Cosmopolitan Birthday (recipe added)

Cosmo Chiffon Cake

I have mentioned before that I am known in my circles for my boozy chiffon cakes.  Today is Andrea's birthday and she requested a Cosmo Cocktail.  The batter is made with vodka and lemon juice, and cooled cake is soaked in a mix of lime, sugar, cranberry concentrate, and more vodka.  7-minute frosting is topped with candied lime slices.  I don't typically eat my own cakes anymore.  Preparing a dozen or more of these babies each year and watching my office mates enjoy a "sugar" buzz is plenty of celebration for me!

COSMOPOLITAN CHIFFON CAKE

Preheat oven to 325.

Sift together then set aside:
1 and 1/4 cup cake flour
1/2 c sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 t salt

Beat until smooth:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 egg yolks
3 ounces vodka
1 t vanilla extract
Zest from two limes

Add flour to egg-oil mix and beat until smooth and incorporated. Set aside.

In clean bowl beat 6 egg whites and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar. Add ¼ cup sugar as whites start to foam. Continue beating until whites are VERY stiff.

Gently fold whites into flour-egg-oil mix until well incorporated..

Pour batter into ungreased Angel food pan and bake ~1 hour. Cool upside-down.

Meanwhile, prepare syrup (I don’t measure this - just kind of eyeball) of sugar and juice from 1 limes, several drops of cranberry extract or 1/4 cup concentrate (should taste pretty sweet but have a nice sour note). Heat to boil or until sugar is melted; remove from heat, pour into measuring cup. Add enough vodka to make 1 cup syrup. Pour half over cooled cake (poke holes in the cake with a chop stick to help it absorb). About half an hour later, remove cake from pan and place top side down on serving plate. Pour remaining syrup over cake.

Frost with 7-minute frosting; garnish with candied (sugared) citrus zest or lime slices if desired.