Small Batch Angel Food Cupcakes

ANGEL'S FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners, and lightly coat with cooking spray.
• Sift the flour, confectioners' sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt through a fine sieve into a medium bowl; set aside.
• Combine the egg whites in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until frothy, about 2 minutes. Add the cream of tartar, and beat until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the granulated sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Increase the speed to medium-high, and continue beating until the peaks are stiff and very shiny, about 5 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and lemon zest. Remove the bowl from the stand.
• Sprinkle 1/4 of the flour mixture on top of the eggs, and gently fold in with a rubber spatula. Evenly fold in the remaining flour mixture in 3 additions.
• Divide the batter evenly among the lined muffin cups in messy mounds taller than the liners, and bake until the cupcakes spring back when gently pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 14 to 16 minutes. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• For the halo decorations: Cut 12 sticks 1 inch long and about 1/8 inch thick out of the crystallized ginger. Trim the ends so they are straight across.
• Trace 12 circles on a piece of parchment with a 1-inch round cookie cutter. Turn the paper over; set aside. Fit one of the pastry bags with the tip.
• Microwave the candy coating in a small bowl, uncovered, at 40 percent power in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until melted and completely smooth. Transfer the candy coating to the pastry bag, and pipe it into 12 circles, using the parchment template as a guide. Set aside to let harden slightly. Pipe 1 small dollop of the candy coating directly onto each circle, and push a ginger stick into each so it is standing straight up. Let the halos harden completely.
• For the frosting: Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a stand mixer's heatproof bowl above the water (or a large heatproof bowl if using a handheld mixer). Whisk the egg whites, granulated sugar, cream of tartar and a pinch of salt together in the bowl; set the bowl above the boiling water and whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar dissolves, 1 to 2 minutes. Beat the egg white mixture with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until it is cool and forms stiff peaks, about 5 minutes.
• Decorate the cupcakes: Transfer the frosting to the remaining pastry bag, and pipe generous swirls on top of each cupcake, lifting the bag up quickly to make a peak. Push the ginger stem of a halo into each, and serve right away.

ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place paper baking cups in 30 -36 regular sized muffin cups.
• Beat cake mix, cornstarch, vanilla and water in extra large glass or metal bowl on low speed for 30 seconds; beat on medium speed for 3 minute.
• Fill cups 2/3-3/4 full of batter. Refrigerate remaining batter while cupcakes are baking.
• Bake 12-20 minutes or until golden brown and cracks feel dry; cool.
• Frost with your favorite frosting or fruit - I prefer fat free cool whip and cut berries but have also plucked a bit of cake out of the center filled it with strawberry jam and then made a frosting with the jam and powdered sugar.

ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper bake cups.
• Prepare batter as directed on the box. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until done.

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 CUPCAKES WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND BERRIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 30 to 36 regular-size muffin cups.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix and water with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 1 minute. Pour batter into muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.
• Bake 12 to 20 minutes or until cupcakes are golden brown and cracks on top feel dry. Remove from muffin cups to cooling rack. Cool.
• In medium bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on medium-high speed until slightly thickened. Reduce speed; beat in granulated sugar and vanilla bean paste. Increase speed; beat mixture until stiff peaks form. Spoon whipped cream into decorating bag fitted with large star tip.
• Pipe whipped cream on top of cooled cupcakes; garnish with berries. Sprinkle tops with powdered sugar.

SMALL BATCH ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Line a cupcake pan with 6-7 paper liners.
• In a small bowl, sift together flour and 2 tablespoons sugar.
• In a large mixing bowl on high speed (with whisk attachment if using a stand mixer), beat egg whites until foamy, about 1 minute. Add vinegar, vanilla, and salt.
• Gradually beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Then continue beating on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 4-5 minutes (when you pull the beaters straight up, peaks will form but not fall over).
• Fold in the flour mixture using a rubber spatula until all of the flour is incorporated, being careful not to deflate the egg whites.
• Fill paper liners all the way to the top (they won't rise much). Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown and tops spring back when touched. Cool completely.
• Once cool, frost cupcakes with whipped cream and top with raspberries.

ANGEL FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350, and place 6 paper liners in a cupcake pan. Gather cupcake ingredients, and set aside frosting ingredients.
• In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, cornstarch and salt. Sift it back into another bowl, and repeat one more time for a total of 3 siftings. Set this mixture aside.
• In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer on high until foamy (about 30 seconds). Once foamy, add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form (about 2 minutes). Soft peaks fall over on themselves when you lift the beaters out.
• Next, slowly stream the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, into the egg whites while beating. When done, the mixture will be bright white and glossy.
• Finally, add the vanilla extract and beat to combine.
• Add the flour mixture to the egg white and sugar mixture, and fold together using a rubber spatula. Proper folding technique is down the middle and sweep the sides of the bowl. Don't deflate the batter by stirring too vigorously!
• Divide the batter amount the cupcake liners. It will come to the top of each liner. Bake for 17-19 minutes, until the tops of the cupcakes are starting to lightly brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Let the cupcakes cool completely in the pan before moving to a wire rack.
• Combine the cold whipping cream and powdered sugar, and beat until fluffy. Use a piping bag or butter knife to spread it on the cupcakes. Garnish with fresh berries and serve.