Peppermint Angel Torte Food

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.

MERINGUE TORTE WITH PEPPERMINT CREAM

Steps:

• Let egg whites stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Add water, vinegar, extract, salt and, if desired, food coloring; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved., Preheat oven to 300°. With a pencil, draw three 8x5-in. rectangles on parchment. Place paper, pencil marks down, on baking sheets. Spread meringue evenly over each rectangle., Bake 20 minutes. Turn oven off; leave meringues in oven for 1-1/2 hours. Remove from oven; cool on baking sheets. When cooled completely, remove meringues from paper., In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Spread a third of the chocolate mixture over each meringue. In a large bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; fold in peppermint candies., Place a chocolate-covered meringue on a serving plate; top with a third of the peppermint cream. Repeat layers twice. Top with chocolate curls and additional crushed candies.

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.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Place rack in center of oven and 15 minutes before baking, preheat to 375°.
• Divide sugar in half.
• Sift one half 3 times.
• Set aside.
• Sift the other half of sugar with the flour and cocoa 3 times.
• Set aside.
• Put egg whites in 4 quart grease-free bowl and beat on low speed with electric mixer until foamy.
• Add cream of tartar, vanilla and salt and increase speed to medium.
• Add the 3/4 cup sugar, one T at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Continue beating on medium until whites have increased their volume fivefold and hold their shape but are still shiny and moist.
• Gently and thoroughly fold in flour mixture, by thirds.
• Pour into ungreased 10" tube pan.
• Smooth the surface and cut through batter 5 or 6 times with a rubber spatula to break large air pockets.
• Bake 30-35 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Invert over a narrow-necked bottle and allow to cool.
• When completely cooled use a knife to loosen it from the side of the pan and turn out on wire rack.
• Drizzle Chocolate Glaze over top and allow to run down sides of cake.
• Chocolate Glaze: Combine chocolate, butter and water in bowl and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring once a minute until smooth.

PEPPERMINT CREAM BROWNIE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, letting foil hang 2 inches over ends of pan. Grease bottom and sides of foil with shortening or cooking spray. Make brownie batter as directed on box for cakelike brownies. Spread in pan. Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat 1/4 cup whipping cream over low heat until hot but not boiling; remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips until melted. Let stand at room temperature about 1 hour or until slightly thickened.
• In medium bowl, beat 2/3 cup whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form; set aside. In medium bowl, beat remaining Peppermint Cream ingredients on low speed until blended; beat on medium speed until smooth. Gently stir whipped cream into cream cheese mixture; refrigerate until ready to use.
• Using foil to lift, remove brownies from pan, and peel foil away. Cut brownies crosswise to make 3 equal rectangles. Trim sides if desired.
• To assemble torte, place 1 brownie rectangle on serving platter; spread with 3/4 cup of the Peppermint Cream. Top with second brownie rectangle; spread with Chocolate Ganache. Top with third brownie rectangle; spread with remaining Peppermint Cream. Refrigerate uncovered until serving.
• Meanwhile, place a piece of cooking parchment or waxed paper on cookie sheet. Draw 1 1/2- to 2-inch tree outlines or trace around 2-inch tree-shaped cookie cutter, leaving 1/2 inch space between each tree. Center toothpick at bottom of and 1/2 inch into each tree outline. In 1-quart saucepan, heat 1 cup chocolate chips and the shortening over low heat, stirring constantly, until chips are melted. Pour chocolate into decorating bag fitted with plain tip or resealable plastic bag; snip one corner. Starting at top of each tree outline, pipe chocolate over tree and end of toothpick within tree; fill center with random, squiggly lines. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens. Gently remove trees from paper; refrigerate until serving.
• Just before serving, sprinkle torte with candies and arrange Chocolate Trees on top. Store covered in refrigerator.

ANGEL FOOD TORTE

Steps:

• Slice cake into thirds horizontally. Spread each layer with topping and 1 cup fruit. Assemble layers and pipe with remaining topping. Chill until serving.

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!

ALL-AMERICAN PEPPERMINT STICK TORTE WITH FUDGE TOPPING

Steps:

• For crust:
• Finely grind cookies and sugar in processor. Add butter and blend until crumbs begin to stick together. Press crumbs firmly onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Place in freezer.
• For filling:
• Grind candies in processor, leaving some small pieces. Whisk yolks, sugar and water in medium metal bowl to blend. Set bowl over saucepan of rapidly simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Whisk constantly until candy thermometer inserted into mixture registers 170°F, about 6 minutes. Remove bowl from over water. Add half of ground candies and whisk until melted. Let mixture stand until cool, whisking occasionally, about 5 minutes. Mix in remaining candy and peppermint extract.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream in large bowl to stiff peaks. Fold cream into yolk mixture. Spoon mixture into crust; smooth top. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• For sauce:
• Bring 1 cup cream and corn syrup to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Cool until barely lukewarm and slightly thickened, whisking occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Spoon 1 cup sauce over frozen filling, spreading to edges. Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Cover and keep torte frozen. Cover remaining sauce and refrigerate.)
• Rewarm sauce over low heat, stirring frequently. Run sharp knife around pan sides to loosen torte. Release pan sides. Transfer torte to platter.
• Beat remaining 1 cup cream in large bowl until stiff peaks form. Spoon into pastry bag fitted with star tip. Pipe rosettes of cream around top edge of torte. Place candies between rosettes. Serve with warm sauce.