April Showers Chiffon Cake Recipes

CHIFFON CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Wash a 10 inch angel food tube pan in hot soapy water to ensure it is totally grease free.
• Measure flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into sifter. Sift into bowl. Make a well; add oil, egg yolks, water, vanilla, and lemon flavoring to the well in the order that is given. Set aside. Don't beat.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until very stiff. Set aside.
• Using same beaters, beat egg yolk batter until smooth and light. Pour gradually over egg whites, folding in with rubber spatula. Do not stir. Pour batter into angel food tube pan.
• Bake for 55 minutes. Increase heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and bake 10 to 15 minutes until done. Invert pan until cool.

ALL MARSHMALLOW CONFETTI CAKE

Steps:

• For the yellow marshmallow "cake" layers: Coat a 9-by-13-inch cake pan with cooking spray.
• Whisk together the gelatin and 1 cup cold water in a small bowl. Let set until the gelatin absorbs the liquid.
• In a saucepan with a candy thermometer attached, combine the sugar, salt, 1/2 cup of the corn syrup and 1/2 cup water. Place over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile, pour the remaining 1/2 cup corn syrup in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Heat the gelatin in a microwave or on the stove until melted completely. Pour into the mixing bowl with the corn syrup, turn the mixer on low and keep it stirring until the sugar syrup is ready.
• When the syrup reaches 240 degrees F, slowly pour it into the mixer bowl. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 5 minutes, then increase to medium high and beat 5 more minutes. Finally, increase to the highest speed and beat 1 to 2 more minutes. Add the butter flavor, then beat again for 1 to 2 minutes. The mixture should be opaque and tripled in volume. Add the golden yellow food coloring and beat until incorporated. Fold in the rainbow sprinkles. Pour the marshmallow into the prepared pan and let stand until set, about 2 hours.
• For the marshmallow coating: Stir together the cornstarch and powdered sugar in a bowl. Sift about 1/4 cup over a work surface.
• Turn out the marshmallow onto the coating. Sift a little more of the coating over the surface of the marshmallow and cut out two 5-inch circles using a pastry ring. Cut the leftover marshmallow into pieces, coat with more of the coating and save for snacking. Let the 2 yellow rounds dry (cure) for 4 hours.
• For the white marshmallow "frosting:" Grease a 6-by-3-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. Line the edges with a double thickness of parchment paper so that the paper extends 3 inches over the top edge of the pan (for a total height of 6 inches in the pan). Lightly coat the paper with cooking spray.
• Repeat the instructions for the yellow marshmallow exactly, except use 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor in place of the butter flavor.
• Pour some of the white marshmallow into the prepared pan, about 2 inches up the side. Press a yellow layer into the white marshmallow until the yellow and white layers are even. Top with more white marshmallow and press in the second yellow layer. Fill with the remaining white marshmallow.
• Let the marshmallow stand, uncovered, in the pan overnight. When set, pull the marshmallow out of the pan by the parchment paper and dust it with the coating.
• For the decors: Using a soft-bristle kitchen-dedicated art brush, coat the bottom half of the cake with corn syrup or piping gel. Pat rainbow sprinkles onto the sides of the cake.
• Place the buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a large French pastry tip. Pipe 1.5-inch mounds of frosting around the top edge of the cake, pulling each mound of frosting into a peak. Immediately cover with rainbow sprinkles.
• Cut the marshmallow into 4 pieces using a sharp chef's knife that has been warmed under hot water and wiped dry. Then cut each piece into 2, for a total of 8 pieces.

