Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: Perfectly sweet and delicious cake.
Texture: Fluffy. Light. Airy. Delicate. Everything you’d ever want in an Angel Food Cake!
Ease: Definitely more of an advanced recipe, so make sure to read all the tips in the pink tip box below to set yourself up for success.
Pros: You can pick whatever toppings you’d like from berries to whipped cream to ice cream.
Cons: Trickier recipe, but I’ve provided tons of tips for success below.
Would I make this again? Absolutely!
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Angel Food Cake is one of those dessert recipes where the recipe name couldn’t be more perfect.
I feel like there aren’t many desserts quite like the Angel Food Cake. It’s so unique in its taste and texture.
I also love how it’s so easy to change up what you serve the homemade cake with… from whatever fresh fruit you have on hand to fresh whipped cream or a couple scoops of your favorite ice cream.
I hope you love this Angel Food Cake recipe as much as we do! It is definitely a more challenging recipe, so keep reading because I share all my must-know baking tips just below.
Angel Food Cake Ingredients
DON’T SKIP READING THIS SECTION! Angel Food Cake can be finicky. Success truly comes down to using the right ingredients and handling them properly.
Why Use Cake Flour? Can I Use All-Purpose Flour Instead?
Cake flour is very finely milled from soft wheat from the heart of the wheat endosperm. Its protein content is lower than all-purpose flour. This helps to give cake flour its very fine and silky soft texture. That fineness is actually why cake flour should be sifted before use, as it’s more likely to clump together. Specifically, bleached cake flour has a lower protein content and is able to absorb more moisture than unbleached, making it ideal for creating towering fluffy angel food cake.
You cannot use all-purpose flour or DIY cake flour in this recipe because it is too heavy and the cake will likely sink or even collapse. For best results, use bleached cake flour. You can read all about my experiments with cake flour, including why I don’t recommend DIY cake flour in my Cake Flour 101 article!
The All-Important Egg Whites!
There is no chemical leavening agent (baking powder or baking soda) in this recipe. Instead, Angel Food Cake is leavened primarily by the air that is beaten into egg whites. Here are some egg tips:
- Weigh your whites: Make sure you weigh out your egg whites, especially if using pasture-raised or locally-grown eggs, as those egg sizes tend to vary more.
- Room temperature: Make sure the egg whites are completely warmed to room temperature before you begin, to maximize the aeration achieved while whipping.
- Yolk-free zone: Be careful not to get any egg yolk in with the whites when separating. I recommend cracking the eggs into a small bowl, then add the whites one at a time into the mixing bowl. This way if one yolk breaks, it doesn’t ‘contaminate’ the whole batch.
- Separate while cold: Crack your eggs and separate them while cold, and then allow the whites to come to room temp. Warmer egg yolks tend to break apart more easily. Separating while still cold maximizes your chances of keeping the egg yolk intact and ensuring your whites stay yolk-free.
- If you skip any steps in preparing the egg whites, your cake may sink or collapse.
Can I Use Egg Whites From a Carton, Frozen Egg Whites, or Egg White Substitutes?
I don’t recommend using carton egg whites or egg whites that have been frozen for this recipe. Neither will aerate the same way that fresh, just-separated eggs will, meaning your cake won’t rise correctly or evenly. Since there is no chemical leavening agent in this recipe, the egg whites achieving the maximum possible aeration is all the more important! Egg white substitutes will not work.
What Does Cream of Tartar Do?
Cream of tartar is an acid and helps to stabilize the whipped egg whites. There is really no substitution for cream of tartar. If you don’t use cream of tartar in this recipe, the cake will collapse. Make sure you check the expiration date if you have it in your pantry; it’s one of those ingredients you may use so infrequently that it’s been sitting in there for 5+ years! Make sure it’s still fresh, or the cake may collapse. You can find it with the spices and extracts, in the baking aisle of your grocery store.
How to Make Angel Food Cake
What is Angel Food Cake? Why is it Called Angel Food Cake?
Angel Food Cake is an unbelievably light, pillowy-soft, delicate cake, said to be “so light, it’s fit for the Angels!” This homemade version has soooo much more flavor than the typical store-bought variety – and you won’t believe the difference in the texture! It’s a delicious summertime dessert, especially when served with whipped cream and fresh berries!
How is Angel Food Cake Different From Regular Sponge Cake?
Angel Food Cake differs from regular sponge cake in multiple ways. Angel Food Cake is made using egg whites (no yolks) and no fat. Traditional sponge cakes will typically contain both egg whites and egg yolks, as well as fat (usually in the form of butter or oil). Regular sponge cake also typically contains a chemical leavener (baking powder or baking soda), whereas Angel Food Cake is leavened solely on the air whipped into the egg whites during the process. This all makes for an incredibly light cake, with a texture like no other.
