pan, 1 hour. Run a thin knife around pan and tube, then unmold cake. Serve drizzled with ganache.