This classic recipe for angel food cake requires inverting it in the pan to cool once it is done. If the cake pan has no supports around edges, invert over a bottle to cool. If you have an angel food cake pan with a removable bottom, this is the easiest to remove when the cake is cooled.

Angel Food Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup cake flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
• 12 large egg whites, room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoons salt

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Gather a 10" angel food cake pan, ungreased and perfectly cleaned.
2. Sift cake flour with 3/4 cup of the sugar three times. In large bowl, beat whites until foamy, about 3 minutes on medium-low speed. Add in vanilla, cream of tartar and salt and increase speed to medium. Gradually add in the rest of the sugar about a tablespoon at a time, until all the sugar is incorporated. Continue beating for another 3 to 5 minutes until the whites hold firm peaks. The whites should be firm, but do not overbeat.
3. Sift 1/3 of the flour mixture over the whites and carefully fold in. Repeat 2 more times with remaining flour, until just blended. Make sure the flour is incorporated, but do not over mix. Gently turn batter into prepared pan and gently run a knife through batter to remove any large air pockets that may have been caught.
4. Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes, or until the cake springs back when pressed. Invert immediately to cool. Cool completely before loosening sides and bottom of cake pan.

Notes

 

Content by Renee Shelton. Recipe from Renee Shelton's recipe files. This recipe was first published on PastrySampler.com on January 10, 2007. It was updated on September 29, 2020.