Angel Food Cake with Coconut

Recipe by: Georgeanne Brennan | from Christmas Sweets: 65 Festive Recipes, Table Decorations, Sweet Gift Ideas

Cookstr

Course: Dessert

Total Time: Under 4 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Inexpensive

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

Pure white angel food cake, swirled with whipped cream and dusted with coconut flakes, is a winter holiday vision. In making the cake, be careful not to overbeat the egg whites-they should be soft and moist, not dry and stiff. For a holiday shortcut, buy a ready-made cake and decorate it.

Yield: Makes one 10-inch cake; serves 12

INGREDIENTS

1 cup superfine sugar
1 cup cake flour
½ teaspoon salt
1¼ cups egg whites (10 or 11 large eggs)
1½ teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1 teaspoon almond extract

frosting:

1½ cups heavy cream
¾ cup superfine sugar
2 cups coconut flakes

Directions

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Sift the sugar 3 times onto a sheet of waxed paper. Sift the flour 3 times onto another sheet of waxed paper. In a medium bowl, combine the sifted sugar and flour with the salt and sift together. Set aside.

In a large, clean, dry bowl, whisk the egg whites for about 3 minutes, or until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and then, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until moist, soft peaks form. Be careful not to overbeat to the stiff-peak stage. Beat in the orange zest and almond extract.

Dust a little of the flour mixture on top of the egg whites, then fold it in. Repeat, in small portions, until all the dry mixture is folded in and the batter is light and airy.

Pour the batter into an ungreased 10-inch angel food cake pan with a removable bottom. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the top comes out clean.

Immediately place the pan upside down on the pan feet, or invert it on the neck of a bottle. Let cool thoroughly at least 1½ to 2 hours before removing from the pan.

Transfer the cake to a cake plate.

To make the frosting: Using an electric mixer on medium high speed, whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Beat in the sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread the cake top and sides with swirls of whipped cream. Sprinkle generously with coconut flakes, pressing them onto the sides.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Calories 365kcal (18%)

Calcium 27mg (3%)

Vitamin C 1mg (1%)

Vitamin A 122mcg RAE (4%)

Potassium 216mg

Magnesium 20mg

Protein 5g

Sugar 30g

Fiber 3g

Total Carbohydrate 43g