Thursday, September 12, 2013

Chocolate Angel Food Cake (巧克力天使蛋糕)--with Pictorial


Chocolate Angel Food Cake (巧克力天使蛋糕)  http://utry.it

Finally, Kids are back to school and things are back to “normal”.  Or should I say, back to the usual routine?  My Kids are always hungry when they get home.  They would ask for their afternoon tea to fuel up before tackling homework.  This Chocolate Angel Food Cake (巧克力天使蛋糕) is one of their favorites afternoon tea to enjoy.  Aren't they spoiled or what?

Chocolate Angel Food Cake (巧克力天使蛋糕)  http://utry.it

This angel food cake is light and spongy, yet very chocolate-y.  There’s no oil, cream, nor butter used in the recipe.  Therefore, this is perfect if you like a low-fat cake recipe.   But of course, I can’t help it but add a dollop of freshly whipped cream on top….and some dark chocolate curls to finish it off!  That's kind of not an option, but a must for me!

Chocolate Angel Food Cake (巧克力天使蛋糕)  http://utry.it


Angel Food cake, or Angel cake, is a type of sponge cake that is originated in the United States. The main ingredients in this cake are egg whites, lots of egg whites. As you know, I've been making lots of ice creams this summer (which means using lots of egg yolks). So, this is one of my favorite cake that uses up all the egg whites, besides making French macarons. This cake is super light, fluffy, soft and spongy. Because of the lightness of this cake, it was referred to as the "food for the angels", and I couldn't agree more!


Chocolate Angel Food Cake (巧克力天使蛋糕)  http://utry.it

I recommend that you use an Angel Food Cake Pan for this recipe, click here for more information.  The center tube allows the cake batter to rise by 'clinging' on to all sides of the pan. For the same reason, never greased the angel food cake pan so the cake batter have something to "climb on".  After baking, the cake pan is inverted, to allow cooling, to prevent the cake from falling in on itself.


Chocolate Angel Food Cake (巧克力天使蛋糕)  http://utry.it


Come into the kitchen with me to see how I make this cake. (see pictorial below)

1) Preheat oven to 325 degree F.  Place un-greased angel food cake pan on the baking sheet.  


Tips and notes: Make sure the pan has a removable tube and don’t grease the pan so the cake batter has a chance to “climb up” and stay tall in the baking process.  Since there’s no leavening ingredients in this recipe besides the natural whipped egg white, this step is very important.

2) In a large mixing bowl, sift cake flour, cocoa powder and 3/4 cup of sugar together.  


Tips and notes: Yes, we add a portion of the sugar with the dry ingredients and the rest to whip up in the egg white to form the meringue.  The reason is that if you add all the sugar into the egg white, the cake would be too stiff and chewy.  Putting a portion of the sugar with  the rest of the dry ingredients will ensures a tender and spongy cake.  (you are very welcome!)

3) In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites, water, cream of tartar and salt together until foamy.   Then, add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar in a steady stream. 


Pictorial A-numbered

4) Add coffee mixture and vanilla extract, beat until stiff peak forms.

5)  Just want to show you the volume after the egg whites at stiff peak.

6) Sprinkle 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the dry ingredient mixture onto the egg white mixture.  With a rubber spatula, gently fold the dry ingredient into the meringue.  Be careful not to deflate the foam.

7) This is how it looks after folding the first round.  Then, repeat with the rest of the dry ingredient until all used up.

8) Pour batter into a 9 1/2-inch un-greased angel food cake pan. A 10-inch pan would work just as find if that's what you've got.

9) Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the cake and comes out clean.  Then, invert cake pan on a wiring rack too cool for at least one hour, or until completely cooled.  This step is to ensure the cake stays nice and tall in the cooling process.


If you follow me on Instagram here, you might remember this picture below.  Yup, that’s how I usually cool my angel food cakes, over a large bottle of cooking sake.  Of course, you can use any bottle that fits the middle ring.  Just make sure the bottle is big and steady enough for this job!  Otherwise, you can simply invert it to cool on the wiring rack as shown above.  I do prefer it over the bottle because it’s better air circulation and will prevent the condensation from the heat of the cake.

