Pecan Angel Food Cake

PECAN CINNAMON ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Carefully cut off 1-inch top of angel food cake; set aside. Cut down into cake and gently remove core of cake, leaving a 1-inch thick border from bottom and around sides. Crumble cored cake into small pieces.
• In a medium bowl, stir together cake pieces, cream cheese, brown sugar, pecans, and cinnamon.
• Fill center ring of angel food cake with mixture. Place cake top back on.
• Frost cake with whipped topping. Garnish with chopped pecans and ground cinnamon.

GREAT GRANDMA PEARL'S ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH PEACHES AND CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a standing electric mixer, beat the egg whites at medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the sugar, a few tablespoons at a time, until smooth and glossy, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer the egg whites to a large, wide bowl. Using a fine sieve, gradually sift the flour over the egg whites, gently folding in the flour with a spatula. Fold in the vanilla and almond extracts.
• Scrape the batter into a 10-inch angel food cake pan. Using a table knife, slice through the cake batter several times to release any large air bubbles. Tap the cake pan once or twice on a flat surface. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for about 35 minutes longer, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Invert the pan onto the neck of a wine bottle and let cool completely.
• To loosen the cake, run a thin-bladed knife around the side and tube of the pan. Unmold the cake and transfer to a platter. Cut the cake into wedges and drizzle with some of the reserved syrup. Serve with the sliced peaches and whipped cream.

BANANA ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.
• Combine cream of tartar, baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon, oats, and mashed bananas.
• In a separate bowl combine the flour, confectioner's sugar and salt. Fold the banana mixture into the egg whites. Then fold the flour mixture into the egg white/banana mixture.
• Pour batter into one 9 or 10 inch round cake pan, coated with a non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 1 hour, until cake is firm and lightly golden. Cool for 5 minutes then slip out of pan onto a serving dish. Garnish with a light dusting of confectioner's sugar.

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.

BUTTER PECAN GLAZE

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, cook butter over medium heat for 4-6 minutes or until golden brown. Stir in sugar and corn syrup; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; gradually stir in cream. , Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Cook until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from the heat. Stir in pecans and vanilla. Serve warm over ice cream.,