Description
Delightful angel food cake brings heavenly lightness to dessert tables with its cloud-like texture. Airy and delicate, this classic American treat delivers pure sweet comfort for passionate bakers seeking sublime simplicity.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 large egg whites (room temperature)
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams / 10.6 oz) granulated sugar (divided)
- 1 cup (120 grams / 4.2 oz) cake flour (or all-purpose flour sifted with 2 tbsps cornstarch)
- 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1 ½ tsps cream of tartar
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Workspace Preparation: Meticulously clean tube pan and position oven rack centrally. Preheat oven to 350F (175C), ensuring precise temperature calibration.
- Flour Preparation: Sift cake flour with half the granulated sugar multiple times, creating an ultra-fine, aerated mixture that guarantees a delicate cake texture.
- Egg White Transformation: In a pristine mixing bowl, whip egg whites with cream of tartar and salt. Gradually escalate mixer speed, incorporating remaining sugar tablespoon by tablespoon until glossy, stiff peaks emerge with dramatic structure.
- Flavor Infusion: Gently fold vanilla and almond extracts into the whipped whites, maintaining the voluminous egg white foam’s integrity.
- Batter Integration: Delicately sift flour mixture over whipped whites in small increments. Fold with a featherlight touch, rotating the bowl to seamlessly blend ingredients without compromising the airy foam.
- Pan Filling and Baking: Transfer the ethereal batter into the ungreased tube pan, smoothing the surface and eliminating air pockets with a zigzag knife technique. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the top achieves a golden-brown complexion and springs back when touched.
- Cooling and Unmolding: Immediately invert the pan onto a bottle or its built-in legs, allowing complete cooling for 1-2 hours to prevent cake collapse. Carefully separate cake edges using a thin knife and release onto a serving platter.
- Presentation: Slice with a serrated knife and embellish with optional accompaniments like fresh berries, whipped cream, or a decadent chocolate drizzle.
Notes
- Egg White Precision: Use room temperature eggs for maximum volume and easier whipping, ensuring peaks are stiff and glossy without becoming dry or grainy.
- Flour Handling: Sift flour multiple times to prevent clumping and create an ultra-light texture that keeps the cake’s signature airy consistency.
- Avoid Fat Contamination: Ensure all utensils and bowls are completely grease-free, as any fat can prevent egg whites from reaching peak volume and stability.
- Cooling Technique: Inverting the pan immediately after baking prevents cake collapse and maintains the delicate, tall structure characteristic of angel food cake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg