Mom’s Best Angel Food Cake recipe is what my mom has used for birthday cakes through the years. Nothing beats this light and fluffy angel food cake!
This story and the recipe was originally posted on March 23, 2012. Images and some text were updated on October 6, 2021. The delicious angel food cake recipe remains the same!
I know that bragging isn’t always flattering, but I’m throwing all of that out the window today and am going to spend this post bragging about my husband.
I married a really good guy and am very lucky. Sure there are times we don’t get along and when I can’t wait for him to leave on his next business trip, but for the most part, I am happily married to a great man.
The kids and I recently went to visit my parents for Spring Break. This left Nick as a bachelor at home for almost a week and a half. While I was gone he… scrubbed the wood floors in our house (the entire first floor), did all the laundry, built extra shelves in our pantry so I’d have space for my cookie sheets, planted flowers, bought me flowers for my desk, cleaned out our dresser, made Limoncello and when we finally arrived home it was to a table set with candlelight and a delicious dinner.
In addition to all of this, he does things on a regular basis that proves he is pretty incredible. He works hard at a demanding job each day, making it possible for me to stay home with the kids. When my work takes me out of town, he happily supports me and takes time off of his job to watch the kids. He does the laundry, which for a family of 6 can be a full-time job. He is an amazing dad, taking great interest in what our kids are doing and actively participating in their lives. He’s kind, caring, compassionate, and loving. I could go on and on and on… but I’ll stop bragging now. Let’s get on with how this all ties into Angel Food Cake.
Why You Should Make Mom’s Best Angel Food Cake
While I was away visiting my parents, my mom made the most amazing Angel Food Cake. Mom has made this cake for birthdays for years, but I never paid that much attention to how she made it.
Angel Food Cake just so happens to be Nick’s favorite cake. When we first started dating I found this out and have been making him angel food cake for special occasions ever since. The only problem is, I’ve been making my angel food cake from a box mix. I figured with all the egg whites and things, making it from scratch would be too much work and the taste couldn’t be that different, could it?
When I took one bite of the angel food cake my mom made, I knew I had been slighting my husband for the past 13 years… poor guy. He does so many great things for me and I’ve been making him subpar desserts in return. Homemade Angel Food Cake is pretty darn incredible. Who knew? From now on I’m making my mom’s best angel food cake recipe for him and will not be returning to the box mix.
Mom's Best Angel Food Cake Recipe
Equipment
- angel food cake pan
- stand mixer
- rubber spatula
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup cake flour
- 12 egg whites
- 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 375°
- In a large bowl, whisk together cake flour and 3/4 cup sugar plus 2 Tablespoons sugar. (first amount of sugar listed in ingredients).
- In a separate large mixing bowl beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt until foamy. Add the second amount of sugar listed (3/4 cup), 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high speed until meringue holds stiff peaks. Remove mixer bowl.
- With a rubber spatula, gently fold in vanilla. Sprinkle the cake flour/sugar mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, over meringue, folding in gently until flour mixture disappears. Push batter into an ungreased angel food cake tube pan. Gently pound the bottom of the pan on a hard surface (countertop) to remove air pockets. (Air bubbles will come to the surface and pop...pound until most air bubbles have been removed).
- Bake 30-35 minutes until top is browned and springs back when touched with finger. Invert pan over funnel (I use the top of a ketchup bottle) until completely cool.
- Slice with a serrated cake knife and serve with fresh berries and whipped cream.
Notes
So sweet. You’re a lucky lady! And this cake needs to happen in my kitchen soon!
OH THE YUM!!!
When you have a man like that you deserve all the bragging the web will allow. You are one lucky, lucky duck but I’m betting his doing all of that for you is simply a boomerang for all that you do for him. Cheers to you both.
That is SO SWEET! I am guessing his love language is Acts of Service. 🙂 He is REALLY good at it! That cake looks amazing too. I can’t wait to try it.
Possibly! We have yet to do the love language thing… must do that very soon!
I love you. 🙂
OMG. sounds delish, sweet and the pics are gorgeous! i’ve pinned it!!! xo
can’t wait to try it
Beautiful post. And, I always love it when The Husband comments. You are so sweet, Kristen!
I do too… he’s a keeper!
So very sweet. He obviously is a very smart man…not many realize that the key to a woman’s heart is…LAUNDRY!!
The cake looks fabulous. I’m sure he considers himself to be very lucky as well.
ROFL – I’m not sure how I missed this comment before! Yes… laundry is all it takes!
My husband does the laundry most of the time too. So I know the quiet love affair that goes along with not having to do that task. What a great recipe. This is one that I’ve been meaning to get to. I’ll definitely make it soon.
