Angel food cake is a light, fluffy, fat free dessert cake that is delicious and really easy to make – IF you follow the recipe instructions and have some patience.
I don’t win them all in the kitchen. I think it would be stupid of me to think I would. I’ve seen my fair share of things that have gone wrong, flour explosions, and great concepts that landed a perfect spot in the trash can.
But, they say the third times the charm, and whoever ‘they’ are isn’t lying. I have been unsuccessful at both of my previous attempts at angel food cake. Seriously unsuccessful. I know what I needed to accomplish, worked diligently at the steps, and watched in horror as my cake cooled into a thin flat lump. Twice.
Perseverance wins out and I can’t deny that a carton of eggs that get cracked as they cross through the front door does help a lot with motivation.
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Angel Food Cake
From Secrets of a Resturant Chef, Anne Burrell
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cake flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 12 large egg whites (egg whites from large eggs, no yolks in the whites!)
- Pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 orange, zested
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Sift the flour together with 1/2 cup of the sugar and set aside.
Put the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer. Be SURE that the bowl is clean and dry, any fat in the bowl can prevent the egg whites from whipping up fluffy fluffy fluffy! Add the salt and the cream of tartar to the egg whites. Beat the egg whites on a medium-high speed until they reach soft peaks, about 5 minutes.
While the mixer is running, gradually add the remaining sugar. DO NOT plop the sugar in all at once or it will push the air out of the whites that we are trying to beat in. Add in the vanilla and zests and then stop the mixer. Add 1/3 of the flour/sugar mixture and fold gently fold, do this quickly but gently. Repeat the process 2 more times until all of the flour/sugar mixture is incorporated.
Transfer the cake batter into an ungreased tube pan. Bang the cake pan on the counter a couple of times to release any air bubbles trapped in the cake batter.
Bake the cake on a sheet tray in the preheated oven until it is light and springy, about 1 1/4 hours. Cool the cake for at least 1 hour before unmolding. Serve with the tropical fruit compote.
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Fruit toppings are a no go in this household, so I whipped together a quick chocolate topping by melting chocolate chips in warm heavy cream over a double boiler.
I had a cake once as a child that I thought was an angel food cake, but now I am not sure. It was so white on the inside, and light in the way an angel food cake is but this cake wasn’t what I can taste in my memories. It’s a vague memory so it’s hard to pinpoint if time or taste buds have changed it but maybe someday I’ll rediscover the recipe that remains in my memories.
I haven’t had angel food cake in a while but used to love it. It is actually my dad’s favorite cake! May have to try this soon:-)
Gorgeous! Angel food is my all-time favorite cake! Great pick 😉
I hate that, when you have a flavour memory and can never quite get there! Mine is a queens pudding I had in a restaurant on the Kings Rd with my Dad when I was little. It’s a cake /meringue/ hot jam/ custard pudding that is amazing. But every one since has been disapointing. I think maybe it’s the whole ambiance you remember, It was my birthday and the first time I had been out to a restaurant in London. I can’t even remember the name of the restaurant, maybe I should ask my dad….
I love angel cake…and especially angel cake drizzled with chocolate.
Beautiful pictures; it looks delicious!
I love angel food cake! I have a random memory attached to it… When I was younger we had a pool at our house. My mom would always give us something to snack on after swimming and one day it was angel food cake. I still totally remember that day, sitting by the pool eating the angel food cake! I think it stands out because it was my first time having it and I thought the texture was so weird.
Third time must be a charm because the cake looks GREAT (and so does your photography!)
Beautiful! I haven’t tried to make angel food cake yet, I’m glad this one worked out for you 🙂
Yum! I love the addition of the zest. Beautiful photos, too.
It has been waaay too long since I’ve had good angel food cake. Perhaps it’s time I break this streak. This cake looks absolutely heavenly!
Gorgeous! Love that cake, especially the chocolate drizzle!
I’m glad you kept at it! Your cake looks amazing! Hooray you!!!
I make angel food cake all the time and the flavor I use is almond extract rather than the vanilla that is typically called for. Congrats on finally conquering your cake!! Angel food is a little intimidating at first, but after you’ve made a few, you’ll never go back to a store bought cake or mix.
Well, your last attempt looks PERFECT! It’s been so long since I’ve made an angel food cake…yours looks incredibly delicious (and so much better than a boxed cake mix!).
This one looks like it turned out beautiful! I know what you mean… I tried making one once and it turned out the same… and very eggy, in a bad way.
Perseverence certainly paid off! Your cake looks white, light, and moist like an angel food cake should be – and double delicious with chocolate drizzled on top!
Looks beautiful light and airy. Love the chocolate sauce, too!
Looks so soft and so white.. 🙂 and that melted chocolate makes it look even better 🙂 I can only repeat once more- pictures are so great and so live.. 🙂
Kudos to you for persevering on this recipe, the final product looks perfect! I have always loved angel food cake though I have never tried to make it at home… Now that you have honed the recipe I have no excuse! 🙂 Congrats on foodbuzz top 9 today!
hi Kita
your angel food cake looks heavenly!! We all have our trials in the kitchen, its being able to perservere and try until we get it right that makes our victories in the kitchen so meaningful!
Congrats on your top 9 today!
Dennis
Okay, that’s it. I need to make this this weekend! How wonderful does this look?! It just looks sooo seductive! :-p
oh my, great job with the angel food cake! it looks heavenly!!! and congrats on top 9 🙂
Yup – glad you went with the chocolate!!!! No fruit for me!!
This looks oh so yummy!!
Great. If it took you three times to make angel food cake, I can only imagine what kind of hell I’m going to have. My fiance’s grandmother used to make the most amazing angel food cake, so now I have to live up to that standard. Yours looks sinfully delicious!
Angel Cake looks OH SO YUM!! Bravo on trying it for 3 times and getting the success and congrats for Top9! 🙂
We love Angel Food Cake!! I wasn’t really a fan until I made my own, but now that i have I can’t seem to get enough. Your photos are simply beautiful and make me want to reach out and grab a piece. Nicely done!!
hmm…so pretty picture! and seems yummy too! ^_^