Angel Food Cake Recipe (2024)

This homemade Angel Food Cake is perfection. Light, moist, airy, and absolutely delicious! If you love angel food, don’t miss my Coconut Angel Food Cake and Coconut Angel Food Cupcakes!

Angel Food Cake Recipe (1)

Angel Food Cake

When you are making homemade Angel Food Cake it’s important to be aware of two things. It uses a lot of eggs. Scratch that. It uses a lot of egg WHITES. Read the recipe before you start.

#panfail #cakefail #bakerfail

Now, if I could go back in time I would have definitely given MYSELF that advice. But, I was halfway through my recipe before I realized that I did not own an angel food pan.

Improvising angel food cake in a fancy bundt pan is NOT A GOOD IDEA.

It is a BAD idea.

It is a terrible idea.

Angel Food Cake Recipe (2)

This is what happens when you make angel food cake in a fancy bundt pan that you have to spread GOOP in so that the cake doesn’t stick but the cake is supposed to stick and therefore the cake cannot properly set up and it falls and flattens itself into a 1-inch high disc of not-bad tasting but horribly disfigured angel food cake.

So I drove to the store and bought a pan.

Angel Food Cake Recipe (3)

That was the best decision I made all day.

Well, that and the roasted strawberries. I mean, who knew roasted strawberries would be SO amazing?!?

Angel Food Cake Recipe (4)

Angel Food Cake Recipe

The most COMMON MISTAKE in baking angel food cakes is to not weigh the eggs. It is important to measure or weigh your egg whites for this recipe! Eggs can vary so greatly in size that it could be disastrous if you simply use 12 egg whites.

Room temperature ingredients are a must! We have very fresh eggs (sometimes laid that very day!) and because they are so fresh they separate very well. If you don’t have chickens, you may want to separate the eggs right out of the refrigerator and then allow the whites to come to room temperature. Separating when cooler will help you avoid broken yolks.

When whipping eggs make sure your bowl is clean and cool. Try not to overbeat! Stiff glossy peaks are the key phrase and what to look for in your eggs.

If you are baking this cake at a higher altitude, be sure to check out my High Altitude Baking Tips.

If you want a smooth strawberry sauce, simply place the roasted strawberries into a blender or food processor until you reach the desired consistency. If you do this you may not need to add the strawberry spread. Just keep an eye on it.

Angel Food Cake Recipe (5)

This is before and after roasting the strawberries. I highly recommend doing this! My house smelled like heaven for 6 hours after I removed them from the oven!

Angel Food Cake Recipe (6)

This Angel Food Cake Recipe with Roasted Strawberries lasted all of one day in our house. It tastes better than any store-bought angel food cake, which is saying a lot for a kid who was raised on the store-bought stuff.

I declare it the perfect angel food cake!

Angel Food Cake Recipe (7)

5 from 12 votes

Angel Food Cake

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

This homemade Angel Food Cake is perfection. Light, moist, airy, and absolutely delicious!

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Ingredients

Angel Food Cake

  • 1 ¼ cups (125 g)sifted cake flour
  • 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated white sugar, divided
  • 1 ½ cups (360 g) egg whites at room temperature (from about 12 large eggs)
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon pure almond extract

Roasted Strawberries

  • 2 cups (250 g) sliced fresh strawberries
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 10 ounces strawberry spread, or jam/jelly preserves
  • Cool Whip, optional

Instructions

Angel Food Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and locate your angel food cake pan. Do not butter or spray or grease the pan in any way.

  • In a large bowl sift together ¾ cup (150 grams) of granulated sugar and the sifted cake flour.

  • In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until foamy, about 2 minutes.

  • Add the cream of tartar, lemon juice, vanilla, and almond extract and continue to beat until soft peaks form roughly 2-3 minutes.

  • Gradually beat in the remaining ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until glossy stiff peaks form. You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

  • Remove bowl from stand mixer.

  • Sift the flour mixture (¼ cup at a time) over the egg whites and using a rubber spatula, gently fold (do not stir) the flour into the egg whites.

  • Pour the batter into the pan and run a metal spatula or knife through the batter in a zig-zag motion to remove any air pockets. Smooth the top and then bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes. The cake is done when the cake springs back when gently pressed or there are cracks over the top.

  • Immediately upon removing from the oven invert the pan and allow the cake to cool for about 1 ½ hours. While the cake is cooling, roast the strawberries.

  • When completely cool, run an offset spatula or knife around the sides and center tube of the pan to loosen the cake and then remove the cake from the pan.

  • Next, use the offset spatula (or knife) along the bottom and remove. Set cake on cake stand.

Roasted Strawberries

  • Increase the oven temperature to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Place sliced strawberries in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  • Drizzle evenly with syrup and sprinkle cinnamon on top.

  • Roast for 10-12 minutes, or until berries are tender and have begun to release their juices.

  • Place strawberry spread into a medium bowl. Dump roasted strawberries on top of spread and mix together with a fork. If the mixture seems too thick can add up to ½ cup warm water.

  • When ready to serve, pour some sauce (not all) over cake. Cut cake using either a very (very) sharp knife or a serrated knife. Use a ‘saw’ motion and try not to press the cake down as you cut. Place the piece on a plate and drop a dollop of whipped cream on top. Cover with more strawberry sauce.

