Posted by Marla
on November 10, 2009, 1:02 pm
63.224.111.87
ROD RECIPES 11/10/2009 National Angel Food Cake Day
Angel food cake is a type of cake that became popular in the U.S. in the late 19th century. It is sometimes referred to as Angel Cake and named because of its airy lightness is said to be the "food of the angels." A variety of Chocolate cake known as Devil's food cake is another popular American cake that was developed later. Angel food cake is a type of foam cake whereas the devil's food cake is a type of butter cake.
Angel food cake requires that the egg whites be whipped until they are stiff, and gently folded into the other ingredients. For this method of leavening to work well, it is useful to have flour that has been made of softer wheat. This — and the lack of fat— causes angel food cake to have a very light texture and taste. It has led some detractors to liken the taste of the cake, as well as its appearance, to cotton Angel food cake should be cut with a serrated knife, as a solid blade tends to compress the cake rather than slice it. Forks, electric serrated knives, special tined cutters or a strong thread should be used instead.
Angel food cake is usually baked in a tube pan, a tall, round pan with a tube up the center that leaves a hole in the middle of the cake. A "bundt pan" can also be used, but the fluted sides can make releasing the cake more difficult. The center tube allows the cake batter to rise higher by 'clinging' to all sides of the pan. Unlike other cakes, the pan should be un-greased to enhance the cake. After baking, the cake pan is inverted while cooling to prevent the cake from falling in on itself. Angel food cake is sometimes frosted but more often has some sort of sauce, such as a sweet fruit sauce, drizzled over it. A simple glaze is also popular. Recently, many chefs (Alton Brown in particular) have popularized the idea of adding aromatic spices such as mace and cloves.
Heavenly Angel Food Cake
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
1 1/2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
2 teaspoons lemon zest
Preheat oven to 375°. Line bottom and sides of a 13- x 9-inch pan with aluminum foil, allowing 2 to 3 inches to extend over sides of pan. (Do not grease pan or foil.) Sift together first 3 ingredients.
Beat egg whites and cream of tartar at high speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold in sugar mixture, 1/3 cup at a time, folding just until blended after each addition. Fold in vanilla and lemon juice. Spoon batter into prepared pan. (Pan will be very full. The batter will reach almost to the top of the pan.)
Bake at 375° on an oven rack one-third up from bottom of oven 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Invert cake onto a lightly greased wire rack; let cool, with pan over cake, 1 hour or until completely cool. Remove pan; peel foil off cake. Transfer cake to a serving platter. Spread Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting evenly over top of cake. Garnish, if desired.
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add lemon juice, beating just until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended; stir in lemon zest.
Garnish can be a small icing flower, pink rose petals, a strawberry slice with a mint leaf, a lemon curl with a mint leaf or your own creative idea.
source is Charming Hospitality
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