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This strawberry angel food cake is sure to become a new favorite. A subtly sweet, almost cloudlike cake is finished with a luscious, bright strawberry topping made from fresh strawberries. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Angel food cake holds a nostalgic place in my heart. Something about it harkens back to festive summer parties with loved ones. This strawberry angel food cake is the best I have ever tasted. Fine cake flour is folded into egg whites that have been whipped into a frenzy with a bit of sugar and stabilizing cream of tartar. The result is a just-the-right-amount-of-sweet cake that is so light and fluffy you can hardly believe it. Top it off with an elegant strawberry filling and you’ve got yourself a truly memorable dessert. Did I mention it only take 15 minutes of active time to make? Sign me up!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Angel Food Cake
Careful. This cake might just steal your heart. The simplicity of the recipe, the delicate flavor and texture, and the overall visual appeal make this dessert something to write home about. Here are some of my favorite things about it.
- Quick and easy. This beautiful cake will have your guests thinking you spent hours slaving away in the kitchen. In reality, it will only take you 15 minutes of active time (plus some to whip up the strawberry topping if you choose to add it). It doesn’t get much better than that.
- Light and fluffy. One of the best things about this cake is its texture. The combination of the whipped egg whites, the carefully sifted cake flour, and the gentle mixing technique make this angel food cake so light and airy. It’s like biting into a cloud.
- Elegant. Strawberry angel food cake is extraordinarily visually appealing. There is a simple elegance about the cake itself that, when topped with a pop of color from the strawberry cake filling, inspires oos and ahhs without fail.
What Is Angel Food Cake?
An angel food cake is an airy sponge cake made from whipped egg whites, sugar, and cake flour. Unlike most other cakes, it does not contain butter or oil. The only moisture added to the batter comes from the egg whites themselves which are often fortified with cream of tarter to help them hold volume. The result is a wonderfully light, airy, relatively neutral cake that lends itself well to a variety of toppings.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you will need to make this easy angel food cake. You probably already have many of the ingredients in your kitchen. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Cake flour – Do not try to use another flour here. The cake flour plays a big role in the silky, airy texture that defines this cake.
- Salt
- Egg whites – Be sure that the eggs are at room temperature. They will whip up more easily and hold volume better.
- Cream of tartar
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Strawberry Topping – Check out my strawberry cake filling recipe. It’s the perfect addition to this heavenly confection.
How to Make Strawberry Angel Food Cake
Here’s a quick overview of how to make strawberry angel food cake. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Sift the cake flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
- Whip the egg whites on medium speed for 1 minute, until frothy. Add in the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form.
- Add in the sugar (one spoonful at a time) to the egg whites, beating continuously on medium speed. Beat until stiff peaks form. Add the vanilla extract and mix to incorporate.
- Sift the flour mixture into the egg whites mixture and fold it in gently with a rubber spatula.
- Bake. Spoon the batter into an angel food cake pan. Tap the pan on the countertop to remove any air bubbles. Smooth out the batter. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
- Cool. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan.
- Serve. Remove the cake from the pan, top it with strawberry mixture, slice, and serve.
Tips for Success
Why settle for OK when you can have fantastic? Follow these tips and tricks and you will find yourself with just that; a fantastically delicious, light, fluffy strawberry angel food cake.
- Don’t grease the pan. If you do, it may inhibit the cake’s ability to rise. Unfortunately, this means it may be a bit more difficult to remove the cake from the pan. To prevent sticking, I suggest looking for an angel food cake pan that has a removable bottom. If you can’t find one, line the bottom of the pan with a circular piece of parchment paper with a hole cut in the center.
- Room temperature eggs. The egg whites play a crucial role in adding volume to the cake. They will whip up more easily and hold volume much more effectively if they are at room temperature. So take them out of the refrigerator 30 minutes or so ahead of time.
- Use cake flour. Cake flour is truly superior here. Other flours will not yield the silky, incredibly light texture you are aiming for.