Cooling my Angel Cake the Coolest way!


To remove the cake from the pan, use a knife with a long and flexible blade. 

1) Insert the knife between the cake and the outer edge of the cake pan and go around the edges until the knife return to the original point.

2) Then, insert the knife between the cake and the inner rim of the cake pan and go around the edges until the knife return to the original point.

3) Place your hand underneath the cake pan with a gentle push.  The ring of the pan should come out easily.

4) Insert the knife between the cake and the base of the cake pan and go around the edges until the knife return to the original point.  Then, invert the cake onto your favorite cake stand.   Serve and enjoy!


Pictorial B-with numbers

I love my Chocolate Angel Food Cake with a little freshly whipped cream and a few chocolate shaving.  

Special tips and notes:  To make the chocolate shaving, use a vegetable peeler to shave the curls off a small block of chocolate.  The key is to use room temperature/slightly warm chocolate for this.  You’ll get these beautiful curls every time!  I hope you like today’s recipe, tips and pictorial.  Hope you all had a wonderful back to school transition!  All the best to everyone in the coming school year!

Chocolate Angel Food Cake (巧克力天使蛋糕)  http://utry.it


Note:  This is the Angel Food Cake Pan that I use.  Click here for more information.





Chocolate Angel Food Cake (巧克力天使蛋糕): (Printable Recipe)
Makes: one 9 1/2-inch cake



1 cup cake flour
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup castor sugar, divided
1 1/2 cups egg whites
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon instant coffee granulated dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract


Preheat oven to 325 degree F. Place ungreased angel food cake pan on the baking sheet. Make sure the pan has a removable tube and don’t grease the pan so the cake batter has a chance to “climb up” and stay tall in the baking process. Since there’s no leavening ingredients in this recipe besides the natural whipped egg white, this step is very important.

In a large mixing bowl, sift cake flour, cocoa powder and 3/4 cup of sugar together. Yes, we add a portion of the sugar with the dry ingredients and the rest to whip up in the egg white to form the meringue. The reason is that if you add all the sugar into the egg white, the cake would be too stiff and chewy. Putting a portion of the sugar with the rest of the dry ingredients will ensures a tender and spongy cake.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites, water, cream of tartar and salt together until foamy. Then, add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar in a steady stream.  Add coffee mixture and vanilla extract, beat until stiff peak forms.

Sprinkle 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the dry ingredient mixture onto the egg white mixture. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the dry ingredient into the meringue. Be careful not to deflate the foam.

This is how it looks after folding the first round. Then, repeat with the rest of the dry ingredient until all used up.  Pour batter into a 9 1/2-inch ungreased angel food cake pan.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the cake and comes out clean. Then, invert cake pan on a wiring rack to cool for at least one hour, or until completely cooled.  This step is to ensure the cake stays nice and tall in the cooling process.  Serve with
freshly whipped cream and chocolate curls, I highly recommend it.

100 comments:

  1. So nice of you to offer pictorials..
    How I would have loved blogs like yours..(I still do).. but when I was newly married and didn't know where to begin..I think this is so kind!
    Love the board and frilly print as well as the cake..

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    1. Thank you, Dear. Glad you like the pictorial. I'm a visual person myself, so I like seeing step by steps in recipes. I try to incorporate them as much as possible especially when I think pictures are better way of showing than just words. :) Have a great weekend!

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  2. Combining chocolate with angel food cake sounds so good! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you. Glad you like this Chocolate Angel Food Cake too. :) Have a wonderful weekend.

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  3. Dear Amy, we have just come back to the routine too...
    And, what do we meet? A fantastic chocolate angel food cake!!
    Nice pictorial and nice recipe, thank you for sharing and have a good weekend.

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    1. Thank you so much, Laurel. Glad to have you back to the routine. :) Happy to hear that you like this Chocolate Angel Food Cake too. :) Have a beautiful weekend.

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  4. Wow, that looks wonderful! I've never been very into angel food cakes, but the addition of chocolate makes that look scrumptious!