It’s such a blessing – and I feel bad because we make a ton of laundry, but he does it and rarely complains! You and I are very lucky ladies!
How sweet! That cake looks like little pieces of heaven in with those berries and cream.
Thank you for complimenting my angel food cake. You are right, you have a great husband and you are very blessed!
I love the background story behind your post. Lucky you for having a husband like that and your mom’s angel cake….gorgeous! Yum yum!
What an awesome husband! It’s a good thing to share with others how much of a blessing your hubby is. Thanks for sharing the recipe! hugs from Conroe, TX
If you have a great husband there’s nothing wrong with bragging! Great looking dessert. I want something sweet now.
What a great guy!! Between the two of you, you’ve got some incredibly lucky kids. 🙂
So…. what do you do with 12 egg yolks??? {{nice love story, too}}
My mom makes my dad’s favorite… homemade pudding! We did cream pies! So many yummy things to be made.
It’s wonderful to have a true partner in life. Cake is a great way to celebrate!
I totally agree!
Oh my gosh your husband is the best you lucky girl!!
Ok, I have to say your husband really does deserve that cake!! 🙂
Angel food is my favorite too, & I made it once and it came out flat. I have to try it again, love this vintage Betty Crocker recipe!
Great seeing you girl!
It’s all about the pounding on the counter to get the air bubbles out. That and whipping it good!
Wow, what an amazing guy you have there!!!! We have been married for 44 years and my hubby is a great guy but laundry????? No way. He DOES do alot though and is very handy, makes furniture, gardens etc., etc. I hope you happily celebrate YOUR 44th anniversary too. XO, Pinky
44 Years? See… he has his own special keeper qualities, obviously! Congrats!!
I can’t help but brag about my own husband. He’s my best friend and a Prince in my eyes. We love Angel Food Cake, and it’s been on my list to make one, from scratch. I guess I could use the egg yolks to make lots of ice cream custard, right? Or Hollandaise. I think that’s what’s kept me from cracking a dozen eggs for the egg whites. However, like you said, my husband does so much for me. Thanks for the inspiration, and beautiful photos as inspiration.
Ice cream and pudding and cream pies… so many yummy things can be made with the yolks.
Congrats on marrying a wonderful guy!
Oooh, this looks great! I’ve never even tried to make an angel food cake. I use it most in trifles, so I haven’t wanted to break my own heart by ripping my hard work into little pieces. 😉 Now I want to make one. Thanks! And Nick rocks. But he is lucky to have you, TOO. Hope your trip home went well (it hasn’t started yet)!
Sweetest guy ever. I love your family.
Thanks 😉 I do feel really lucky!
Nick sounds like a gem! What a lovely welcome home. Angel food cakes are manna from heaven for certain. My mother made a lovely one too. I love the way you’ve served yours.
Thanks, Barbara. I still haven’t mastered an angel food cake like my mama’s, but I’m getting there!
Brag away!
You are one blessed woman 🙂 Your husband sounds like a wonderful man! And this cake recipe sounds delicious, too! I am going to bookmark it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I hope you’ll try it! It’s so good.
Oh you are a lucky lady!!!!! 😉
I love angel food cake and have not had in years. I use to request it when I was a kid. My mom never made it homemade, instead she used a box; but, I loved when it came out of the pan and there was sugary cake stuff to the sides of the pan. I would take my finger and scrap all that goodness off. Loved it.
I am going to have to try making it at home, using your recipe. You make it sound so easy. Thank you!
That is my favorite part too and I made the mistake of showing my kids that goodness. Now I have to fight them for it!
I love this post. I could have said all of the same things about my husband (the “sometimes I can’t wait until he leaves on his next business trip” part I can totally relate to, but he’s wonderful in a zillion, thoughtful ways too). I seriously love these old 70’s classic recipes. What a beautiful angel food cake!
Thanks so much, Lori! If you are anything like us, we have our peaks and valleys, but luckily the peaks far outweigh the valley’s. Even still, it is nice to have some time apart as well. 🙂
Hi Kristen,
I have NEVER made an Angel Food Cake from scratch and the only reason I tried was because I just fell in love with your love story ! I have an incredibly supportive, loving, helpful husband and I too am the luckiest woman alive :0) And I think hes now in love with your mother.. LOL .. Recipe turned out fantastic!! No more boxed cakes for us. Thank you for sharing your moms wonderful recipe :0)
Oh this totally made me smile!
I am so very glad the cake worked out for you. I can’t believe how much better it is than boxed… such a difference.
Thanks for coming back and letting me know and I’m glad that both of us are lucky ladies!
Looks delicious! What a great taste and food texture this must have, thanks!
Your cake is in my oven right now. I have made angelfood several times to mixed results. I hope it tastes as good as it smells.