Imagine a cake so light and fluffy that you're cutting into a cloud. You won't have to daydream for too long because we have a heavenly angel food cake recipe. Not only is angel food cake airy and spongey, but it's the perfect option for anyone looking for something on the lighter side. If this is your first time trying an angel food cake recipe, we have the perfect one.
How to Make Angel Food Cake
We recommend using a tube pan to create the perfect cake structure. This recipe makes about 10 servings.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cake flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 12 large egg whites at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1¼ cups white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Sift cake flour and salt into a large bowl and then set aside.
- Using a mixer, beat the egg whites until they become foamy. This should take about 1 minute.
- Add cream of tartar to the egg whites and beat until soft peaks form.
- Continue beating the mixture on low and slowly add the sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. This takes about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract and beat to combine.
- Transfer the egg white mixture to a separate large bowl and begin sifting in the flour mixture.
- Gently fold until the two mixtures combine, and spoon the batter into an ungreased cake pan.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until the cake springs back when pressed lightly.
- Allow cake to cool in the pan for an hour before removing.
For easy cake removal, run a knife along the edges of the pan to release, and invert the cake onto a plate.
Cake Variations for All Occassions
The best part about angel food cake is that it's versatile enough to be a delicious tropical birthday cake or a holiday dessert. Top it off with freshly cut fruits, or go plain and simple with powdered sugar; you can never go wrong. Here are some suggestions to turn your angel food cake into a festive dessert centerpiece.
- For a citrusy pop of flavor, combine 1 cup of powdered sugar with 4 teaspoons of orange juice and ¾ teaspoon of grated orange peel. Mix until combined and then drizzle over the warm cake.
- For chocolate lovers, mix ½ cup of powdered sugar with ½ cup of hot cocoa powder. Sprinkle on top of the cake to your heart's content.
- Turn your cake into an angel cake trifle. Cut up your angel cake into tiny squares and serve with delicious homemade whipped cream and fresh berries.
An Angelic Slice of Heaven
Angel food cake is truly a slice of heaven. Find yourself floating on cloud nine with an airy cake topped with some of your favorite fruits and toppings. It's almost impossible not to be smiling from ear to ear.