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    1. Oh....if you like chocolate, your're going to love this cake. Forget about the regular angel food cake! Have a great weekend.

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  5. wau... the angel cake in chocolate must very fragrant.

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    1. Thank you, Xing Hui. Yes, the chocolate flavor is wonderful with this cake. :) Have a beautiful weekend.

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  6. I tried baking an angel cake and failed miserably, the texture was so rubbery and shrank like crazy! Yours looks so tall and fluffy!

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    1. Oh...sorry about your previous angel cake. Try my recipe and the tips. Folding part of the sugar into the flour instead of beating all sugar into the egg white will prevent the cake being rubbery. :)

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  7. OMG, this looks gorgeous & delicious. Your clicks are absolutely awesome!

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    1. Thank you, Ambreen. Glad you like this Chocolate Angel Food Cake. :) Have a great weekend.

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  8. Have you said "low-fat"? I cannot believe such a gorgeous cake can be low-fat... It would be too difficult to resist for a chocoholic like me. The cooling method is hilarious but so clever!

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    1. Thank you, Sissi. Yes, very low-fat chocolate cake, in deed. Hope you'll give this a try. ;) Glad you like my cooling method, hehe...have a wonderful weekend.

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  9. Never heard of a chocolate angel food cake before!! Love it!

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    1. Oh...if you like chocolate, you've gotta give this a try, Ashley. I guess my whole family is chocoholic, that's why I try to turn almost everything into a chocolate version! hahaha...have a great weekend.

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  10. Very fluffy and delicate. Must be a very delicious and guilt-free kind of cake.

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    1. Thank you so much, Veronica. Yes, this is one lovely and guilt-free cake. Well, I seldom feel guilty eating anything chocolate though. hahaha....have a lovely weekend.

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  11. Hi Amy , all I can say is yum , yum , the cake reminds me of Twinkles , this is a must try thanks for sharing :).

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    1. Thank you, Nee. Glad you like this Chocolate Angel Food Cake. :) Hope you'll give it a try.

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  12. Light fluffy chocolate - love it!!

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  13. My MIL makes a wonderful angel food cake, but I'm going to pass this recipe along so she can make a chocolate one for us. Since I live at 6300 ft in elevation, these are a challenge to say the least. Next time I crave one I'll stop by and look at your photos. Beautiful.

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    1. Thank you, Karen. Hope your MIL will like this chocolate version and bake you some next time you visit her. ;) Have a beautiful weekend.

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  14. I adore chocolate! This looks beyond delicious, Amy! x T. http://tickledpinkwoman.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you, Tina. Glad you're also a chocolate lover. ;) Have a wonderful Sunday.

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  15. Perfection! Your angel food cake looks so light and soft!

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    1. Thank you, Angie. Oh yeah, this is one super light and soft cake. :) Wish you a wonderful Sunday ahead.

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  16. Amy, I can't wait to make this cake! This chocolate version looks so much better than plain angel food cake. I appreciate all the photos and tips! The cake stand and photos are beautiful.

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    1. Thank you, Sue. I couldn't agree more. I LOVE this chocolate version way better than plain angel food cakes. :) Let me know how it goes if you tried. Have a happy Sunday.

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  17. Wow, coming home from school and having THIS waiting for you?! Your kids are lucky! I can't believe how beautiful this chocolate angel food cake is!

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    1. Thank you, Ruby. I know, the kids request this for afternoon tea all the time. :)

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  18. Love those step by step photos and trusty little tips. You are the best mom to make your kids favorites for the start of school.

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    1. Thank you, BAM. Glad you like the pictorial. :) I think my kids are chocoholic like their Mama!

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  19. This so light and good. Low fat, oh wow. Your kids must love you..they must brag about this beautiful cake to their friends.

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    1. Thank you, Asha. Oh yeah, definitely love the low fat part of this cake so I don't feel guilty eating more than one slice. :P hehehe...my kids are still too young to brag in front of their friends. But they are certainly little foodies and know what's good.

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  20. You are such a good mom! I now know what you guys are eating after school. All I need to do is to visit you! :D Such a beautiful and delicious chocolate angel food cake!

