RP
RecipePoolDiscover your next favorite recipe
  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • Roundups
  • Meal Plans
  • Guides
  • About
Search
Browse
IngredientsCuisineDietMethodOccasion

Main Navigation

  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • Roundups
  • Meal Plans
  • Guides
  • About

Browse Faster

IngredientsCuisineDietMethodOccasion
Follow RecipePool on Pinterest
RecipePool

1,784+ tested recipes

Thoughtfully tested recipes, seasonal inspiration, and cooking guides to help you make something delicious every day.

Get weekly recipe inspiration

Explore

  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • Roundups
  • Seasonal
  • Products
  • Meal Plans
  • Guides
  • Ingredients

Browse By

  • Cuisine
  • Diet
  • Method
  • Occasion

Company

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Recipe Testing
  • Privacy
  • Terms

© 2026 RecipePool. All rights reserved.

HomeSearchCollectionsSaved
  1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Perfect Angel Food Cake
Tall angel food cake on a cake stand dusted with powdered sugar

Towering, cloud-light egg white sponge cake

Perfect Angel Food Cake

Perfect Angel Food Cake

1hMedium

Prep Time

20 min

Cook Time

40 min

Total Time

1 hr

Servings

12

1 tube cake

Difficulty

Medium

Cost

Budget

$

Be the first to rate this recipe
Share

Perfect Angel Food Cake

Towering, cloud-light egg white sponge cake

A tall, impossibly light cake made entirely from whipped egg whites, sugar, and cake flour. Pristine white, fat-free, and cloud-soft.

20m

Prep Time

40m

Cook Time

60m

Total Time

12

Servings

Medium

Difficulty

Budget $

Cost

DessertHealthy
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

June 13, 2024(Updated April 13, 2026)

Angel food cake is a marvel of baking science—egg whites and sugar transformed into a towering, feather-light cake with no butter or oil. It's the perfect canvas for berries and cream.

Why This Recipe Works

Folding the flour in gently and baking in an ungreased tube pan are both essential. The batter clings to the pan sides as it rises, and cooling upside down prevents deflation.

Ingredients

  • 12 large egg whites, at room temperature
  • 1 cup cake flour, sifted twice
  • 1.5 cups superfine sugar
  • 1.5 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract

Instructions

  1. 1

    Sift cake flour with 3/4 cup sugar three times. Set aside.

  2. 2

    Beat egg whites with cream of tartar on medium speed until foamy, then increase to high and beat until soft peaks form.

  3. 3

    Gradually add remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tbsp at a time, beating until stiff, glossy peaks. Fold in extracts.

  4. 4

    Sift flour mixture over the whites in 3 additions, folding gently with a spatula after each. Pour into an ungreased tube pan.

  5. 5

    Bake at 325°F for 35-40 minutes until golden and a skewer comes out clean. Invert pan immediately and cool completely before removing.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream

  • Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate sauce before serving

Substitutions

Cake flourAll-purpose flour minus 2 tbsp per cup, replaced with cornstarch

Sift several times for the lightest result

Superfine sugarGranulated sugar pulsed in a food processor for 30 seconds

Finer sugar dissolves better into the egg whites

DepthPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Vanilla Extract

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the vanilla matters

For baking and desserts, vanilla is often carrying more aroma than people expect. A better bottle gives the whole recipe a cleaner finish.

This is a small pantry move that usually makes baked goods taste more complete.

  • Improves aroma in desserts and bakes
  • Useful across cakes, cookies, and breakfast bakes

Vanilla extract is one of the easiest pantry upgrades to keep using.

Shop vanilla extract for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • Any trace of fat (yolk, grease, or oil) will prevent the egg whites from whipping properly.

  • Cool the cake upside down—this prevents it from collapsing under its own weight.

Storage

Store covered at room temperature up to 3 days. Wrap tightly and freeze up to 2 months.

Reheating

Serve at room temperature. Not typically reheated.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (0mg) · 12 servings

Calories140
LowModerateHigh

A light, low-calorie option · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein4g
Carbohydrates0g
Fat30g
Fiber50mg
Sugar0g
Sodium24g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why must the pan be ungreased?
The batter needs to cling to the sides of the pan to rise properly. A greased pan causes deflation.
What do I do with 12 egg yolks?
Make custard, ice cream, lemon curd, hollandaise, or pasta dough.

Explore More

More DessertHealthy RecipesOven Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.

View all recipes →

Some product links on this page may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate RecipePool earns from qualifying purchases.

Related Recipes

Decadent chocolate layer cake with rich frosting

Devil's Food Cake

50 min

Three-layer hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting and pecans

Hummingbird Cake

50 min

Decadent chocolate layer cake with rich frosting

German Chocolate Cake

60 min

Peach cobbler in a baking dish with golden biscuit topping and ice cream

Southern Peach Cobbler

55 min

Blackberry cobbler in a baking dish with golden crust and purple berries

Old-Fashioned Blackberry Cobbler

55 min

Close-up of a strawberry shortcake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on a white plate.

Classic Strawberry Shortcake

35 min

You Might Also Like

Decadent chocolate layer cake with rich frosting
Vegetarian
Medium

Devil's Food Cake

50 min12 servings
View Recipe

Devil's Food Cake

50 min•Medium
Three-layer hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting and pecans
Vegetarian
Medium

Hummingbird Cake

50 min14 servings
View Recipe

Hummingbird Cake

50 min•Medium
Decadent chocolate layer cake with rich frosting
Vegetarian
Medium

German Chocolate Cake

1h14 servings
View Recipe

German Chocolate Cake

1h•Medium
Peach cobbler in a baking dish with golden biscuit topping and ice cream
Vegetarian
Easy

Southern Peach Cobbler

55 min8 servings
View Recipe

Southern Peach Cobbler

55 min•Easy
Blackberry cobbler in a baking dish with golden crust and purple berries
Vegetarian
Easy

Old-Fashioned Blackberry Cobbler

55 min8 servings
View Recipe

Old-Fashioned Blackberry Cobbler

55 min•Easy
Close-up of a strawberry shortcake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on a white plate.
Vegetarian
Easy

Classic Strawberry Shortcake

35 min6 servings
View Recipe

Classic Strawberry Shortcake

35 min•Easy