SPIROGRAPH CAKE

Steps:

• For the Spirograph® decor: Knead the fondant until smooth and pliable. If the fondant is sticky, knead in a little confectioners' sugar until the fondant is elastic and does not cling to your hands. Roll out the fondant between 2 sheets of parchment paper to 1/4-inch thickness using a rolling pin. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper and allow the fondant to stand until the surface is firm and dry. This can take 2 to 4 hours (and up to overnight), depending on the surrounding humidity of the room in which you're working. The fondant can be tested for readiness by attempting a Spirograph® design. Place the Spirograph® tools on top of the fondant and begin to draw using light pressure with a food color marker. If the tip of the pen sinks into the fondant, it is not dry enough to use and needs to stand longer. If the pen glides across the surface, then it's ready to use.
• Use the Spirograph® tools to practice drawing on a piece of copy paper before you begin drawing on the fondant. Choose your favorite designs to replicate on the fondant.
• Place the Spirograph® tools on the dry fondant and use the food color pens to draw designs onto its surface. Make various sizes and patterns. You'll need about 14 designs to cover the entire cake. Allow the drawings to dry for 10 minutes, then use the cookie cutters to stamp out the designs. Store the stamped-out circles in a single layer between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.
• For the chocolate cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray three 6-inch round baking pans (or two 8-inch pans) with flour-based baking spray.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the oil; beat in the eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture alternately with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Add the hot coffee at the end and mix on low speed until just combined. Use a spatula to scrape down the bowl and mix again on low until the batter is smooth.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans, filling each pan no more than three-quarters full. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cakes spring back when pressed in their centers. Turn the cakes out onto wire racks to cool. When the cakes are completely cool, level the tops using a large serrated knife or cake leveler
• For the buttercream frosting: Cream together the butter and confectioners' sugar on low speed in the bowl of an electric mixer. When the mixture is combined, increase the speed to high and whip until light in color, about 3 minutes. Turn the mixer off and add the vanilla extract and 1/3 cup heavy cream. Beat again until the frosting is light and fluffy, about another 3 minutes. Add additional heavy cream if the mixture is too thick to spread or pipe.
• Place 1 cup of buttercream in a medium bowl. Drape a damp towel across the bowl to prevent the frosting from drying. Set aside.
• Place the remaining frosting in a large piping bag. Use the buttercream to fill the cake layers and to apply a thin crumb coat to the outside of the cake. Use an offset spatula or bench scraper to even the frosting. Place the cake in the refrigerator to chill until the frosting is firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, divide the reserved 1 cup of frosting into 3 parts in separate bowls and tint each portion with one of the 3 gel food colors.
• When the crumb coat layer is well chilled, apply a second layer of white frosting and even the edges of the cake with a bench scraper. Use an offset spatula to randomly place dabs of pink, orange and lavender tinted buttercream over the edges and top of the cake. Carefully scrape away some of the tinted frosting using a single motion with a bench scraper. The colors will smear and blend together, creating a watercolor effect. Add more color dabs of frosting and repeat the process as desired. Transfer the cake to the refrigerator to chill.
• When the cake is well chilled, apply the fondant Spirograph® designs to the sides of the cake using buttercream as an adhesive. Use leftover white buttercream to pipe small mounds of frosting on top of the cake; cover the buttercream with assorted sprinkles and nonpareils. Place 1 fondant Spirograph® design on top of the cake if desired.

RED VELVET MARBLED CHIFFON CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• For the marbling: In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, vegetable oil, and food coloring. Whisk in the boiling water until the mixture is smooth and set aside to cool to room temperature.
• For the chiffon cake: Sift the cake flour with 3/4 cup of the sugar into a separate medium bowl. Add the baking powder and salt and whisk together. Set aside.
• In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the 7 egg yolks, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla until combined.
• Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and whisk together to form a loose batter. Be sure to continue whisking until all the clumps of flour have been completely incorporated and the batter is smooth. Set aside
• Meanwhile, add the 9 egg whites to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and begin to beat on medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating. Begin slowly streaming in the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and continue beating until the meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks, 2 to 3 minutes.
• With a rubber spatula, stir a third of the meringue into your batter, folding it in to preserve as much air in the egg whites as possible. Gently fold in the remaining meringue and continue to stir until completely incorporated.
• Remove 2 cups of the batter and fold into your cooled chocolate mixture.
• Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with baking spray, butter or shortening. Cut 2 parchment circles and line the bottoms of the pans. Grease the paper as well.
• Divide half of the vanilla cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Dot the chocolate batter on top. Cover with the remaining vanilla batter. With a toothpick, skewer or butter knife, swirl the batters around to create a marble effect.
• Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Gently pull the sides away from the edges of the pan with a butter knife and invert cakes onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Remove the parchment.
• For the cream cheese frosting: Add the cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix until smooth. Add the butter and continue beating on medium until smooth.
• Add half the confectioners' sugar and mix starting on low and increasing to medium-high speed until fluffy. Add the remaining confectioners' sugar and the vanilla extract. Mix until fluffy, smooth and velvety. If the mixture is too thick, loosen with a splash of milk. Add a bit more confectioners' sugar if the frosting seems too loose. Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
• Place a cooled cake layer on a serving platter with the domed side down. Pipe about 1 1/2 cups cream cheese frosting into large rosettes on top and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Top with the second cake layer, domed-side up. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting.

