Many people think that when they’re dieting they have to suffer, which means giving up desserts, especially tempting goodies like cake. This isn’t true, however, not as long as the cakes are low in calories and fat, which is why these yummy recipes are perfect for weight watchers. Since the average slice (1/12 of an 8-inch round cake) contains an average of only 115 calories, dieters don’t have to feel guilty and can even enjoy more than one slice.
Tips for Baking Perfect Sponge Cakes and Angel Food Cakes
In order to ensure that these cakes turn out perfectly, cooks should take certain precautionary steps:
- Do not grease baking pans for sponge cakes or angel food cakes (cakes will not reach full volume).
- Follow the recipes exactly.
- Accurately measure all ingredients.
- Do not overfill tube pans; fill them only one-half to two-thirds full.
- Bake cakes on the middle rack in the center of the oven.
- Bake cakes at the specified temperature.
- Do not open the oven door while cakes are cooking (they will not reach full volume and may even fall).
- When done, allow cakes to stand for at least five minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.
- If frosting is being used, allow cakes to cool completely.
Easy Low Calorie Recipe for Orange Sponge Cake
This is an especially light but extremely tasty cake that the entire family will enjoy, even if no one is dieting.
Ingredients:
- 1 and 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup potato flour
- 2 tablespoons baking powder or cornstarch
- 6 egg yolks
- 6 egg whites
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon lemon flavoring
- 1 cup orange juice
Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Separate egg yolks from egg whites.
- Beat egg yolks until they are pale yellow in color.
- Gradually add 1 cup sugar and beat well.
- In separate bowl, thoroughly blend together all dry ingredients, sifting if possible.
- Add dry ingredients to beaten egg yolks.
- Add water and lemon flavoring to mixture, beating thoroughly.
- Beat eggs whites until peaks form (do not allow to become too dry).
- Fold beaten egg whites into cake mixture.
- Pour batter into an ungreased 9-inch tube pan.
- Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour (Do not open oven door while cake is baking).
- When done, allow cake to cool.
- Remove from pan by inverting onto serving plate.
- Combine orange juice and remaining 1/2-cup sugar.
- Pour juice mixture evenly over the cake.
Easy Low Calorie Recipe for Angel Food Cake
This recipe makes a delightfully tasty angel food cake that can be served either plain or with 1/4 cup strawberries or blueberries and a tablespoon of sugar-free whipped topping. If fruit and whipped topping are added, however, calories are increased from 115 per serving to approximately 150.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cake flour
- 1 and 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 and 1/2 cup egg whites
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Beat egg whites in glass bowl until foamy, but not stiff.
- Add cream of tarter and salt.
- Beat until peaks form (not too stiff).
- Fold 1 cup sugar into egg whites gently with 25 strokes.
- Mix flour and 1/2 cup sugar and sift three times.
- Fold egg-white mixture into flour mixture, using 1/4 egg-white mixture at a time and 15 strokes.
- Fold in flavorings, using 10 strokes.
- Spoon batter into ungreased 10-inch tube pan.
- Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until cake is done.
- Invert tube pan upside down on plate (do not remove the cake).
- Allow cake to cool.
- Loosen edges with knife to remove cake from pan.
Weight watchers who are looking for other tasty recipes might like to check out these:
- Easy Low Calorie Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipes
- Easy Low Calorie Pie Recipes for Weight Watchers
- Quick and Easy Low-Cal Muffin Recipes
Source:
Angel Food Cake Recipe modified and adapted from The Healthy Family Cookbook (1987) Nashville, Tennessee: Favorite Recipes Press
Carol Rzadkiewicz - Carol Rzadkiewicz has taught college English for over 14 years and is the author of three published novels and numerous short stories.
