Angel Food Cake

This angel food cake recipe creates the most heavenly, fluffy angel food cake with just a handful of basic ingredients. It’s a classic cake that you can serve for nearly any occasion. 

angle shot of angel food cake with text overlay for facebook


 

Slightly sweet, with a light and airy texture, this delicate cake is the perfect foundation for creative toppings. Or, you can serve it solo and let it be the star of the show.

The next time you’re looking for an easy recipe for a homemade cake that everyone is sure to love, give this simple angel food cake a try.

overhead shot of angel food cake topped with berries and powdered sugar

Why You’ll Love Angel Food Cake

There’s little not to love about a light and sweet cake that’s perfect for any occasion. Here are some other reasons to rush to make this recipe. 

  • Easy – This simple cake comes together with minimal prep time.
  • Versatile – This cake works well for anything from casual gatherings to special occasions.
  • Tasty – Just slightly sweet, with a light and fluffy texture, this cake is irresistible.
  • Customizable – Because it is so simple, angel food cake is the perfect canvas for any number of fun toppings or add-ins.
close up overhead shot of berries on angel food cake

Ingredients

​Many of these simple ingredients may already be in your kitchen.

  • Cake flour – It’s crucial to use cake flour (instead of all-purpose flour) to achieve the signature light and airy texture of angel food.
  • Sugar – Granulated sugar imparts just the right sweetness and maintains the bright white color of the cake.
  • Egg whites – Reserve the yolks for another recipe, using only the whites for this cake. 
  • Vanilla extract or almond extract – Vanilla gives the cake a warm aroma, while almond will impart nuttiness.
  • Cream of tartar – Cream of tartar works together with the egg whites to create structure – it helps the angel food cake not to collapse.
  • Fine sea salt – Using high-quality salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
straight on shot of side view of angel food cake

What To Serve With Angel Food Cake

We like to serve the cake with simple toppings like fresh fruit (particularly fresh berries, but other seasonal fruits as well) or fresh whipped cream. You can also serve it with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of yogurt.

Sauces like bourbon caramel and fudge sauce are a great way to dress up this cake, too. 

angled shot of angel food cake

How To Make Homemade Angel Food Cake

You can make this cake quickly, making it perfect for nearly any occasion.

  1. Sift dry ingredients. Using a sifter, add the flour and first portion of sugar to a bowl and set aside. 
  2. Beat remaining ingredients. Add the egg whites, extract, cream of tartar, and salt to a large bowl. On high speed, beat the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined and form soft peaks.
  3. Add remaining sugar. Turn the mixer to medium speed and slowly add the remaining sugar. Beat the mixture until it forms stiff peaks.
  4. Fold in dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the sifted dry ingredients gradually. Be very careful not to overmix to avoid having the egg white mixture deflate.
  5. Add to pan. Pour the finished batter into the bundt pan (without oil or grease to coat it). Once the batter is in the pan, gently tap the pan so that any air pockets are released.
  6. Bake. Bake the cake until it is a light golden brown. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center — it has finished baking when the toothpick comes out clean. 
  7. Invert pan. Invert pan onto a wire cooling rack so that the cake can come to room temperature while still in the pan. Once you’ve let the cake cool, use a butter knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the sides of the pan.
  8. Enjoy! Then, transfer the cake to the dish of your choice for serving, tapping the bottom of the pan so that the cake comes out.
slice of angel food cake on spatula

Variations

With a few different add-ins you can make this cake your own.

  • Nuts – Added crushed pecans or walnuts to the batter. 
  • Dried fruit – Add a pop of color and flavor with craisins or raisins.
  • Glaze – Drizzle a sweet glaze over top. Make a simple glaze with powdered sugar and milk, or add a light, bright flavor to it with a splash of lemon juice or orange extract.
  • Chocolate – Fold in dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate chips.
  • Citrus – Try adding a sprinkle of lemon zest to the batter for a light and refreshing flavor.
overhead shot of slice taken out of cake topped with berries

Storage and Freezing

This angel food cake will likely be eaten up pretty quickly, but in the event that you have leftovers, you can store them easily.

Make Ahead: Store the batter for up to 2 days in the refrigerator before baking.

Refrigerator: Angel food cake does not need to be refrigerated. Store it at room temperature for up to 2 days, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, or stored in an airtight container.

Freezer: Store leftover angel food cake slices in individual ziploc bags and store for up to 3 months in the freezer.

close up shot of slice taken out of cake

Common Questions About Angel Food Cake

​Is angel food cake healthier than cake? 

Angel food cake doesn’t incorporate egg yolks or fat, so the calorie count can be lower than other cakes.

Angel food cake’s light and airy texture comes from the exclusion of egg yolks. Well-beaten egg whites give it its signature texture. is the secret to angel food cake? 

What does angel food cake taste like? 

Angel food cake is a slightly sweet cake with an unbelievably airy texture. 

collage of angel food cake for pinterest

Other Easy Cake Recipes

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Iced Almond-Lemon Loaf Cake

Yogurt, fresh lemon and almond give this sunny loaf cake a unique flavor and texture that everyone will love. Perfect for brunch, tea or dessert! 
See The Recipe!
slice taken out of red velvet cake

Red Velvet Cake

If you're looking to impress guests with a dessert that is equally as delicious as it is pretty, this red velvet cake is for you.
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straight on shot of peach dump cake topped with ice cream

Peach Dump Cake Recipe

Quick and easy, this peach dump cake recipe uses only 4 ingredients and is ready in 40 minutes using zero mixing bowls.
See The Recipe!
straight on shot of sliced angel food cake with text overlay for pinterest
angled shot of angel food cake

Angel Food Cake

5 from 5 votes
With a light and airy texture, this classic Angel Food Cake recipe is perfect for any occasion. Top with fresh fruit and whipped cream!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prepare a 10-inch tube cake pan by making sure it is clean and fully dry. DO NOT GREASE OR OIL THE PAN. Set aside.
  • Sift together the flour, and 3/4 cup of the sugar, set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, extract, cream of tartar and salt, until soft peaks form.
  • Gradually add the remaining ¾ cup of sugar while continuing to whip until stiff peaks form. When the egg white mixture has reached its maximum volume, fold in the sifted ingredients one third at a time by hand and using a spatula. Do not overmix or the egg whites will deflate. Do not overmix. Pour the batter into the tube pan and gently tap to release air pockets.
  • Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched, is lightly browned and passes the toothpick test.
  • Invert the cake onto a wire cooling rack and allow to cool (still in the pan ) for 3-4 hours.
  • When cool, run a butter knife around the edge of the pan to loose, invert onto a serving dish and tap the top to lease the cake. Tapping it several times before inverting also helps.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 228 kcal, Carbohydrates: 49 g, Protein: 7 g, Fat: 0.5 g, Saturated Fat: 0.04 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02 g, Sodium: 221 mg, Potassium: 184 mg, Fiber: 0.4 g, Sugar: 38 g, Vitamin A: 0.3 IU, Calcium: 6 mg, Iron: 0.2 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 228
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: angel food cake
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

5 from 5 votes

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    This is the perfect angel food cake recipe with the simplest ingredients. Thanks for sharing my new fav!

  2. 5 stars
    I like how simple this cake recipe is with just a minimal number of ingredients. It is a perfect cake to use for strawberry shortcake. Thanks for sharing!

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe is just beautiful and simple. The cake was so moist and light! And versatile. Great to use with any in-season fruits.