The Best Angel Food Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Whisk the sugar, cream of tartar and salt together in a medium bowl.
• Add the egg whites and 2 tablespoons water to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment. Beat on low speed until the whites are foamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium and slowly sprinkle in the sugar mixture (this should take about 3 minutes). Watching closely, continue beating until medium-soft peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes longer. (You want the mixture to droop when lifted out of the bowl. If the peaks stand straight up, you have taken it too far and the cake will sink during baking). Add the vanilla and mix until just combined.
• Remove the mixing bowl from the stand and working in three additions, very gently fold the flour into the egg whites until just incorporated. Spoon the batter into an ungreased 10-inch footed angel food cake pan and smooth the top.
• Bake until the top is golden and springs back when touched and a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and place the cake upside-down on a wire rack to cool completely in the pan, about 3 hours.
• Run a knife or a small offset spatula around the edges of the pan and gently tap it on the counter until it releases from the pan. Use a sharp serrated knife to slice the cake -- a regular knife will smash it. Serve with berries and whipped cream.

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Sift 1/2 cup sugar and flour together twice; set aside. , Place oven rack in the lowest position. Preheat oven to 350°. Add cream of tartar, extracts and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold in flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time., Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake until lightly browned and entire top appears dry, 35-40 minutes. Immediately invert pan; cool completely, about 1 hour. , Run a knife around side and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Have ready an ungreased 9 3/4-inch angelfood cake pan, preferably with a removable bottom, or use parchment or wax paper to line bottom of pan with nonremovable bottom.
• In a small bowl, combine flour with 3/4 cup sugar.
• Place remaining 3/4 cup sugar next to the mixer.
• Use a whisk to completely combine and aerate flour/sugar mixture.
• In a large, grease-free mixing bowl, beat egg whites at low speed until just broken up and beginning to froth.
• Add cream of tartar and salt and beat at medium speed until whites form very soft, billowy mounds.
• With the mixer still at medium speed, beat in 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until all sugar is added and whites are shiny and form soft peaks.
• Add vanilla, lemon juice, and almond extract and beat until just blended.
• Place flour/sugar mixture in a sifter set over waxed paper.
• Sift flour mixture over egg whites about 3 tablespoons at a time, and gently fold it in, using a large rubber spatula, a large flat whisk, or your hand.
• Gently scrape batter into pan, smooth the top, and give pan a couple of raps on the counter to release any large air bubbles.
• Bake in lower third of oven for 50 to 60 minutes until cake is golden brown and the top springs back when pressed firmly.
• If cake pan has feet, invert pan onto them.
• If not, invert pan over the neck of a bottle so that air can circulate all around it.
• Allow to cool completely for 2 to 3 hours before removing from pan.
• To unmold, run a knife or thin spatula around edges, being careful not to dislodge the golden crust.
• Pull cake out of pan and cut the same way around removable bottom under the cake to release, or peel off parchment or wax paper, if used.
• Cool cake completely, bottom side up.
• When completely cold, cut slices by sawing gently with a serrated knife or pulling with a taut thread through the cake.
• Serve cake the same day or freeze overnight if serving the next day.
• (Cake may be frozen for up to 2 weeks, but will compress slightly.).

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift confectioners' sugar and flour together twice; set aside. , Add the cream of tartar, extracts and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Gradually fold in flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time., Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through the batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on the lowest oven rack at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned and entire top appears dry. Immediately invert pan; cool completely, about 1 hour. , Run a knife around side and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place flour and salt in a sieve set over a bowl; sift into bowl, and set aside. With a mixer, beat egg whites on medium-high until foamy, about 1 minute. Add cream of tartar; beat until soft peaks form. Continue to beat, gradually adding sugar; beat until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to combine.
• Gently transfer egg-white mixture to a large, wide bowl. In four batches, using the sieve again, sift flour mixture over egg-white mixture. While turning the bowl, use a rubber spatula to fold in the mixture by cutting down the center and coming up the sides.
• Gently spoon batter into an ungreased angel food cake pan with a removable bottom; smooth top. Cut a knife or small spatula through batter to release air bubbles. Bake until cake is golden and springs back when lightly pressed, 35 to 40 minutes. Invert pan; let cool in pan, 1 hour. Run a knife around the inside of the pan and around the tube to release cake, and unmold. Use knife to release cake from bottom of pan, and remove.