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    1. Thank you, Nami. Haha...my kids have all kinds of cravings, especially chocolate ones. :) I'm happy when the kids are happy.

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  21. Yes, your kids are very lucky, Amy. And whipped cream is a necessity of life =) Thank you for a lovely chocolate angel food cake recipe.

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    1. Thank you, My Friend. Glad you like this Chocolate Angel Food Cake! And amen to your whipped cream comment. ;) Have a beautiful week ahead.

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  22. This is fantastic! Completely in love with this!

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    1. Thank you, Dear. Glad you like this Chocolate version of Angel Food Cake too. Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  23. Nice pictorial! What a scrumptious Angel Food Cake, Amy!!!

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    1. Thank you, Denise. Glad you like this recipe and the pictorial. Have a beautiful week ahead.

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  24. My mother always cooled her tube cakes on a bottle of Pepsi. I did that once and the cake fell so I use the tried but true method..a cooling rack. This cake looks delicious..had to tweet it! Joan - My Cookie Clinic

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    1. Thank you so much, Joan. opps, sorry that your cake fell off incident. I know, the cooling rack is always more trusty. And my bottle actually is a giant and heavy one and that's why it worked for me. :) Thanks for stopping by and wish you a beautiful week ahead.

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  25. Great tutorial and a great cake. I always love how my mouth feels when I bite into an angel food cake. So light and lovely.A classic, Amy!

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    1. Thank you, Abbe. I agree, I really love the light and fluffy texture of angel food cake too. :) I guess that's the reason why my kids request this cake so often as well. Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  26. Beautiful styling, Amy, the tea cup plate looks adorable.

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    1. Thank you. Glad you like my styling. :) Wish you a beautiful week ahead.

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  27. stunning cake

    victoria bakes

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    1. Thank you, Victoria. Glad you like this cake. :) Have a great week ahead.

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  28. Looks really good. I am going to send my sister your url to ask her to bake me this cake.

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    1. Oh yeah, I'm sure your and your sister will love this cake. Enjoy! ;) Wish you a beautiful week ahead.

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  29. Amy!!! I LOVE THIS RECIPE! I have to make this cake this weekend and if I get a chance to write it up I will post it with a link to you!! Your kids are so lucky to have a wonderful, light and "melt in your mouth" ( that' what angel food cake does to me) kinda snack waiting for them when they return home. YUMMY!

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    1. Thank you, Anna. Hope you and your family will love this cake too. Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  30. Amy,this chocolate angel cake looks tasty from the photos! Wish to have a slice for breakfast now :)

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    1. Thank you, Esther. Glad you like this cake. This is one of my kids' favorite afternoon snack. :) Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  31. Much loved for the spongy and wonderful outcome. Just wondering why your post is not appearing on my fb page feed and clouds? No wonder I missed this recipe.

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    1. Thank you, Navaneetham.

      Hm....not sure why my page is not appearing on your FB page. I hope the issue got fixed.

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  32. I want to be one of your kids when I grow up! I love angel food cake - when I was a kid I always asked my mother to bake one for my birthday. She never made a chocolate one, though, and I need one! ;-) Good stuff - thanks.

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    1. Thank you. Oh...hope you'll give this chocolate version of Angel Food Cake a try. It's pretty amazing and my kids ask for this cake all the time.

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  33. I have baked in similar tins and I just can never get the cake out in one piece ever. Very envious of your cake still in tact. Wonderful recipe too.

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    1. Thank you, Liz. Sorry about what happened to your cake. Does your pan also got the removable bottom? I saw similar cake pan on the web but they were not with the removable tube/bottom. I bet those would be super hard to get the cake out!

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  34. I still have yet to attempt angel food cake even though I actually own an angel food cake pan! This chocolate version you made looks super yummy. Wish you were MY mom ;)

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    1. :P Thank you, Amy. You've got to give this cake a try...especially you've got the cake pan already. It's actually pretty easy to make and I'm sure you'll adore the result!

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  35. Beautifully done Amy! Chocolate angel food cake has to be one of my favorites ;)

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    1. Thank you, Patty. Glad you like my Chocolate Angel Food Cake. Have a wonderful week ahead. Take care.

