Last Updated on June 12, 2022
Today, we’re going to be looking at an angel food cake recipe and looking at how to make your cake just right. Cake is the perfect dessert, and angel food cake is absolutely delicious. It doesn’t require many ingredients at all! But how do you go about making it from scratch? Let’s take a closer look.
What Is Angel Food Cake?
If you’re not familiar with angel food cake, it’s one of the lightest and fluffiest cakes you can make. Angel food cake may just look like your typical sponge cake – but it’s slightly different from the sponge cakes we know and love. This is because it does not use any butter in its recipe and it also gets it’s bubbly, light texture from the use of egg whites, rather than the whole egg. A whipping agent is often used too – such as cream of tartar. It’s tender, moist – and absolutely delicious.
Ingredients in Angel food cake
Ingredients for an angel food cake will differ depending on which recipe you follow. However, our recipe today uses the following ingredients:
- granulated sugar
- salt
- egg whites
- cream of tartar
- vanilla extract
- plain flour/cake flour
- confectioners’ sugar
- whipped cream
- berries
Nutritional information
If you’re curious as to the nutritional value of angel food cake, each slice of cake (with no decoration), contains the following:
- Calories: 129
- Fat: 0.2g
- Sodium: 255mg
- Potassium: 67.5mg
- Carbs: 29g
- Dietary Fiber: 0.1g
- Sugar: 15g
- Protein: 3.1g
Angel Food Cake Recipe
And now let’s skip to the reason you’re here! The recipe we’re going to be looking at today is inspired by a recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction. Let’s see how to make the most yummy, light, and fluffy, angel food cake.
Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:
- 1 3/4 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 cup (plus 2 tablespoons) of plain flour/cake flour
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 12 large egg whites (room temp)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- confectioners’ sugar (for decorating)
- whipped cream (for decorating)
- berries (for decorating)
Recipe
Now all you need to do is:
Step 1: Prepare
Gather all of the ingredients you need. As well as a food processor, egg separator, hand mixer, sieve, tube pan, and cooling rack if you have them available. Place the rack in your oven to the lower middle. Then preheat to 325F.
Step 2: Pulse
Using a food processor, pulse sugar until fine. Remove one cup’s worth of sugar from the blender and leave to one side. Now add the salt and flour to the sugar, in the food processor. Pulse several times until the mixture is light.
Step 3: Make the Batter
Add your egg whites and cream of tartar in a bowl, and mix until the mixture becomes foamy. Gradually add the one cup of sugar you saved from earlier. Whip for around 5 minutes; at this point, stiff peaks should form. Now add the vanilla extract and stir. Using a sieve, gradually add the flour mixture in with the wet ingredients. Fold in with a spatula slowly. Once all is mixed well, pour batter into a tube pan (be sure not to grease the pan).
Step 4: Bake
Place the cake into your preheated oven and bake for around 40 minutes. You’ll know when the cake is ready as a skewer or toothpick into the center of the cake will come out clean. Remove the cake once down and cool upside down on your wire rack, for around 3 hours. Remove from the pan by gently tapping and using a knife to help loosen the edges, if needed.
Step 5: Enjoy!
You can leave as it is, or sprinkle it with confectioners’ sugar and serve with berries and cream. The cake will be okay in the refrigerator for around 5 days, in an airtight container. Enjoy!
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you to become more familiar with an angel food cake recipe. It may take a few attempts to get this recipe just right, but it’s certainly worth the extra effort – as it’s absolutely delicious.
Do you know of any other tips or tricks when it comes to making angel food cake? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring!
Read more about The White Cake Recipe
Angel Food Cake Recipe: How To
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of plain flour/cake flour
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 12 large egg whites, room temp
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- confectioners' sugar (for decorating)
- whipped cream (for decorating)
- berries (for decorating)
Instructions
- PrepareGather all of the ingredients you need. As well as a food processor, egg separator, hand mixer, sieve, tube pan, and cooling rack if you have them available. Place the rack in your oven to the lower middle. Then preheat to 325F.
- PulseUsing a food processor, pulse sugar until fine. Remove one cup's worth of sugar from the blender and leave to one side. Now add the salt and flour to the sugar, in the food processor. Pulse several times until the mixture is light.1 3/4 cups of granulated sugar, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of plain flour/cake flour, 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- Make the BatterAdd your egg whites and cream of tartar in a bowl, and mix until the mixture becomes foamy. Gradually add the one cup of sugar you saved from earlier. Whip for around 5 minutes; at this point, stiff peaks should form. Now add the vanilla extract and stir. Using a sieve, gradually add the flour mixture in with the wet ingredients. Fold in with a spatula slowly. Once all is mixed well, pour batter into a tube pan (be sure not to grease the pan).12 large egg whites, room temp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of cream of tartar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of plain flour/cake flour
- BakePlace the cake into your preheated oven and bake for around 40 minutes. You'll know when the cake is ready as a skewer or toothpick into the center of the cake will come out clean. Remove the cake once down and cool upside down on your wire rack, for around 3 hours. Remove from the pan by gently tapping and using a knife to help loosen the edges, if needed.
- Enjoy!You can leave as it is, or sprinkle it with confectioners' sugar and serve with berries and cream. The cake will be okay in the refrigerator for around 5 days, in an airtight container. Enjoy!confectioners' sugar (for decorating), whipped cream (for decorating), berries (for decorating)
FAQs
Can You Use All-Purpose Flour Instead of Cake Flour For Angel Food Cake?
You can use all purpose flour instead of cake flour, however it will change the consistency of the cake - and it won't be anywhere near as tasty. If you are all out of cake flour, but have all purpose flour and cornstarch, you can make your own cake flour at home - the key is to sift the mixture!
What is Different About Angel Food Cake?
Angel food cake is different from usual sponge cake because it doesn't have butter as one of the main ingredients. Angel food cake also uses egg whites, rather than the yolk and white of the egg; like many other recipes. Because of these things, the cake is lighter and fluffier than usual sponge cakes.
What Goes Wrong With Angel Food Cake?
While angel food cake seems easy to make, there are a few ways that your cake may go wrong. Overbeating is the main aspect that can cause the cake to not go to plan. For example, whipping the egg whites too much will make your cake chewy - and that is definitely not the texture you're looking for. Also ensure that you don't have your oven temperature set too high, or that it's left in the oven for too long; this will make the crust hard and tough.
Is Angel Food Cake Healthy to Eat?
As angel food cake doesn't contain egg yolks or butter, it's seen as a healthier alternative to typical cake. However, it is full of sugar - so definitely not healthy!
Why is Cake Flour the Preferred Flour When Making Angel Food Cake?
Cake flour doesn't contain as much protein as other baking flours. Because of this, it makes for a lighter and softer cake.