Low Fat Chocolate Chip Angel Food Cake

ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to the lower middle position and preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
• In a food processor or blender, pulse the sugar until fine and powdery. Remove 1 cup and set aside to use in step 3; keep the rest inside the food processor. Add the cake flour and salt to the food processor. Pulse 5-10 times until sugar/flour/salt mixture is aerated and light.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip egg whites and cream of tartar together on medium-low until foamy, about 1 minute. Switch to medium-high and slowly add the 1 cup of sugar you set aside. Whip until soft peaks form, about 5-6 minutes. See photo and video above for a visual. Add the vanilla extract, then beat just until incorporated.
• In 3 additions, slowly sift the flour mixture into the egg white mixture using a fine mesh strainer, gently folding with a rubber spatula after each addition. To avoid deflating or a dense cake, don't add the flour mixture all at once. Sift and very slowly fold in several additions. This is important! Pour and spread batter into an ungreased 9 or 10 inch tube pan. Shimmy the pan on the counter to smooth down the surface.
• Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 40-45 minutes. Rotate the pan halfway through baking. The cake will rise up very tall while baking. Remove from the oven, then cool the cake completely upside-down set on a wire rack, about 3 hours. (Upside-down so the bottom of the tube pan is right-side up, see photo and video above.) Once cooled, run a thin knife around the edges and gently tap the pan on the counter until the cake releases.
• If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar. Slice the cake with a sharp serrated knife. Regular knives can easily squish the cake. Serve with whipped cream and fresh berries.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

CHOCOLATE CHIP ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour into a mixing bowl, then resift flour with 3/4 cup sugar.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium speed until frothy. Add cream of tartar; beat until whites have tripled in size, about 3 minutes. Slowly add remaining 3/4 cup sugar; beat until firm and glossy, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Transfer egg whites to a large metal mixing bowl. Gently fold in flour mixture in three additions, mixing from bottom of bowl (try to use fewest strokes possible). Fold in grated chocolate, and mix. Pour batter into a 10-inch nonstick angel-food-cake pan, and run a knife through center of the batter to release any air bubbles. Bake until top becomes golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Invert the pan over the neck of a bottle, and cool about 1 hour. Loosen the cake from the pan with a flexible knife, and turn the cake over onto a cake stand.
• Make ganache: Heat buttermilk over medium heat; add chopped chocolate, and stir slowly until melted. Since buttermilk will curdle slightly, strain mixture through a very fine sieve, and stir slowly until smooth. Spread ganache over top of cooled angel-food cake, and allow to harden slightly before serving.

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.,

MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Move oven rack to lowest position (remove other racks). Heat oven to 350°F. In extra-large glass or metal bowl, beat cake mix, cocoa and water with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 1 minute. Pour into ungreased 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan. (Do not use fluted tube cake pan or 9-inch angel food pan or batter will overflow.)
• Bake 37 to 47 minutes or until top is dark golden brown and cracks feel very dry and not sticky. Do not underbake. Immediately turn pan upside down onto glass bottle until cake is completely cool, about 2 hours.
• Run knife around side of pan to loosen cake; remove from pan. Cut off top of cake about 1 inch from top; set aside. Cut down into cake 1 inch from outer edge and 1 inch from edge of center hole, leaving substantial "walls" on each side. Remove cake within cuts with curved knife or spoon, being careful to leave a base of cake 1 inch thick. Spoon ice cream into cake cavity; smooth top. Replace top of cake. Cover and freeze about 3 hours or until firm. Serve with chocolate-flavor sauce.

ULTRA-DELISH LOW-FAT CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle with flour. Sift together all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, mix applesauce, milk, vanilla, coffee, prunes, chocolate, almond extract and egg whites. Fold into the dry ingredients. Bake for 40 minutes.

LOW-FAT CHERRY-ALMOND ANGEL CAKE

Steps:

• Move oven rack to lowest position (remove other racks). Heat oven to 350°F. In extra-large glass or metal bowl, beat cake mix, cold water and extract with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 1 minute. Carefully fold in cherries. Pour into ungreased 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan. (Do not use fluted tube cake pan or 9-inch angel food pan or batter will overflow.)
• Bake 37 to 47 minutes or until top is dark golden brown and cracks feel very dry and not sticky. Do not underbake. Immediately turn pan upside down onto glass bottle, or rest edges on 2 to 4 cans of equal height until cake is completely cooled, about 2 hours. Run knife around edge of cake; remove from pan.
• In medium bowl, mix butter, powdered sugar and enough cherry juice for desired spreading consistency. Spread glaze over top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down side. Garnish with whole cherries, if desired.

LOW-FAT CHOCOLATE ANGEL CAKE WITH RASPBERRY-ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Move oven rack to lowest position (remove other racks). Heat oven to 350°F. In extra-large glass or metal bowl, stir cocoa into dry cake mix; add water. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 1 minute. Pour into ungreased 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan. (Do not use fluted tube cake pan or 9-inch angel food pan or batter will overflow.)
• Bake 37 to 47 minutes or until top is dark golden brown and cracks feel very dry and not sticky. Do not underbake. Immediately turn pan upside down onto glass bottle, or rest edges on 2 to 4 cans of equal height until cake is completely cooled, about 2 hours. Run knife around edge of cake; remove from pan.
• Drain raspberries, reserving liquid. Add enough water to raspberry liquid to measure 2/3 cup. In 1-quart saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch; stir in liquid mixture. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils; boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in orange juice and raspberries. Cool completely.
• Split cake horizontally to make 3 layers. (To split, mark side of cake with toothpicks and cut with long, serrated knife.) Spread 1 cup whipped topping and scant 1/2 cup sauce between each layer (sauce may not completely cover each layer). Spread remaining sauce over top of cake. Drop remaining whipped cream in dollops on top of sauce. Garnish with mint leaves, if desired. Store in refrigerator.