Mint Chocolate Chip Angel Food Cake

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.

MINT-CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract; mix using an electric mixer until smooth. Whisk in boiling water. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cake cool 10 to 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• While cake is cooling, combine milk and peppermint extract in a small bowl and set aside. Cream butter in a separate bowl using an electric mixer until smooth. Pour in confectioners' sugar and peppermint-milk mixture alternately while continuing to beat. Add green food coloring until frosting reaches desired color. Whip frosting on high until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Divide between two bowls. Stir chocolate chips into 1/2 the frosting using a spoon. Set mint-chocolate chip frosting aside.
• Frost cooled cake with pure mint frosting without chocolate chips. Place cake in the refrigerator to set.
• Meanwhile, combine chocolate squares and butter in a double boiler; stir until thoroughly melted. Remove from heat. Stir ganache vigorously to a smooth consistency.
• Remove cake from the refrigerator. Cover entire cake with ganache; return to the refrigerator and allow to completely set, about 30 minutes.
• Remove set cake from the refrigerator. Frost sides of cake with mint chocolate chip frosting.

MINT ANGEL CAKE

Steps:

• Let egg whites stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Sift flour twice; set aside., Preheat oven to 350°. Add cream of tartar, almond extract 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 peaks form. Gradually fold in flour, about 1/2 cup at a time., Gently spoon mixture into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on lowest oven rack until lightly browned and entire top appears dry, 40-50 minutes. Immediately invert pan; cool completely, about 1 hour., In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup crushed candies and water. Cook and stir over medium heat until candies are melted and syrupy. In a large bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form., Run a knife around side and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving platter; cut horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; brush with 2 tablespoons mint syrup. Spread with 1/2 cup whipped cream; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon crushed candies. Repeat layers., Top with third cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining whipped cream. Top with remaining candies. Store in refrigerator.

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.

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.