Sponge cakes are generally iced in buttercream or ganache, and are more of a substantial dessert as a result. Angel Food Cake is typically served with berries, whipped cream, or a simple glaze, making it a lighter option.
Tips for Whipping Egg Whites for Angel Food Cake
Listen up! Knowing how to whip your egg whites can make the difference between an impressive towering slice of cake and one that falls into a sad, dense slump:
Whip Tip 1: Follow all the ingredient instructions mentioned above.
Whip Tip 2: Use an electric mixer with the whisk attachment to whip the egg whites. If you don’t have the whisk attachment, wait until you get one to try this recipe.
Whip Tip 3: In our experimenting, we saw the best results when using an electric stand mixer with the METAL mixing bowl. The metal bowl provided a better deep shape to whip the egg whites to perfection; the glass bowl’s shape made it harder to whip the egg whites. You can use glass, but you may need to whip longer.
Whip Tip 4: Make sure your bowl is completely clean, you can even dampen a paper towel with a splash of vinegar to wipe down the bowl to ensure all grease is removed. Do not use a plastic bowl, it’s nearly impossible to remove traces of grease from plastic.
The Angel Food Cake Pan
- You will need a 9-inch, 16-cup unlined tube Angel Food Cake pan for this recipe.
- This is my favorite Angel Food Cake pan.
- This pan even has a removable base, so you can more easily get the cake out of the pan! It also has little prongs around the top of the pan. This is so the cake can cool upside down, ensuring the best possible structure and preventing the cake from sinking in the middle.
- A regular baking pan will not work.
- Most bundt pans are either too elaborately detailed (this cake would stick in those details!) or nonstick, making them unsuitable for this cake.
- You also cannot use a nonstick pan as you will not grease the sides of the tube pan. The delicate cake batter needs the ungreased sides of the pan, and the sides of the inner tube, to cling to as it bakes, and again as it cools, or else it will collapse.
How to Bake Angel Food Cake
Bake until the cake is golden brown and the top springs back when firmly pressed, about 45 minutes.
How to Cool Angel Food Cake
This has got to be the STRANGEST part of baking this cake! It must be cooled UPSIDE DOWN. That’s right. Because we’re not using a nonstick pan or greasing the pan, the cake won’t fall out. This step is crucial to prevent the cake from collapsing when cooling. My pan has a center column that’s longer than the rim of the pan so it’s steady on its bottom. It also has those protruding ‘legs’ attached to the sides of the pan you can tilt to secure it when upside down if needed.
Tips for Removing Angel Food Cake from the Pan
Once cooled completely, carefully run a long thin flexible knife or spatula around the edges of the cake to loosen it from the pan. Gently lift the removable bottom out of the base of the pan. Gently remove to a serving plate.
What to Serve with Angel Food Cake/Topping Ideas
- Fresh berries: strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.
- Homemade whipped cream (recipe below!)
- Dusting of powdered sugar
- Salted caramel sauce
- Butterscotch sauce
- Homemade vanilla ice cream
- Lemon curd (great use for those leftover egg yolks!)
Can I Make the Angel Food Cake Ahead of Time?
The Angel Food Cake is definitely best eaten the day it’s made, but it will keep for a day or two if wrapped well in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container, to prevent it from drying out.
Can I Freeze the Angel Food Cake?
To freeze, wrap the whole cake in plastic wrap (at least a couple of layers), and then freeze on a flat surface in the freezer for up to a month. Thaw at room temperature for a few hours or overnight, before serving.
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Angel Food Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup bleached cake flour, sifted (85 grams after sifting)
- 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated sugar, sifted and divided in half
- 11 to 12 large (360 grams) fresh eggs whites, at room temperature*
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
For the whipped cream:
- 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- Edible flowers, fresh fruit, etc. for garnish
Instructions
Make the cake:
- Adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the cake flour and 3/4 cup (150 grams) of the sugar. Set aside.
- In a clean metal bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the room temperature egg whites on medium-low until just beginning to froth. Add the cream of tartar and salt and beat on medium speed until soft cloud-like mounds appear.
- Gradually add in the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until all the sugar is added and the mixture is glossy with soft peaks. Add in the vanilla and lemon juice until just combined.
- Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of the flour/sugar mixture over the egg white mixture. Gently fold in with a large rubber spatula. Repeat until all of the flour mixture has been gently stirred in.
- Gently scrape the mixture into an ungreased tube pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Tap the pan against the counter to release any large air bubbles and settle the batter.
- Bake until the cake is golden brown and the top springs back when firmly pressed, about 45 minutes.
- 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. Slide the cake out of the pan and cut around the removable bottom to release. Place the cake bottom side up on a serving platter.
Make the whipped cream:
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the cream and sugar. Whip until soft peaks form. Spread all over the top of the cake. Decorate with any garnishes.
