Ep 2. Angel Cake

In Bake With Anna Olson season 1 episode 2, titled Angel Cake, Anna Olson takes on the classic dessert that is usually seen in a layered form. Angel cake is a delicate, light and fluffy cake made with egg whites that is perfect to satisfy a sweet tooth without being too rich.

Anna starts the episode by breaking down the ingredients required to make the cake. Flour, sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla extract, salt and warm water are the key components of an angel cake. She also explains the science behind the cake and how each ingredient plays a crucial role in bringing out the light and airy texture.

Anna starts by creating a stable base for the cake. To do this, she adds cream of tartar to egg whites and whips them with an electric mixer. The cream of tartar helps in stabilizing the egg whites and increases their volume. After the egg whites are whipped, Anna gradually adds sugar while continuously whipping. The sugar helps to give the cake a light sweetness and also aids in stabilizing the whipped egg whites.

Once the egg whites have reached a stiff peak stage, Anna gently folds in the flour mixture. It is important to be gentler with the batter at this stage, as any aggressive mixing could deflate the whipped egg whites. Once the batter is ready, Anna pours it into a tube pan and bakes it for about 35 minutes. She emphasizes the importance of using a tube pan instead of a regular baking pan as the tube pan helps the cake to rise and also ensures that the cake is baked evenly.

While the cake is baking, Anna prepares the frosting for the cake. Since angel cake is a light dessert, Anna chooses to make a light and fluffy frosting that complements the cake. She starts by heating up sugar, corn syrup and water in a saucepan until it reaches a temperature of 240°F. She then pours the mixture into whipped egg whites and continues to whip until the mixture becomes fluffy and cooled.

Once the cake is baked, Anna demonstrates how to loosen the cake from the pan. She recommends using a knife or a spatula to gently loosen the sides of the cake without pulling them as that could cause the cake to deflate. Once the cake is loosened, she inverts the pan onto a wire rack to cool.

Anna then demonstrates the art of frosting the cake. She starts with a layer of the frosting on the bottom of the cake and then adds sliced strawberries. She repeats the process with more cake layers and finishes it off with a final layer of frosting. Anna then decorates the cake with sliced strawberries and a dusting of powdered sugar.

The episode ends with Anna serving the delicious angel cake and enjoying it with her guests. She emphasizes the importance of being patient while baking an angel cake, as it requires precision and attention to detail. She also highlights how versatile an angel cake can be and encourages the viewers to experiment with different frosting and decorations.

Overall, the Angel Cake episode of Bake With Anna Olson is a must-watch for anyone who loves light and fluffy desserts. Anna Olson's tips and techniques make the baking process seem effortless and the end result is a stunning cake that is sure to impress.