Mini Pan 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.

MINI ANGEL FOOD CAKES FOR TWO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift flour with 1/3 cup sugar 3 times.
• In a large bowl, beat egg whites and salt with electric mixer until foamy; add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form; fold in vanilla. In two additions, gently fold in flour mixture until just combined. Divide batter between the two pans; place on sheet pan.
• Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until browned and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Invert pans on cooling grid to cool. Loosen cakes from pans with spatuals; remove from pans.

ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place flour and salt in a sieve set over a bowl; sift into bowl, and set aside. With a mixer, beat egg whites on medium-high until foamy, about 1 minute. Add cream of tartar; beat until soft peaks form. Continue to beat, gradually adding sugar; beat until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to combine.
• Gently transfer egg-white mixture to a large, wide bowl. In four batches, using the sieve again, sift flour mixture over egg-white mixture. While turning the bowl, use a rubber spatula to fold in the mixture by cutting down the center and coming up the sides.
• Gently spoon batter into an ungreased angel food cake pan with a removable bottom; smooth top. Cut a knife or small spatula through batter to release air bubbles. Bake until cake is golden and springs back when lightly pressed, 35 to 40 minutes. Invert pan; let cool in pan, 1 hour. Run a knife around the inside of the pan and around the tube to release cake, and unmold. Use knife to release cake from bottom of pan, and remove.

LOAF PAN ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the bottom of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with aluminum foil, allowing the foil to hang over the long sides by at least 1 inch. Do not grease the pans.
• Whisk together the flour and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Whisk the egg whites in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment at medium speed just until they start to look foamy, for 30 seconds. Add the lemon juice and cream of tartar and beat on high speed until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Gradually add the sugar in a slow, steady stream and beat until thickened and shiny, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the orange extract and vanilla bean seeds, then decrease to the lowest speed. Add the flour and salt mixture in a steady stream and beat until just combined.
• Turn off the mixer as soon as all the flour is added. Fold the mixture with a rubber spatula once or twice to make sure the flour is fully incorporated. Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared pans.
• Bake on the bottom rack of the oven until puffed and slightly golden brown on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool the cakes upside down by balancing the edges of each pan on two cans or jars, 15 to 20 minutes. Once completely cooled, remove the cakes from the pan, peel off the foil and serve.

MINI-PAN ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325. In a large bowl beat egg whites till foamy, add the cream of tartar and salt, then beat till soft peaks form.
• Add the vanilla and almond extracts, gradually add the sugar beating till mix is stiff. Sift flour over batter and gently fold it inches
• Fill each ungreased mini-pan to 2/3 full. Bake 20 minutes or until crust looks deep golden brown and cracks feel dry. Do not underbake!
• Immediately invert pan onto two glass bottles, letting cakes cool completely before removing from pan. Loosen sides with nylon or plastic spatulas to prevent scratching.
• Top with chocolate frosting or whipped cream as desired. Add sliced fruits like strawberries, raspberries, or kiwi!