MEAN CHEF'S ALMOND CRUNCH & CHOCOLATE CONFETTI CHIFFON CAKE

Steps:

• To prepare the almond crunch topping--Heat the oven to 325°F.
• Have ready an ungreased nonstick baking sheet.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the egg white with a fork until foamy, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in the nuts until they're evenly coated.
• Sprinkle the sugar over the nuts and stir the mixture.
• Spread the nuts in a single layer onto the baking sheet.
• Bake for 5 minute.
• Stir the nuts with a wooden spoon to loosen them from the baking sheet.
• Bake until golden, another 5 to 8 minute.
• Remove the nuts from the oven and immediately stir them to loosen them from the baking sheet.
• The nuts will become crisp as they cool.
• Set aside.
• To prepare the cake--Heat the oven to 325°F.
• Have ready a 9-1/2- or 10-inch tube pan with sides at least 3-3/4 inches high.
• In a food processor, pulse the chocolate chips until some of them are finely grated and the rest have formed small crumbs.
• In a large bowl, sift together the cake flour, 1 cup of the sugar, the baking powder, and the salt.
• Make a well in the center and put in the oil, egg yolks, water, vanilla, almond extract, and Amaretto.
• Beat the mixture on medium speed until smooth and thick, at least 3 minute.
• Fold in the reserved chocolate chips.
• Set aside.
• In a large, clean bowl with clean beaters or a whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites and the cream of tartar on medium speed until the cream of tartar is dissolved and the whites are foamy.
• Increase the speed to high and beat the whites until the movement of the beaters forms lines in the mixture.
• Slowly pour in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, about 2 Tbs.
• at a time, and beat the mixture until soft peaks form.
• With a large rubber spatula, stir about one-third of the egg whites into the yolk mixture.
• Gently fold in the remaining egg whites until no white streaks remain.
• Pour the batter into the tube pan, spreading it evenly.
• Bake until you can gently press your fingers on top of the cake and it feels firm, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Any cracks that form on the top should look dry.
• Invert the pan onto a bottle with a narrow neck and cool thoroughly, about an hour and a half.
• Use a small, sharp knife to loosen the cake from the sides of the pan and the center of the tube, if necessary.
• Remove the cake from the pan and slide it onto a serving plate.
• To make the glaze--In a small bowl, stir together the confectioners' sugar, milk, and almond extract, adding enough milk to make a smooth glaze with a thick, syrupy consistency.
• Set aside 2 Tbs.
• of the glaze.
• Spread the remaining glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides of the cake and into the center hole; you may not need to use all of it.
• Cover the top of the cake with the prepared almonds.
• Drizzle the reserved glaze over the almonds.