Course: Dessert

Keyword: Angel Food Cake Recipe

Servings: 12

Author: Amanda Rettke–iambaker.net

Did you make this recipe?

Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.

Angel Food Cake Recipe (8)

Categorized in: Cakes

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Meet Amanda Rettke

Amanda Rettke is the creator of I Am Baker, and the bestselling author of Surprise Inside Cakes: Amazing Cakes for Every Occasion – With a Little Something Extra Inside.Over the course of her 15+ year blogging adventure, she has been featured in and collaborated with the Food Network, New York Times, LA Times, Country Living Magazine, People Magazine, Epicurious, Brides, Romantic Homes, life:beautiful, Publishers Weekly, The Daily Mail, Star Tribune, The Globe and Mail, DailyCandy, YumSugar, The Knot, The Kitchn, and Parade, to name a few.

Angel Food Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to angel food cake? ›

Egg Whites: The star of the show! They provide all of the leavening for angel food cake. Using only whites (no yolks) gives this cake a super light texture. Be sure to use only fresh eggs; liquid egg whites in a carton have been pasteurized, which can prevent them from whipping into stiff peaks.

What are the steps in the angel food method? ›

4 Basic Mixing Methods – Angel Food Method
  1. Scale ingredients accurately. ...
  2. Sift the flour with half the sugar. ...
  3. Beat the egg whites, using the whip attachment, until they form soft peaks. ...
  4. Gradually beat in the sugar that was not mix with the flour. ...
  5. Fold in the flour mixture just until is thoroughly absorbed.

Why turn angel food cake upside down to cool? ›

Why? Until the cake is completely cooled, its spongy structure hasn't set. Flipping it upside down makes sure it doesn't collapse during that process.

What causes an angel food cake not to rise? ›

A small bit of moisture or egg yolk mixed in with the egg whites, a particularly humid day, or repeatedly opening your oven can also cause the cake to not rise. Over-mixing the batter once you've added the flour is another likely culprit, mix until just combined.

How long do you leave angel food cake upside down? ›

If your tube pan has prongs around the rim for lifting, invert the pan onto them. Let the cake cool completely upside down, at least 2 hours. Don't worry – it won't fall out of the pan! To unmold, run a plastic/silicone knife around the edge of the pan, being careful not to separate the crust.

What happens if you grease the pan when making angel food cake? ›

Remember - your batter will not be as stiff as a meringue. Do not grease the angel food cake tube pan (one in which the center tube is higher than the walls of pan and the bottom is removable.) You want the batter to cling to the side while it is rising. A greased pan will not allow the batter to rise.

What is the main ingredients in angel food cake? ›

Angel food cake is the lightest and fluffiest cake you'll ever have. It's made with just three main ingredients – egg whites, sugar and cake flour.

Why does angel food cake have a hole in the middle? ›

It is very important that the pan does not have a non-stick surface and that no grease is applied to the sides or around the tube. As the cake bakes, it expands and rises. The sides and hollow center tube act as supports for the foam as it expands. The hollow pan also allows for an even heat distribution.

Can I use a bundt pan for angel food cake? ›

I know what you're thinking. But whatever you do, don't try baking angel food cake in a bundt pan. A bundt pan's design is usually too intricate for angel food cakes, which must be cut away from the simple tube pans they're baked in once the cake has cooled.

Why is my angel food cake sticky? ›

Sticky cake and cupcake tops are from a reaction with sugar and water. Sugars are hygroscopic, meaning they attract water. Within baked goods, sugars help maintain a moist and tender crumb. Sugar on the exposed tops, however, will grab water from humid air, creating a wet or sticky top.

What happens when you over mix angel food cake? ›

Overmixing is exactly what it sounds like: the process by which a dough or batter gets mixed too much, typically yielding dense, tough, or deflated baked goods. Overmixed doughs and batters may have an unappealing look or feel, which remain just as unappealing when they're baked.

What pan is best for angel food cake? ›

Traditionally, angel food cake is made in a bundt cake pan to achieve its circular shape.

How much water do you add to Duncan Hines angel food cake mix? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 pkg (16oz each) Duncan Hines® Signature Angel Food Cake Mix.
  2. 1-1/4 cups water.
  3. 1-1/4 cups heavy (whipping) cream.
  4. 3/4 cup Duncan Hines® Creamy Vanilla Frosting.
  5. 30 medium whole strawberries.

Why don't you grease the pan for angel food cake? ›

Do not grease the angel food cake tube pan (one in which the center tube is higher than the walls of pan and the bottom is removable.) You want the batter to cling to the side while it is rising. A greased pan will not allow the batter to rise.

How long to leave angel food cake upside down? ›

If your tube pan has prongs around the rim for lifting, invert the pan onto them. Let the cake cool completely upside down, at least 2 hours. Don't worry – it won't fall out of the pan! To unmold, run a plastic/silicone knife around the edge of the pan, being careful not to separate the crust.

Why is angel food cake mix so fluffy? ›

Angel food cake is one-of-a-kind, and no other cake recipe matches its super fluffy, airy texture. Though it's a type of sponge cake, it differs from other popular recipes because it's traditionally made using no butter or oil in the batter. Instead, beaten egg whites are the secret to its ultra-light texture.

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