Thursday, January 24, 2013

mini angel food cakes


Angel food cake reminds me of my dad.

It was his favorite cake ~ of all time

My mom baked him an angel food cake from scratch, at least once a month. She made a simple glaze for it too . . . powdered sugar and cream, I think.  


It's about that time of year when my family and I gather over a big meal at Buca di Beppo's to share in one another's company, laughter, and to remember my dad . . . all over yummy food and amazing desserts! 

With every passing year, I plan an activity, or share a dessert, that reminds us of our dad.

His favorite candy was See's Divinity. I thought I would tackle the candy-making challenge last year, and made home-made divinity . . . and packaged the candy for each of my siblings and our mom.  It was a hit!

So when I found these adorable MINI angel food cake pans a few months ago, I thought it would be neat to bake mini angel food cakes in honor of my dad for this year's memory celebration.  
    
 

My mom didn't stray much from recipes, so I thought I would bake these lightly sweet cakes with a twist. My dad loved coconut . . .  so I added coconut water to the recipe . . . and sprinkled coconut on them as well.  
  


I'm a traditionalist when it comes to baking desserts from scratch

BUT . . . I was told that BOXED angel food mix produces a slightly sweeter cake ~ compared to a cake made from scratch. 

If you've ever had angel food cake, then you know that it's texture is ever so soft ~ like clouds ~ and is mildly sweet. Some would say that it needs to be sweeter. If that's your preference, then preparing the box mix is for YOU.

I made both . . . one from a BOX mix . . . and one from scratch (Paula Deen's recipe). I thought both were good. There's something special about making it from scratch . . . it just makes me smile; but for ease . . . the box mix is just fine.

In honor of my dad, I will make mini angel food cakes for my siblings and mom . . . from scratch

For those looking for a quick and easy recipe, then I recommend the one below.

And if you can't find coconut water at your local market, then follow the directions on the box . . . and add 1 teaspoon of coconut extract.

For fun, I attached a polka dot flower sticker to a paper straw . . . and nestled it into the cake! So pretty!



 Ingredients
Cake
1 (16-ounce) box angel food cake mix
2/3 cup coconut water
Marshmallow Frosting
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 egg whites
1/4 cup marshmallow cream
1/2 cup coconut flakes, for decorating 

Preparation
For the cake 
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Beat together the cake mix with coconut water. Fill 2 (6-count) mini angel food can pans halfway with batter. Bake until puffed, golden brown, and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 12 to 15 minutes. Invert the pans onto wire cooling racks and cool completely before removing from the pans.


for the frosting
Bring 2 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan.
In a large glass bowl that will fit over the saucepan  combine 1/4 cup water, sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar, and egg whites. Place on top of the saucepan and beat for 7 minutes using an electric hand mixer. The frosting will be smooth, shiny, and form peaks when the mixer is lifted from the bowl. Remove from the heat and slowly beat in the marshmallow cream.

Frost each cake with the icing and sprinkle with coconut flakes.
To make colored coconut flakes, add 2 drops of food coloring to 2 cups of coconut flakes and stir until coconut flakes have smoothly and completely changed color.





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17 comments:

  1. These look fantastic Suzanne!! Pinning :)

    xo, Tanya

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  2. This is so very sweet! I love that you guys get together to remember your dad every year. I know what it's like to miss your dad oh so much!!
    I would love it if you came and shared this at our valentine's party (I know these weren't made for that but I think the ones with pink coconut would still be perfect for that). http://www.coffeewithus3.com/v-day-saturday-dishes/

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  3. Lovely story about your Dad, and love the minis.

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  4. That looks delicious, and what great memories!

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  5. These are so cute! I think they would be perfect for a little girls birthday party. I would love to have you hop over and share with us at Tell Me About It Tuesday! (http://www.sweetsillysara.com/2014/01/tell-me-about-it-tuesday-3.html)

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  6. This is such a sweet post in honor of your Dad-I love these little cakes, going to pin them too.
    Visiting from the Style Sisters~
    Jemma

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  7. I want to try making one of these mini cakes for my daughter's first birthday! I'd love it if you'd share this at my link party, going on now! http://accidentallywonderful.blogspot.com/2014/01/accidentally-wonderful-wednesday-3.html

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  8. what a sweet way
    to honor the memory
    of a sweet man

    thank you for sharing
    on Fridays Unfolded!

    Alison
    Nancherrow

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  9. What a sweet tribute to your dad! My mom use to make angel food cake often too. I love it, but have not made it in years. Guess who will be making one soon? The mini's are so cute and I love the coconut! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  10. I love mini desserts cause it make you feel like you get to eat the whole thing. These are very pretty. Thanks for linking up at The Makers!
    Corey @ TinySidekick.com

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  11. These look seriously fantastic!

    Thanks for linking up at Tell Me About It Tuesday. We hope you hop over and share with us again this week. (Sorry for the late comment!)

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  12. This is so wonderful - such a sweet post! I will be featuring your post in this week's Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  13. Suzanne....I love this sweet little cake...but even more I love how wonderfully you've honored your dad. My dad has also gone on and he is very missed. I think there's something special between a father and his daughter.

    I'd love to invite you to link up this post or any other you want to share at Project Inspire{d} - AnExtraordinaryDay.net. Our party goes live every Monday night at 8 ET. Hope to see your there!

    ~Diane

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  16. my 16 ounce Betty Crocker box mix says to add 1 1/3 cups water, yet you use only 2/3 cup? Is that correct? Also, how many mini cakes do you get from a box mix? Please reply. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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