This Perfectly Easy Angel Food Cake is fat free and the fastest, loftiest, most tantalizing Angel Food Cake recipe to be found. It's a standout among homemade angel food cakes.
If you struggled with the getting the egg whites just right and then watched them deflate as you folded the flour in, that's all in the past. Why? Because this is not your Betty Crocker angel food cake since there is no folding in of the flour. It’s all done in the mixer and if you don’t believe it, just give this recipe a whirl. It's absolutely foolproof and you won't be disappointed.
With no fat and only a few ingredients, this is an ideal treat for anyone on a low fat diet. While it can be iced, it's perfect as is.
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Ingredients
Top Row: Baker's Sugar, Egg Whites. Middle Row: Salt, Vanilla Extract, Cake Flour. Bottom Row: Almond Extract, Cream of Tartar
- Baker's Sugar is very finely ground granulated sugar. It dissolves faster and more completely when used with egg whites or when creaming with butter, yolks or eggs. While it can be difficult and/or expensive to find in grocery stores or online it is easily made at home.
- Egg whites can be freshly separated from the yolks or can be accumulated over time and frozen. If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator for a day or two until completely liquid. There are different opinions as to whipping them at room temperature or cold. Because the air bubbles created when whipping stay tighter when beaten cold, I used this method at the bakery and recommend it.
- Cake Flour is used because it contains less gluten than other flours such as pastry, all-purpose or bread flour and yields a very tender cake. It is important to sift it as little lumps don't incorporate well in the finished batter.
- Cream of tartar is an acid that helps stabalize the egg whites. Lacking it, lemon juice or white vinegar can be used since they are both acidic. Neither will affect the taste after baking.
- Vanilla and Almond extracts - This is a favorite flavor combination I used at the bakery. However, all of either one can be used if preferred. Check the ingredient list to make sure there is no oil in the flavoring. If there is, the flavoring must be added at the end of the beating.
- Salt - A bit of salt helps elevate the flavor of the cake.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
An Angel Food Tube Pan is about 4" deep, has a removable bottom and legs extend from the top. The tube in the middle allows the heat to come up and bake the cake from the middle as well as the outside.
The pan should not be prepared in any way. Do not butter or spray it.
Granulated sugar processed to make baker's sugar.
Egg whites, vanilla and almond extracts, in the mixing bowl.
Egg whites whipped to the soft peaks stage and ready to add the sugar. The whites should be very high but not stiff.
Blend half the sugar, salt and cream of tartar together.
Adding a heaping spoon of ½ the sugar mixture at a time to the egg whites. Beat 10 to 15 seconds after each addition. Repeat until all of the sugar is gone.
Half the sugar added to the egg whites. They will be very glossy and high in the bowl.
Sift together the remaining sugar and cake flour to be added.
Sugar/flour mixture being added in four additions on low speed. Beat just until flour mixture is incorporated each time.
All of the sugar/flour mixture added.
Perfectly Easy Angel Food Cake mixture in the pan.
Mixture smoothed out.
Cooling and Releasing
After baking, it is important to cool the cake upside down so it retains it height. If the Angel Food Cake pan has feet on it, simply turn it upside down. If not, hang it on a bottle.
After the Angel Food Cake has cooled, use a small, flexible,metal spatula to go around the tube in the middle. Tall isn't it? Over 4 inches of perfection!
Release the outer edge of the cake with the metal spatula. Make sure to keep the spatula pressed against the edge of the pan and not the cake.
After removing the side, go under the bottom of the cake to release it.
Hint: The key to a perfect Foolproof Angel Food Cake is beating the whites to the correct consistency at each stage. If they are initially under beaten, it will be difficult for them to attain the lofty heights needed for this cake since the air beaten in is the only leavening agent. If over beaten, they will be dry and some of the air will be knocked out because they will have to be beaten longer when adding additional ingredients.
Beating to the soft peak stage is important.
Variations
Citrus Angel Food Cake: Grate the zest from 1 lime, 1 lemon and 1 orange. Process half of the sugar at a time. Add the zest to the second half of the sugar and use as called for.
Chocolate Angel Food Cake: Add ⅓ cup sifted cocoa to the flour. Since coffee enhances the flavor of chocolate, add 1 teaspoon instant coffee dissolved in the almond and vanilla flavoring. Use these where called for in the base recipe.
Equipment
- Angel Food Cake Pan
- Scale
- Measuring Cup and spoons
- Strainer or Sifter
- Mixer with whisk attachment
- Rubber Spatula
- Small metal spatula
Storage
The cake will last for three or four days kept covered. It can also be baked and frozen. Thaw at room temperature.
Top tip
When adding the sugar/flour mixture to the egg whites, make sure the mixer is on low and beat only until each addition is incorporated.
Perfectly Easy Angel Food Cake
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups
sugar, divided (500 grams or 17.5 oz.)
- 14
large egg whites, preferably room temperature (2 cups, 450 grams are about 16 ounces)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 ½ cups sifted cake flour (150 grams or 5 .33 oz.)
- 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tarter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Have the angel food pan ready but do not prepare it in any way. Do not butter or spray it. To obtain its full height, the cake needs to cling to the side of the pan. Set aside.
- Place the sugar in a food processor and process for 1 to 2 minutes until more finely ground. Regular granulated sugar can be used but make sure to beat it long enough to dissolve the sugar.
- Place the egg whites, vanilla and almond extracts in a mixer bowl. Fit the mixer with a whisk attachment. Beat on medium just to a soft peak stage.
- Blend half the sugar (1 ¼ cups, 250 grams or 9 ounces), salt and cream of tarter. Gradually add a heaping tablespoon at a time to the egg whites. Beat 10 to 15 seconds after each addition. Repeat until all of the sugar has been added.
- Sift together the remaining half of the sugar and the flour. Set the mixer to low speed and add to the egg whites in four additions. Beat just until the flour mixture is incorporated each time.
- Pour batter into cake pan and smooth out with a spatula.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until risen, nicely browned and a tester comes out clean. Don’t over bake. Cool upside down in the pan. If the Angel Food Pan doesn't have feet, hang the pan on a bottle.
- When cold, go around the tube and the edge of the pan with a flexible spatula. Release the rim of the pan.
- Release the bottom of the cake with a spatula and turn it out onto a cake board. Turn it right side up to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Rocky says
Hi Helen,
Wow this sounds like a wonderful idea and I can't wait to try it. It's on the list to make soon.
Xo
Helen S Fletcher says
Hi Rocky - It was a game changer for me. So, so easy.
Hillary says
I have made this before and it is fabulous! Thanks for the detailed notes.
Helen S Fletcher says
Hi Hillary - you're welcome. Glad they helped.