Made with a dozen eggs, Angel Food Cake is a true farmstead cake! And our favorite way to use up a surplus when the hens lay abundantly in the spring.
Ever since my husband’s grandmother passed away a few years ago, his family has been missing her Angel Food Cake. Because I usually have 3-4 dozen eggs in the refrigerator at any given time (and knowing that whatever I use will be quickly replaced by our laying hens), I assigned myself the task of figuring out what recipe she used for Angel Food Cake.
In my home we grew up eating store bought Angel Food Cake. I had never even heard of frosting one before. So when my husband kept describing this topping, I had no idea what he could be talking about. While thumbing through my Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book one day looking for a chocolate frosting recipe when I saw one for Meringue Frosting. I knew that was what I needed to try on my Angel Food Cake! I was delighted when the frosted cake met with the approval of my husband’s memories!
In honor of her memory this Mother’s Day, I’d like to share my angel food cake recipe frosted with meringue frosting. This is a great Mother’s Day dessert because it satisfies the sweet tooth without the heavy feeling.
While this recipe is a Berry Swirl Angel Food Cake you don’t need to incorporate the berries into the cake. If you leave all berry-related steps out, you’re going to make one mighty fine cake! But there is something about incorporated homegrown berries and other foods into your baking that makes dessert feel really special. Like with Strawberry Chamomile Cake. In fact, I get such a kick out of incorporating homegrown food into my baking, I wrote a little cookbook called Cake Stand showcasing what I call “farmstead cakes.” Check it out, you’ll love it!
When you make Angel Food Cake, you’re basically whipping air into egg whites. The trick is to incorporate the rest of the ingredients without deflating the whipped whites. So not only do you want to use a gentle hand, but you want to make sure your ingredients are sifted. It’s difficult to break those lumps up when they’re in the batter without deflating the egg whites. Make sure that when you’re whipping the whites, you use clean, dry dishes. Any water or tidbits of anything will deflate the whites.
You also don’t want to make an Angel Food Cake on a humid day. Sure, it will still taste great, but it will deflate, condense, and have a wet feel to it. It’s just not ideal.
Basically, many of the tips for making a meringue are applicable when you’re making Angel Food Cake (or obviously, Meringue Frosting.)
Berry Swirl Angel Food Cake
Berry Swirl Angel Food Cake
Made with a dozen eggs, Berry Swirl Angel Food Cake is a true farmstead cake! And our favorite way to use up a surplus when the hens lay abundantly in the spring. Also has a recipe for Honey Meringue Frosting
Ingredients
- 12 eggs, separated, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup sugar
- Raspberry Puree:
- ½ cup raspberries, or other berries, fresh or defrosted
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare the puree by adding all of the ingredients to the blender and liquefying them. Set it aside.
- Whisk the powdered sugar and flour prior to measuring and then measure them out. Whisk them together and then sift them twice. (They need to be very light.) Set the bowl aside.
- Separate 12 eggs, placing the whites in the dry bowl of a stand mixer. (Be careful not to get any yolk in the bowl.)
- Measure out the cream of tartar and vanilla and add them to the egg whites.
- Using the whisk attachment, beat the whites on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. (The peaks will curl over.)
- Gradually add 1 cup of sugar, a couple of tablespoons at a time, until stiff peaks form. (They will point straight up and stay there.)
- Sift ⅓ of the powdered sugar mixture over the egg whites and gently fold them in. Repeat with the remaining powdered sugar mixture.
- Spoon ⅓ of the cake batter into an ungreased 10” tube pan. Drizzle half of the puree over the cake. Repeat with 2 more layers of batter and the rest of the puree between them. Gently cut through the batter with a butter knife to remove any air pockets and swirl the berries.
- Bake on the lowest rack in the oven for 35 minutes or until the top springs back when very lightly touched. Immediately invert the cake and cool it completely in the pan.
- Loosen the sides of the cake with a knife before removing it from the pan.
- Try frosting it with Meringue Frosting or Whipped Cream. I chose drizzling with Cream Custard.
Did you make a recipe?