To serve:
- Use a sharp serrated knife to gently cut slices. Cake should be served the day it’s made.
Thanks for your complete recipe. Just one question, can I use a loaf pan? Or a rounded pan? But without any hole
Hi Andia! with this particular recipe, I highly recommend using an Angel Food Cake pan. These pans are specifically designed to ensure the cake’s delicate crumb adheres to the sides, preventing any collapse. Typically, they feature prongs on the sides, allowing the cake to cool upside down, resulting in a better structure. You can find more information about the ideal pan type for this recipe in the tip box, just above the recipe. I hope this helps, and most importantly, I hope you enjoy making this recipe! Happy Baking!
Going to make tomorrow. Recipe looks delicious and straightforward for experienced baker. Your tips in pink spot on. Just 2 in our household so wondered if I cut recipie in half is a loaf pan (5×9) would be about right size pan.
Hi Melissa! I wouldn’t recommend using a loaf pan for an Angel Food Cake recipe. An Angel Food Cake pan is specifically designed so that the cake sticks to the sides of the pan as it bakes, and prevents it from collapsing. Typically, it will have prongs on the sides so the cake can cool upside down, which gives it a better structure. More info on this in the Tip Box, above the recipe. Let us know if you give this recipe a try!
I received good compliments on the cake I made with this Angel Food Cake recipe. I did add lemon extract and a packet of crystallized lemon to the vanilla extract. Also I did not have fresh lemon and used bottled lemon instead. The cake turned out so delicious, so good, no crumbs left.
Hi, could you use a sugar substitute, like monkfruit? Thanks.
We haven’t tried that, so I can’t say for sure!
Hi, I am really looking forward to trying this Angel Food Cake. Just one question, I have a metal tube pan that isn’t non stick but it doesn’t have a removable bottom. Will the cake stick to it and will I have trouble getting it out?
Hi Janis! As long as your tube pan is the same volume, it should be fine even without the removeable bottom. I can’t guarantee it won’t stick, of course, but if you follow Tessa’s tips, fingers crossed you’ll have no trouble. From what you said, I’m not sure whether your pan is non-stick or is NOT non-stick, but I just want to note that nonstick pans are not recommended, as the cake batter needs the ungreased sides of the pan, and the sides of the inner tube, to cling to as it bakes, and again as it cools, or else it will collapse. I hope this helps! Let us know how it goes 🙂
Why use a metal bowl?
Hi there! Tessa talks about this in the pink tip box (above the recipe). Check out the answer to your question, along with countless other great baking tips for this recipe, there! Let us know what you think of this recipe once you give it a try! 🙂
I’ve made multiple different angel food cakes and this is by far the best one it’s fluffy and soft and taste great.
So happy to hear that, Jada!
That was so perfect cooked and that was so yummy in test I was just gone.
Loved this! I went in confident knowing Tessa would always have clear instructions even for more complicated recipes and I wasn’t disappointed! It turned out beautiful.
That’s so wonderful to hear, Carla!! Tessa will be so glad to hear that her instructions were so clear and helpful 🙂
Why the lemon juice?
Hi Mary Jo! The lemon juice helps to kick-start the leavening action from the cream of tartar, helping to stabilize the cake! It also adds a delicious flavor! I hope you give it a try and let us know what you think! 🙂
My family has used the same Angle Food Cake recipe for as long as I can remember. When I saw that Tessa was publishing her version I just had to try it, as every recipe of hers that I have tried has always been a hit. While her recipe and the recipe my family typically uses are almost identical, one thing that stands out In Tessa’s is the lemon juice. Safe to say after making this for my family yesterday, Tessa’s recipe will be replacing our old tried and trued!
I do have one question. I always struggle with making Angle Food Cake because of all the leftover egg yolks. Do you have any suggestions on what I can make with them so that they do not go to waste? I’ve used them to make custards for pie fillings before but was hoping you’d have more suggestions about what I can do with them!
Hi Anna! We are so thrilled to hear you and your family loved this angel food cake recipe so much!! Ice cream can be a fun way to use up leftover egg yolks! Tessa has written a lot of ice cream recipes, many of which are traditional custard bases, meaning they need a lot of egg yolks! The French Vanilla ice cream is a delicious place to start, or alternatively, the Death by Chocolate ice cream is incredible, too! You can also make a lemon curd – we don’t have a recipe for a lemon curd yet, but there are loads available online, and it’s a fantastic way to use up extra egg yolks – and it’s delicious with angel food cake! Just a note, though; Tessa really doesn’t like to freeze egg yolks because their texture changes too much. I hope that helps! 🙂
I made this Saturday.. It is very easy to follow. It came out so soft and fluffy.. I will definitely be making this again.. My son’s loved it also.
So happy to hear you and your sons enjoyed this angel food cake, Lisa!! Thanks for the comment 🙂