Peppermint Angel Food Cake

PEPPERMINT LAYER CAKE WITH CANDY CANE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Position racks in the middle and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter three 8-inch-round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Combine the milk and the vanilla and peppermint extracts in a small bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar, then increase the mixer speed to high and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, until just combined. Scrape down the side of the bowl, then increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 5 more minutes.
• In a separate large bowl (using clean beaters), beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and continue beating until stiff, shiny peaks form, about 6 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whites into the batter in 3 additions until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake, switching the position of the pans about halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let the cakes cool 10 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto racks to cool completely. Peel off the parchment. (The cakes can be made up to 1 day ahead; wrap in plastic and store at room temperature.)
• Make the frosting: Fill a medium saucepan with 1 to 2 inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, egg whites, 2 tablespoons water and the salt in a heatproof bowl and set over the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture registers 165 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 8 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and beat with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until fluffy and cool, about 4 more minutes. Add the vanilla and peppermint extracts and beat until combined, 1 more minute.
• Assemble the cake: Place 1 cake layer on a platter and spread 1 cup frosting on top; sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons crushed candy canes. Top with another cake layer, spread with 1 cup frosting and sprinkle with another 2 tablespoons crushed candy canes. Top with the final cake layer, then frost the top and side of the cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle more crushed candy canes on top.

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.

CANDY CANE 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 and cold water with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 1 minute.
• Pour about 3 cups batter into ungreased 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan. Into small bowl, pour about 3/4 cup batter; stir in food color and peppermint extract until blended. Carefully spoon red batter over white batter in pan. Carefully spoon remaining white batter over red batter and swirl with knife.
• Bake 40 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Immediately turn pan upside down onto heatproof funnel or bottle. Cool completely, about 2 hours. Loosen cake by running long metal spatula along edge of pan. Place serving plate upside down on pan. Turn plate and pan over; remove pan.
• In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon milk; stir in enough remaining milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over cake; top with crushed candies.

CLASSIC PINK PEPPERMINT ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325ºF.
• To make cake, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and 3/4 cup sugar, stirring with a whisk.
• Place egg whites in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar and salt; beat until soft peaks form.
• Add 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla, juice, almond extract, and red food coloring.
• Sift 1/4 cup flour mixture over egg white mixture; fold in and then repeat with remaining flour mixture, 1/4 cup at a time. Fold in crushed peppermint .
• Spoon the batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan, spreading evenly. Break air pockets by cutting through the batter with a knife. Bake at 325°F for 55 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.
• Invert pan; cool completely. Loosen cake from sides of pan using a thin metal spatula. Invert the cake onto a plate.
• Serve and enjoy!

PEPPERMINT ANGEL ROLL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Line a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan with waxed paper and grease the paper. Spread batter evenly into pan. Bake 15-20 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. , Cool 5 minutes. Turn cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioners' sugar. Gently peel off waxed paper. Roll up cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Cool completely on a wire rack. , Unroll cake and spread ice cream over cake to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up again, without towel. Cover and freeze until firm., Cut into slices; drizzle with hot fudge topping. If desired, garnish with crushed candies and dust with confectioners' sugar. ,

PEPPERMINT MARBLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Pre-heat oven to 375F. For cake,prepare batter following package directions. Stir in peppermint extract. Divide batter in two, one with red food coloring, to a shade of pink. Spoon batter into ungreased 10 inch tube pan, alternating colors to produce a marble effect. Bake and cool cake following package directions. Brush loose crust crumbs from cake with a paper towel.
• 2. For glaze, combine sugar, milk, peppermint extract and red food coloring in a small bowl. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy if desired.

PEPPERMINT CAKE ROLLS

Steps:

• Line 2 greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans with waxed paper. Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans, spreading evenly., Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool for 5 minutes. , Invert each cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioners' sugar. Gently peel off paper. Roll up cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Cool completely on a wire rack. , In a small bowl, mix whipped topping and extract until blended. Unroll cakes; spread each with 1-1/2 cups peppermint mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges., Cut a small hole in the corner of a food-safe plastic bag; fill with fudge topping. Drizzle each cake with half of the fudge topping; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons crushed candies. Roll up again, without towel. , Transfer to platters. Frost with remaining peppermint mixture. Just before serving, top with remaining candies and, if desired, mint leaves. Freeze option: Omit candy topping and mint leaves. Place frosted cakes in airtight freezer containers; cover and freeze. Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving. Top with remaining candies and, if desired, mint leaves.

PEPPERMINT ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• For the Cake: Place the 12 egg whites in a very large mixing bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Sift confectioners' sugar and flour together 3 times.
• Beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until soft peaks form (tips curl).
• Gradually add 1 cup granulated sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight).
• Sift about one-fourth of the flour mixture over beaten egg whites; fold in gently. Repeat sifting and folding in the remaining flour mixture three more times, using one-fourth of the flour mixture each time.
• Divide batter in half.
• Fold extract and food coloring into one half.
• Alternately spoon pink and white batters into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan.
• Gently cut through batter with a knife, swirling gently.
• Bake cake on the lowest rack in the preheated 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched.
• Immediately invert the cake in the pan, standing the tube pan on its legs or resting the center tube over a tall-necked bottle. Cool thoroughly.
• Remove cake from pan.
• Frost with Pink Peppermint Frosting when cake has cooled thoroughly.
• Serve at room temperature.
• Store any leftover cake in refrigerator.
• For the Pink Peppermint Frosting: Place the 2 egg whites in a bowl.
• Let stand 30 minutes.
• In a 2-quart saucepan mix the 2/3 cup granulated sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Boil gently, without stirring, for 5 minutes.
• Beat egg whites using an electric mixer at medium to high speed until soft peaks form (tip curl).
• Slowly add hot syrup to egg whites, pouring in a steady stream, while beating.
• Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form (tips stand straight).
• Beat in 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and enough red food coloring to tint frosting pink.