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Meringue Frosting
Meringue Frosting
Ingredients
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup cold water
- ½ cup honey
- 8 egg whites, room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, mix together the sugar, cornstarch, and water.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens & boils. Boil & stir for about 1 minute
- Cool it completely so that it forms a gel by setting it in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl of a stand mixer, whip the egg whites & salt on high speed until soft peaks form.
- In another small pan simmer the honey over medium-low heat until it reaches hard ball stage (250 degrees.)
- Slowly drizzle the honey into the egg whites and then very gradually spoon in the cooled sugar mixture. Whip it until stiff peaks form.
- Frost the cake and have fun playing with the peaks. If you’d like brown tips, hit them with a blow torch until they’re golden.
Enjoy!
I am gonna respond so you know you have “been heard”, but I am afraid I can not help with the electric vs. gas issue. I would think that heat is heat no matter what and my first thought might be that it might be more of a humidity vs. non-humidity issue. Just a guess, though. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
That’s a thought. Well I appreciate it anyway! Thanks Shannon.
I am so pleased to read your recipe for the frosting.
Ever since I have been married (coming up on 13 years) my husband talks about the frosting for an angel food cake like the one his mom made in Pakistan while being missionaries.
Of course, the cake was homemade, something I have never tried but even when I use a cake mix, I get asked, “where is the frosting?”
yummy yummy yummy!!! We are having company tonight, I may have to try this!!!
Can’t believe I read your post. I made a homemade angel food cake (the first one is over 30 years) Sunday as I got a new Cuisinart mixer and eggs were really cheap this week. I have made a lot of boxed ones (so easy, but not as good) as my husband loves them. He likes orange angel food with an orange glaze. Loves them. We will cut it tonight. I used an electric stove but wouldn’t think there would be any difference. Love the sound of your icing.
Thanks for the recipe. Have a great week.
I usually make these from a box, what do you do with all the extra egg yolks?
Brenda,
Well what I do with them probably wont help you, I feed them to my pigs!
Alternately, I’ve read that you could freeze them in ice cube trays for later use. You could also make homemade pudding. (Which I LOVE!)
I haven’t made one from scratch in a few years, but when I did bake it last, it was in a gas oven. And yes, it gets the crusty top on it.
Thanks for sharing! I think I’ll have to dig out my recipe now. 🙂
~Liz
Thanks Hoosier Homemade! I appreciate that bit of info!
sounds delicious and like a great summer recipe
Beautiful! And how great of you to continue on the tradition. I love stories like these.
Angel food is my daughter in laws favorite cake…I will make one of these soon..
My family loves angelfood cake, but I’ve always been afraid to try it on my own. I use box mixes, but now I’m going to be bold and try it. Thanks for participating with such a great recipe.
Also, I love that you are celebrating your family’s heritage.
Love angel food cake! Happy Foodie Friday! Have a great Mother’s Day ~ Susan
I has been a long time since I have had angel food cake. Yum!!
Beautiful cake! It looks so light and delicious, perfect for warm weather!
I haven’t made an angel food cake in ages. Thanks for the recipe and the reminder. I think that Jacob would like the frosting, too. ~ Robyn
This has to be an all time favorite of mine. I just watched Martha make an angel food today on her show!!
Yours looks divine!
This is a heavenly cake. It looks delicious–but it’s a work of art, too. The icing adds such a burst of flavor and texture. I will enjoy making this cake!
This is a beautiful cake…makes my mouth water…
Ok…. So what’s the recipe??? I’ve used different devices and it’s just not there?
Sorry Irene! That was weird! There was some strange code there that was cutting off the rest of the post from being shown. I’ve got it fixed now 😀 Happy baking!
Thank you for this recipe! My cake turned out beautiful. I bake all the time, but this was my first angel food cake. I was searching online for recipes using a lot of eggs, because my chickens are laying like crazy! Then I came across your lovely website. I am really encouraged to see your love for the Lord and how you are unashamed to speak of Him.
God bless you and your lovely family, Quinn!
Your sister in Christ from Hawaii,
Hannah Sophia