Coconut Angel Food Cake

By RenaZA

This recipe from Martha Stewart doesn't disappoint! Delicious coconut angel food cake with coconut glaze is ideal for a fancy, light cake.

Ingredients

• COCONUT GLAZE:
• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon cake flour (not self-rising)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 12 large egg whites, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon warm water
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pure coconut extract
• 1 1/3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon canned unsweetened coconut milk, plus more if needed
• 2 cups unsweetened large-flake coconut

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325°F, with rack in the lower third of oven. Sift together flour and 3/4 cup sugar 4 times.

Beat egg whites and warm water with a mixer on low speed until foamy, about 3 minutes. Add cream of tartar, vanilla, salt, and coconut extract. Raise speed to medium, and beat until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. With machine running, add remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Raise speed to high, and beat until peaks are stiff and glossy, but not dry, about 2 minutes.

Working in 3 batches, sift flour mixture over egg-white mixture, gently folding in each addition with a rubber spatula, being careful not to deflate egg whites.

Slowly pour batter into a 10-inch angel food cake pan. Gently run a knife through center of batter to release any air bubbles, and smooth using an offset spatula. Bake until cake is golden brown and springs back when touched, 40 to 45 minutes.

Invert pan onto a wire rack. Let cake cool in pan, about 1 hour. Carefully run a knife around sides of cake to loosen, and turn out onto a large plate or cake stand.

Pour coconut glaze onto cake, and spread evenly using an offset spatula to cover completely. Gently press coconut onto cake. Let stand until set, about 1 hour.

COCONUT GLAZE:
Whisk together sugar and coconut milk until smooth. Glaze should be the consistency of glue. If glaze is too thick, add more coconut milk, 1 teaspoon at a time.

VARIATIONS:
To make eight 4-inch mini angel food cakes, follow instructions through step 3. Transfer batter to a pastry bag, and pipe into ramekins three-quarters full. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. You will need a double batch of glaze