PECAN PIE CHIFFON CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 325˚ F. Separate the eggs; put the whites in one large bowl and the yolks in another. Let stand at room temperature to warm up while you assemble all the other ingredients, about 30 minutes. (Be prepared to make the cake batter without stopping so the eggs don't deflate.)
• Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites and beat with a mixer on medium speed until thickened and starting to turn white, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup granulated sugar, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until the egg whites are glossy, thick and hold stiff peaks but are not dry, about 5 more minutes. Set aside while making the rest of the batter (don't do this ahead of time or the egg whites will deflate).
• Add the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar to the egg yolks along with the brown sugar. Beat with the mixer (no need to wash the beaters) until smooth and lightened in color, about 2 minutes. Beat in the vegetable oil and vanilla until smooth and thick, then beat in the milk (the batter will be thin). Add the flour, ground pecans, baking powder and salt and beat on low speed until thoroughly combined.
• Add about one-third of the beaten egg whites to the batter and fold in with a rubber spatula until combined. Add the remaining egg whites and continue to fold until no white streaks remain. Pour into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan or angel food cake pan and run the spatula around the center of the batter to create a line where excess air can escape as the cake rises.
• Bake the cake until the top is golden and springs back when touched and a long skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and immediately turn the cake upside down over the slim neck of a bottle (if your pan has feet, use those instead). Let cool completely. Use a thin spatula to loosen the cake around the sides and middle of the pan. Turn out onto a platter.
• Make the glaze: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the brown sugar, heavy cream, corn syrup and salt and carefully stir to combine. Continue to cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens slightly and starts to pull away from the sides of the pan when stirring, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool and thicken, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
• When the glaze has thickened but is still pourable, spoon it over the cake, letting it drip down the sides. As the glaze cools, use the spoon or spatula to spread some of the pecans that fell down onto the top and sides. Let stand, at least 30 minutes.

COCONUT CHIFFON CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together matzo meal, potato starch, and salt. In a large bowl, beat egg whites on medium-high to soft peaks. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. In another large bowl, beat egg yolks with remaining 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla seeds until pale and doubled in volume, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in 3 tablespoons oil, then coconut milk, just until combined. Add matzo mixture; beat just until combined. Stir in one-third of egg whites, then gently fold in remaining whites in two additions, just until combined and no streaks remain (do not overmix). Transfer to an ungreased 10-inch tube pan (preferably footed) with a removable bottom; smooth top with an offset spatula.
• Bake cake until golden on top and a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Invert pan and let cool completely. If pan is not footed, invert center of tube onto the neck of a bottle to allow air circulation.
• Turn cake right-side up. Run a thin, sharp knife around sides of pan and center tube. Lift cake by center tube; remove ring. Run knife around bottom of pan to loosen; invert cake to remove. Place on a plate or stand. Combine remaining oil and chocolate in a bowl. Place over (but not in) a pot of simmering water; stir until melted. Remove from heat and place over an ice-water bath, stirring constantly, until thickened slightly but still pourable, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour frosting evenly over top and sprinkle with coconut. Cut into wedges; serve.

APRIL SHOWERS CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• Make cake mix as directed on box for cupcakes, using water, oil and egg whites. Fold in candy sprinkles until blended. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• Spoon frosting into decorating bag fitted with 1/2-inch plain tip. On each cupcake, pipe frosting to look like a cloud. Sprinkle with marshmallows. Insert paper umbrella into frosting.