https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/vanilla-cloud-cake • Posted by Quirk Books
Serves 10 to 12
Serves 10 to 12
Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Sift together half of the sugar and flour into a medium bowl.
In the bowl of a stand bowl mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt on medium-high speed until mixture holds soft peaks, 2 to 3 minutes. With the mixer still running, slowly pour in the remaining sugar and beat until mixture is glossy and holds stiff peaks. Beat in vanilla bean paste.
Sift flour mixture in three additions into egg-white mixture, gently folding after each addition to incorporate. Scrape batter into a 10-inch angel food cake pan with a removable bottom and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until cake is deeply golden with a deep crack in the surface and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs (a metal tester will come out clean even if cake is not done). Invert the pan onto the bottle and let cool completely. Run a thin spatula along the sides and around the center of the cake to loosen from pan and transfer to a serving platter.
For the frosting: 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 6 ounces white chocolate, melted and cooled 2 cups heavy cream, very cold 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste To make the frosting, beat together cream cheese and white chocolate in the bowl of a stand mixer until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, whip together cream, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean paste until stiff peaks form. Gently stir about one-third of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to lighten it, then gently fold in the remaining whipped cream. Frost the cake generously, using the back of a tablespoon to create swoops and swirls