Classic Angel Food Cake

Plan ahead: Allow at least two days for the elderflower syrup to sit at room temperature before starting the cake.
  • YIELD:Serves 10 to 12

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE ELDERFLOWER SYRUP

  • 4 cups water
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 20 elderflower heads
  • Skin and juice of 2 lemons

FOR THE CAKE

  • 1 cup sifted cake flour
  • 1 1/2 cups superfine sugar
  • 14 large egg whites (1 3/4 cups), room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon warm water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

FOR SERVING

  • Whipped cream
  • Berries

DIRECTIONS

  1. STEP 1

    Make the elderflower syrup: In a heavy saucepan, combine water and sugar and bring to a simmer over high heat, stirring occasionally until simple syrup is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.

  2. STEP 2

    Remove the elderflower heads from their stems, discarding stems and placing heads in a large heat-safe bowl. Add lemon skin and juice to bowl and pour simple syrup into bowl, stirring to combine.

  3. STEP 3

    Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a towel and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 2 days and up to 4 days. Strain syrup through a cheesecloth-lined sieve and discard solids. Syrup can be stored in an airtight container for several weeks.

  4. STEP 4

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With a fine sieve, sift together flour and 3/4 cups sugar four times.

  5. STEP 5

    In the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed, beat together egg whites and water until foamy. Add salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. Increase speed to medium-high and sprinkle in remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until stiff but not dry.

  6. STEP 6

    Transfer to a large bowl. In six additions, sift dry ingredients over meringue, folding in quickly but gently.

  7. STEP 7

    Pour batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan with removable bottom. Smooth top with an offset spatula. Run a knife through batter to release air bubbles. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown and springy to touch.

  8. STEP 8

    Invert pan on its legs or over the neck of a glass bottle and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Carefully run a long offset spatula or knife around the inner and outer perimeter of the pan to release cake. Place on a plate, bottom side up; cover with plastic wrap until ready to use.

  9. STEP 9

    Serve each slice with some elderflower syrup poured around the base and whipped cream and berries on top.