Stella's Chocolate Chiffon Cake

I started making this chocolate cake back in 1992 when I found it in a church cookbook. The contributor of the recipe is actually my friend Shirley's mom. I have made it countless times and as she suggests in the recipe. . ."Always turns out good!". It makes a large angel food pan but I have kept a little batter back to make a dozen cupcakes and the cake it still plenty big enough if you are planning on slicing it and filling it. A chiffon cake has a very tender, moist crumb.

Stella's Chocolate Chiffon Cake

• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water or (I make mine with strong coffee)
• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda. . .she calls for 1 1/2. . .but I find that I like it with less soda taste .. and 1 teaspoon is plenty
• 1/2 cup light vegetable oil
• 8 farm fresh eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Mix together the cocoa and the boiling water or coffee and allow to cool.
2. On a large sheet of waxed paper, take a sieve and run your flour, 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking soda, and salt through it. . .I run mine though a few times to make it nice and light.
3. When you separate your eggs. . .please break the egg white into a small bowl first and then add it to the rest of the egg white in a large glass or metal bowl that you have rinsed in hot water to make sure there is no grease in it. Put the egg yolks into a medium sized bowl.
4. Beat the egg whites with the remainder 1/2 cup sugar until stiff peaks form.
5. Put the dry ingredients into a large bowl.
6. Add the oil, the egg yolks, the cocoa mixture and the vanilla.
7. Slowly stir in the egg whites with a spatula. . put in a bit at a time, and be gentle.
8. Pour the batter into a angel food pan. . .keep a bit for cupcakes if you want.
9. Bake the full cake at 375 for about 60 to 70 minutes. . .Poke a toothpick into the crack to make sure it comes out clean.
10. For cupcakes. . .bake about 15 minutes and then poke with a toothpick. .

For the chocolate pudding icing.

• I use 1 small package of chocolate instant pudding
• 1 package of dream whip
• 1/1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup of whipping cream
• Beat it together until nice and thick. . .

I layer the pudding icing with layers of whipped cream and broken toblerone bars. . .pretty yummy.