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Orange-Coconut Angel Food Cake

Perfect for Easter, Mothers' Day, or maybe not sharing at all...

Those of you who have been reading our food column for the past two and a half years know of our reputation for exceptional recipes. Here is a wonderful cake recipe I was given when we lived in San Antonio, Texas. It’s incredibly delicious and––GOOD NEWS!––It’s just 213 calories per serving, low in fat and best of all no one will ever guess. You’ll get rave reviews, I promise! The cake is a perfect ending for a most joyous Easter celebration. It would be an outstanding dessert for a Mother’s Day surprise as well. Mom will love it.

Orange Coconut Angel Food Cake

16 servings

• 1--16 oz. pkg. Angel Food cake mix    
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 2 tsp. orange extract, divided use

• 1--3.4 oz pkg. French Vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1 3/4 cup skim milk
• 1 Tbs. grated orange rind
• 2 cups flaked sweetened coconut, divided use 
• 3 1/4 cups reduced calorie whipped topping, thawed, divided use

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare the angel food cake mix as directed but use the water and orange juice as your liquids instead of the package directions. Fold 1 teaspoon orange extract into the batter. Spoon into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan, spreading evenly. Break air pockets by cutting through batter with a knife. Bake at 375 degrees on lowest rack of the oven for 35 minutes or according to package directions until cake springs back when touched lightly in the center.

Remove cake from the oven. Invert the pan and cool completely up-side-down in pan. Loosen cake from sides of pan and remove. Slice horizontally into four equal layers.

Make instant pudding, using 1 3/4 cups skim milk instead of liquid in package directions. Stir in remaining orange extract and orange rind. Fold in 1 cup of coconut and 3/4 cup whipped topping. Chill at least 15 minutes. Spread mixture 1/3 at a time on cake layers ending and beginning with cake. Frost outside and hole with whipped topping and sprinkle with remaining coconut. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Note: French Vanilla instant pudding mix can be found at most larger grocery stores.