1/2 c Vegetable oil
Additional oil for preparing
-pan
1/3 c Cocoa; sifted (Dutch-process
-cocoa)
1 tb Cocoa
Plus extra cocoa for
-preparing pan
1 1/2 c Sifted cake flour
1 1/4 c Sugar
2 ts Baking powder
1/4 ts Salt
1/4 ts Cinnamon
2 ts Vanilla extract
1 lg Egg yolk
5 lg Egg whites; at room
-temperature
1 pn Cream of tartar
2 tb Confectioner’s sugar; sifted
Plus extra for dusting cake
1. Position rack in the centre of the oven and preheat oven to 350
degrees F.
2. Brush the inside of a 9-inch Bundt or springform tube pan with oil
and sift a little cocoa over the pan. Tap out the excess.
3. Sift together flour, 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sifted Dutch-process
cocoa, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon into a large mixing
bowl.
4. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add oil, 1/2
cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water, vanilla and egg yolk. Do not mix.
5. Place egg whites in another large mixing bowl. Add cream of tartar
and beat with an electric mixer until they are white and foamy. Add 2
tablespoons confectioners’ sugar and continue beating until stiff but
not dry. Scrape off the beaters and, without washing them, place them
in the flour-and-oil mixture and beat at low speed just until well
blended. In four additions, gently fold this mixture into the egg
whites.
6. Turn the batter out into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a
rubber spatula. Rap the pan sharply on the counter once to remove any
large air bubbles.
7. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top feels springy and a
cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean. (The top of the
cake will be cracked.)
8. Cool the cake upright on a wire rack for 10 minutes. With a knife,
loosen sides and centre of cake from the pan. Invert onto the rack,
lift off pan and cool cake completely. Place on a serving platter and
top with a light sifting of confectioners’ sugar. Serves 16.
NOTES : “This low-fat chiffon cake has a light, soft crumb and a
satisfying chocolate flavor. The egg yolk adds richness and moisture;
it can be left out, but the cake will be slightly drier without it.
For a 4-layer cake, bake the cake in two 8- or 9-inch layers, slice
each layer horizontally and spread raspberry preserves between the
layers.”
Yields
16 servings