- Measure carefully (especially the flour). It’s all about texture in this cake. Angel food cake is supposed to be almost cloudlike. One key piece to achieving that texture is measuring the flour right. I suggest using the spoon and level method. Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level it at the end.
- Sift. Sift your dry ingredients. Twice. This will help keep the flour light and airy, ending you with a fluffier, silkier angel food cake.
- Don’t over-mix. Overmixing the batter can cause the egg whites to deflate, zapping the fluff out of the cake. It can also cause the glutens in the flour to overdevelop which can make the cake tough and overly dense. Mix just until all of the ingredients are incorporated and you no longer see big pockets of egg whites in the batter.
- Remove air holes. Once you spoon the batter into the cake pan, tap the pan on the countertop to remove any air holes.
How to Easily Remove Angel Food Cake From The Pan
Because you aren’t greasing the pan here, the cake can be a little tricky to remove from the pan, so proceed with caution. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan. Once it has cooled, run a knife around the edges of the cake and around the center. Flip the pan over. The cake should release from the pan but, if you’re having trouble, tap the top of the pan with a wooden spoon until the cake releases.
Serving Suggestions
This angel food cake is truly spectacular on its own, especially when topped with my strawberry cake filling. Want to take it to the next level? Try serving it with one (or several) of the following.
- Whipped topping. Grab some whipped cream from the store or make your own. I have been loving the honey cream from my Boozy Peaches and Honey Cream Shortcakes recipe.
- Ice cream. Scoop your favorite vanilla ice cream on top of a slice of this summery cake. Feeling adventurous? Make your own! Try my Strawberry Ice Cream, Fig and Honey Mascarpone Ice Cream, Peach and Toasted Almond Ice Cream, or this Blackberry Chip Ice Cream.
- Fresh berries. Top strawberry angel food cake off with fresh blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries. I especially love doing this in addition to whipped cream or ice cream.
- Lemon Curd. Drizzle some of my Homemade Lemon Curd over a slice of this homemade angel food cake.
- Make it into a strawberry shortcake. Cut the cake into thin slices and layer them with fresh whipped cream and my strawberry cake filling and you’ll have a fun new take on strawberry shortcake.
How to Store Angel Food Cake
If you find yourself with leftover strawberry angel food cake, allow it to cool completely. Seal it in an airtight cake carrier or wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap. Already sliced it? Arrange the slices in a single layer in an airtight container. Seal the strawberry filling in a separate airtight container. Store the cake and the filling in the refrigerator for up to one week.
You can also freeze this angel food cake. Allow the dessert to cool completely before wrapping it in a double layer of plastic wrap, If you already sliced the cake, arrange the slices in a single layer in an airtight container. Seal the strawberry filling in a separate airtight container and store both the cake and the filling in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the cake to thaw in the refrigerator before topping it with strawberry topping and serving.
More Easy Cake Recipes:
In a baking mood? You’re in luck. I have some more truly delicious, easy-to-throw-together cake recipes for you to try. Here they come.
- Cherry Dump Cake
- Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake
- Instant Pot White Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce
- Homemade Strawberry Sheet Cake
- Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
- Apple Almond Cake
Strawberry Angel Food Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup (125 g) cake flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 12 (396 g) large egg whites, room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Strawberry Topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C)
- Sift the cake flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
- Add the egg whites to a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed for 1 minute, until frothy. Add in the cream of tartar and beat for additional 1-2 minutes, until soft peaks form.
- Slowly add in the sugar (one spoonful at a time) while beating the egg whites, letting the sugar incorporate between additions. Beat until stiff peaks form. Mix in vanilla extract until incorporated.
- Sift the flour mixture once more directly into the bowl of egg whites. Fold gently with a rubber spatula until the batter is just mixed.
- Spoon the batter into an angel food cake pan and tap on countertop to remove any air holes. Smooth out the batter with a spatula and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 206 °F (97 °C). The top of the cake should be golden brown and firm to the touch.
- Let cool completely before removing from the pan.
- Top cake with strawberry mixture, slice and serve.