This is the only Angel Food Cake recipe you will ever need! This homemade cake is super soft, light, airy, and turns out perfect every single time!

An angel food cake on top of a wire rack with strawberries in the background.

On Monday I shared a simple homemade cake flour recipe with you. So today, I wanted to share a recipe showing you how you can use that flour with this homemade angel food cake recipe!

If you’ve never made angel food cake from scratch, I can assure you it’s not too difficult. There are a few steps, but the end results are absolutely worth it.

In fact, this cake beats any box mix you can buy. It’s incredibly soft, light, airy, and always turns out perfect!

Ingredients For This Cake

Homemade angel food cake requires just seven simple ingredients, which is why it’s important that you use exactly what this recipe calls for. Here’s what we’ll use to make angel cake from scratch: 

  • Cake flour: Contains less protein than all-purpose flour, which results in a softer, lighter cake. 
  • Powdered sugar: I’ve tested this cake with just granulated sugar and I prefer using a combination of the two. The powdered sugar helps the flour particles disperse more evenly and makes it easier to fold into the egg whites. 
  • Egg whites: Make sure they are at room temperature before getting started. Room temperature egg whites will whip up much better than cold eggs, so I suggest separating the eggs and letting them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
  • Cream of tartar: The acid from the cream of tartar helps the egg whites reach their full volume and stabilizes them, so don’t skip it!
  • Salt: Balances out the sweetness of the batter. 
  • Granulated sugar: Needs to be beaten into the egg whites to incorporate air into the batter. 
  • Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract is best in this recipe. 

Egg whites beaten to stiff peaks inside of a glass bowl.

How To Make Angel Food Cake

To make this cake, you’ll start by sifting cake flour and powdered sugar together three times. Once you’ve sifted the two together, you’ll set them aside and whip up some egg whites.

For this cake, you’ll be using 1 and 1/2 cups of egg whites which comes out to about 10-12 large egg whites. Then, you’ll beat the egg whites on low-medium speed until they’re foamy. Once the egg whites are foamy, mix in a little cream of tartar and salt. 

Then, you’ll turn the mixer up to medium-high speed and gradually add a cup of granulated sugar until the egg whites form stiff peaks like the picture above. In other words, when you lift the beaters out of the bowl the tips of the egg whites stand straight up and don’t curl over. Then, you’ll mix in some vanilla extract until just combined.

Once the egg whites are at the stiff peak stage and the vanilla is mixed in, you’ll gradually sift in the dry ingredients. You want to avoid adding the dry ingredients all at once because it can weigh down the egg whites.

I suggest sifting the dry ingredients into the egg whites in four increments, making sure to gently fold in each addition until just combined. Once the dry ingredients are mixed into the egg whites, you’ll scoop the batter into an angel food cake pan.

A glass bowl filled with angel food cake batter and a rubber spatula on the side.

A couple of important things when adding the batter to the pan, make sure you do not spray the pan. As this cake bakes, it will rise and cling to the side of the pan. If the pan is greased it can prevent your cake from reaching its full height.

The second thing is to make sure that you use a knife to cut through the batter, in the pan, before placing it in the oven. This will remove any large air pockets and prevent you from having any large holes in your cake. 

When the cake batter is ready, you’ll bake it in the lower third of your oven for about 40-45 minutes. Once a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, remove it from the oven, and turn it upside down to cool.

Cooling the cake upside down is incredibly important because the structure of the cake is not set until it cools. Allowing the cake to cool upside down will prevent it from collapsing on itself. Most angel food cake pans have a center piece that extends further than the outside rim, making it easier to cool the cake upside down. You can also rest your cake upside down on a heat-safe bottle to let it cool completely. 

An angel food cake pan filled with the cake batter.

FAQ’s

How Do You Store This Cake?

Store leftover angel food cake in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can You Freeze Angel Food Cake? 

Yes! Wrap the cake tightly and store in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.

What Toppings Should I Serve This With? 

A few of my favorite angel food cake toppings are: 

Sliced angel food cake on white plates topped with sliced strawberries.

Baking Tips

  • Make sure to separate your egg whites and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. This will help them whip up much better!
  • Sift the dry ingredients into the egg whites in four additions and gently fold in each addition until just combined.
  • Do not grease your cake pan, this will prevent the cake from rising to its full height. I prefer to use an angel food cake pan with a removable bottom, this makes it much easier to remove it from the pan!
  • Once you’ve added the batter to the pan, make sure to run a knife through it to remove any large air bubbles.
  • Once the cake is finished baking, make sure to completely cool it upside down in the pan.

More Easy Cake Recipes to Try!

Recipe Video

An angel food cake sitting on top of a wire rack.

Angel Food Cake

4.95 from 19 ratings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cooling time: 2 hours
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
This the only Angel Food Cake recipe you will ever need! This homemade cake is super soft, light, airy, and turns out perfect every single time!
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Ingredients

Servings: 12 slices
  • 1 cup (115 grams) cake flour , spooned & leveled (homemade version here)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups (180 grams) powdered sugar
  • 1 and 1/2 cups egg whites , room temperature
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Position oven rack to the lower third position. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
  • Sift the cake flour and powdered sugar together three times. Set aside. 
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, add the egg whites and beat on low-medium speed until foamy.
  • Add the cream of tartar and salt then increase the speed to medium-high.
  • Gradually add the granulated sugar, about one tablespoon at a time, and continue beating the egg whites until stiff glossy peaks form. Add the vanilla extract and mix on low speed until just combined.
  • Sift about one-fourth of the dry ingredients over the beaten egg whites and gently fold it in. Repeat, folding in the dry ingredients one-fourth at a time. 
  • Scoop the batter into an ungreased 10-inch angel food cake pan or tube pan. Cut a knife through the batter to remove any air pockets, then smooth it out into one even layer.  
  • Bake the cake at 325°F (163°C) for 40-45 minutes or until the top is lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and invert the cake pan onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, use a knife to loosen the sides of the cake from the pan and carefully remove it. Slice into pieces, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

You will need 1 and 1/2 cups of egg whites for this recipe, which comes out to about 10-12 large egg whites.
Store leftover angel food cake in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Freezing instructions: Wrap tightly and store in a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.
Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Danielle Rye
Did you make this recipe?Mention @livewellbakeoften on Instagram or tag #livewellbakeoften.