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  36. Your kids are very lucky to have a mom like you, with all the goodies waiting for them when they come home from school.

    I like recipes from scratch (not fond of cake mix because it's usually too sweet) and my husband loves chocolate, so this is perfect combination for me. Thanks for the lovely pictures, recipe and all the tips!

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    1. Thank you so much. I agree, cake mix is way to sweet for my liking too. And I really dislike the "metallic" flavor that comes with it (don't know what they put in them!)
      I'm glad you like my recipe. Hope you'll give it a try. Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  37. Awesome tutorial & tips, Amy! Love how you've inverted the cake on a bottle! Lucky kids!

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    1. Thank you, Shirley. Glad you like my method of "cooling"! ;) Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  38. Amy, been looking for a reliable and fabulous chocolate version of Angel Food Cake for the longset time - I have tried a few recipes but was never really happy with the results - now your step-by-step-instructions look so helpful and the cake looks so perfect - I am sure that I will attempt this recipe and let you know how it turns out!
    Have a great Monday, dear Amy! Tahnk you for posting this lovely recipe!

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    1. Thank you, Andrea. Give this a try and hope you'll like it.s :)

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  39. It has been long since I baked a chocolate cake and my daughter has been after my life! Your cake looks great and definitely worth a try. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. haha....I know what you mean. My kids ask for chocolate cake all the time. :) This would be a real treat for her.

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  40. Yum yum yum! I agree: Chocolate is required, the more the better ;) This cake looks delicious! I'll have to try that cooling trick - it's very clever.

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    1. Thank you, Jessie. Glad that you agree on the chocolate part. Yes, the more the better. :P Have a wonderful week.

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  41. This looks so good! Really useful instructions for how to use the tin too.

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    1. Thank you, Caroline. I'm glad that you like my pictorial. :)

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  42. A wonderful tutorial and beautiful chocolate angel food cake. I'd prefer this any day instead of the boring white angel food cake. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

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    1. Thank you, Vicki. I'm glad you love my chocolate version better too. :) Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  43. Una exquisitez realmente me gusta mucho el chocolate los pasos muy nítidos lo haré,abrazo

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    1. Gracias. Me alegra que te guste el Paso a Paso pictórica. :) Todo el mundo en mi familia es fan del chocolate. :)

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  44. love the cake cooling method - I need to remember it the next time I make a bundt - as for this cake, I think I can just face plant into it and forget about my day - it looks so light and fluffy and delish!

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    1. Thank you, Shashi. Oh yeah...this is super light and fluffy. Hope you'll like it too give you give this a try. :) Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  45. Hi Amy, I want 2 slices of your delicious cake. It look very delightful and very well baked. Great to go with coffee.

    Have a nice day.

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    1. Thank you, Amelia. Oh yeah, it's light and fluffy, and perfect with coffee. Seems like you can read my mind. :) Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  46. Amazing recipe, I must try it sure! And the cooling method....! How comes that the cake didn't fell out!?
    Have a nice week ;)

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    1. Thank you, Nizz. Hope you'll give this a try. The came didn't fall out because I didn't grease the pan, so the batter can "climb" onto the pan and rise nicely and tall during baking. ;)

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  47. Hi Amy,
    Fantastic gorgeous looking cake and might be so delicious!!
    Cheers,
    Lia.

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    1. Thank you, Lia. Yes, it was delicious and my kids ask for it all the time. :) Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  48. This is some seriously delicious angel food cake! I am still trying to improve my cake baking techniques. I am dying to try to this recipe. The presentation is mouth-watering. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you so much. Hope you'll give this a try. I'm sure you'll love this cake. :) Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  49. Outstanding cake!
    btw, i usually use my dental silicon spatula to remove my cake from the pan...
    LoL
    Dedy@Dentist Chef

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    1. How creative with the dental silicon spatula! :D Any extra to spare? I'm sure that works better than cutting with a knife! hahaha....

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  50. Oh so delicious looking! I would love to have dental silicon spatula. do you have any spare? Dentist chef?

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    1. I know, huh! I think I would love a dental silicon spatula too. :P

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