Place Virginia's Best Angel Food Cake - 2009

Matthew Kelly, Crewe, Virginia - Amelia County Fair

Matthew's Key Lime Angel Food Cake

This cake is just amazing - it packs such a powerful key lime punch it takes you instantly to the tropics. The Key Lime extract is the secret and it's not available in everyday groceries. Check for it on-line at www.faeries finest.com.or other on-line sources. You won't be sorry you went to the trouble to get it.

Cake:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1¾ cups sugar, divided
12 large egg whites, room temperature
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Key Lime juice
1½ teaspoon Key Lime extract*

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°.
Sift flour and ¾ cup sugar together five times.
In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites and salt until foamy.
Add key lime juice and beat until stiff peaks form.
Continue beating, sprinkling in remaining 1 cup of sugar, beating until sugar is blended.
Add extract and mixing at low speed, sprinkle in the flour mixture, mixing just until blended.
Gently pour batter into an ungreased 10" tube pan (with removable bottom).
With a spatula, cut a square through the cake without lifting it.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Invert pan until cool then remove from pan.

Filling:

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
4 tablespoons sugar, divided
1½ teaspoons Key Lime extract*
1 Tablespoon Key lime Juice
2 cups Heavy Cream

Directions

Whip cream cheese until smooth, adding half the sugar, the extract and lime juice.
Whip at high speed until blended.
In a separate bowl, whip the cream until light and fluffy, gradually adding remaining sugar (do not over-beat).
Fold whipped cream into cream cheese.

Frosting:

2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon key lime extract*

Directions

Whip cream until light and fluffy.
Add sugar and extract, beating just until mixed.

Assembly:

Cut cake into 3 layers. Spread one third filling onto the bottom layer. Replace middle layer and spread one third filling onto this. Replace top layer. Frost entire cake with frosting. Use the remaining third of filling to decorate as desired.

Garnish: With lime slices or peels

*If you don't choose to order Key Lime extract on-line, substitute this much extra key lime juice. The intense key lime flavor will be replaced by a gentler lime taste.