Friday, February 19, 2010

Chiffon Spice Cake

Ever longed for a spice cake that wasn't quite as heavy as the traditional ones? No, neither have I. But I had a problem Monday: 30 of those 56 eggs left. Plus, some idiot had run out of white sugar (I wonder who that could have been) and needed to use brown sugar plus a lot of eggs. Fannie Farmer to the rescue!

I'd never made a chiffon cake before, but that kind of thing never stops me from much. I wasn't sure how to top it, so I asked my dearly beloved, who thought a while, and said, "I think my mother used that thin frosting type stuff you put on top of King Cake." Translation: Glaze. So off I went, into the wilds of yet another kind of cake!

CHIFFON SPICE CAKE

1 cup egg whites (I needed 9)
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
2-1/4 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 cup vegetable oil
5 egg yolks
3/4 cup cold water
2 tsp vanilla extract


Preheat oven to 325F. Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar till very stiff and set aside.

Sift together all the dry ingredients in a bowl, and make a well in the center. Into the well, pour the egg yolks, oil, water and vanilla extract. Beat very well, 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture is quite smooth. With a rubber scraper, stir the egg yolk mixture into the egg whites bit by bit, until it's all combined. Pour into a very well greased 10" tube pan. Bake at 325F for 50 minutes, then, without opening the oven door, raise the heat to 350F and bake approximately 15
minutes more, until the cake springs back when lightly touched in the center. Cool with the pan upside down, then run a spatula around the pan to release. Top with a glaze made from powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.
This was a light cake. Of course, Patrick the fussy eater didn't terribly like it. But that's OK, because he shared with Thor.

Next week, I'll be telling you about a new method of bread making I found called "Cool Rise". You're going to love it!

19 comments:

Lapdog Creations said...

It sounds delish! Glad to hear Thor got some.

gMarie said...

I swear! If I didn't love you, I wouldn't read your blog any more :D I get fat just reading about your cakes. Hope you are staying warm enough. g

Sarah said...

This sounds really good. Man, that's a lot of eggs!

Ann Made Studio said...

That really looks delicious :)

The Blonde Duck said...

I would have slathered it in cream cheese icing. But I slather everything in cream cheese icing.

Tatersmama said...

Mmm... I love the look of the cake, and it sounds delicious!!! But I'm a woman on a mission, so I'm not baking ANYTHING unless it's my own sourdough. (I saved your recipe though, because my mama didn't raise no fools!)
I'm with The Blond Duck... cream cheese icing would be nice too!

SissySees said...

Okay. THAT one, I might make tonight. The Knight should be home in a few minutes and he can confirm what's in the pantry...

Kapitein Haakje said...

caaaaaaaake!
give thor the hole cake :p
then is he a very very very happ mastiff

Kissslobbers
El'bow & Hauwii

Pam said...

I'll take Patrick's portion (I'll share with Thor) - this cake looks amazing!

Looking forward to learning about cool rise bread making - you know I am still scared of yeast.

George Gaston said...

Marjie, you are the best cake maker I know. Everyone of your cakes is so delicious looking. And I am sure they taste delicious.

Definitely going to try your Spice Cake. Thanks...

pam said...

Looks yummy! Can't wait to hear about cool rise????

Mickle in NZ said...

What a lovely mix of spices, perfect for chilly days. Did the left over egg yolks get "mayonaissed"?

Zebby is snuggled down behind me on "our" bed, purring madly for you.

Shelby said...

I think the cake looks and sounds really yummy! I'm anxious for your bread!

grace said...

i always shy away from chiffon cakes because i'm too lazy to whip egg whites. how pathetic. that said, this is amazingly tempting, all the way from the spices to the yummy glaze!

noble pig said...

Okay you HAD me at the drippy frosting, I love cake like this!!

Anonymous said...

Looks good! I've been on a cake kick lately......awful hard on the diet. Looking forward to the cool rise post....will Thor get some of that too?

Claire S. said...

I haven't baked in a while. DH is starting to hint. Actually, his subtlety needs a lot of work ! LOL

Maybe a spice cake this week...luckily enough eggs are on special this week and I just bought 3 dozen. Plenty for the cake and regular consumption.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

That is an elegant looking cake. I love how you have no fear!

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