Chocolate Orange Angel Food Cake

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, “Paula Deen’s Chocolate Celebration” Check out her recipe collection at the Food Network site. Untried.

12 egg whites at room temperature
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. finely grated orange zest
1/4 tsp. orange extract
1 1/4 c. confectioners’ sugar
1 c. cake flour
3 Tbsp. Dutch-processed cocoa

Sweet Orange Glaze (recipe follows)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold in orange zest and orange extract.

3. In a small bowl, sift together confectioners’ sugar, flour, and cocoa; gradually fold into egg white mixture. Spoon batter into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan. Bake for 30 to 32 minutes or until lightly browned. Invert cake onto the neck of a bottle and cool completely. (Jen’s note: cooling upside-down allows an angel food cake to keep it’s structure and not deflate.) Gently run a knife around edge of cake to release sides. Remove cake from pan. Drizzle with Sweet Orange Glaze.

Sweet Orange Glaze

1 1/2 c. confectioners’ sugar
2 Tbsp. cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. orange extract

In a small bowl, combine sugar, cream cheese, milk, and extract. Beat at low speed with an electric mixer until smooth.