Maple Angel Food Cake

MAPLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), whip the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt and continue whipping until soft peaks form. With the mixer running, gradually add 1 cup of the granulated sugar and continue whipping until stiff and the sugar has dissolved, about 30 seconds more.
• Sift the remaining 1/4-cup of granulated sugar with the sifted cake flour 3 times, to aerate the mixture. Fold into the egg whites, then fold in the vanilla and maple syrup.
• Spoon the batter into an ungreased proper angel food pan or 6 miniature ones. Smooth the top with the back of the spoon. Bake until light golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool by hanging the cake (in the pan) upside down around the neck of a bottle until it cools to room temperature. Run a long, sharp knife blade around the cake to loosen, then knock the cake out onto a plate.
• Glaze: Stir the ingredients together until smooth. Pour over the top of the cake and spread with a spatula, letting the glaze trickle down the sides. Let set for at least 30 minutes before serving, or until the icing is hard. Cut with a serrated knife, using a sawing motion.

MAPLE NUT ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sift together flour and sugar.Set aside. In a large bowl beat egg whites with salt and cream of tartar till soft peaks form. Add the vanilla and maple flavoring. Add the sugar a little at a time and beat till stiff. Gradually fold the flour/sugar into egg whites about a 1/4 at a time. Spread half of batter into tube pan and sprinkle with the chopped walnuts. Using a knife cut through to mix in nuts. Add the the rest of the batter. Bake about 35 mins. Cool inverted on a wire rack.
• 2. There is no need to use any frosting on this cake as it is great without it but I mixed up enough powdered sugar with some milk and about 1/2 tsp maple flavor extract to make a thin drizzle which I did put on the cake. I then sprinkle chopped walnuts over the top.