Little Rhubarb Angel Cakes
6 cups of chopped (1/2 inch pieces) rhubarb
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 (3 inch long) stick cinnamon
3 whole cloves
1 (2 inch long) strip lemon zest
1 (2 inch long) strip of orange zest
3/4 cup orange juice, divided
3 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
1 (16 oz) box white angel food cake mix
2 tbsp melted butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Combine rhubarb and sugar in a large saucepan. Tie cinnamon, cloves, lemon zest and orange zest in a cheesecloth bag or assemble in a tea ball. Add to saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has consistency of applesauce.
In a small sauce bowl, stir cornstarch into 1/2 cup orange juice, mixing until cornstarch is dissolved. Pour the dissolved cornstarch mixture into the saucepan. Keep cooking and stirring until the rhubarb mixtures is thickened, about 3 minutes. Pull the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and crystallized ginger. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature. Remove the spice bag. Cover rhubarb sauce tightly and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
Prepare angel food cake mix following directions on the box. Spoon 2 heaping tablespoons of batter into about 36 paper lined muffin tin cups. Bake on middle rack of oven preheated to 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until tops are golden brown and feel dry. Cool cupcakes in paper lines on rack.
Using an apple corer or a wooden skewer, make a hole in the center of each cupcake the diameter of a penny. Spoon rhubarb filling in a pastry bag or freezer strength plastic storage bag, with one corner snipped off. Squeeze rhubarb mixture into holes.
Prepare glaze by combining remaining 1/4 cup orange juice, melted butter and powdered sugar in a small bowl, whisking until smooth. Set the glaze aside for a few minutes before using.
Using a spoon, drizzle glaze over the top of each filled cupcake. Refrigerate Little Rhubarb Angle Cakes in a tightly covered container until servings. Makes 32-35 little cakes.