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Angel Food Cake

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Recipes and Formulation:

Angel Food Cake

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Recipes and Formulation
What is angel food cake?

Angel food cake is a type of sponge cake made with egg white, sugar and cake flour. The absence of egg yolk and fat makes it a good low fat and low calorie alternative to a classic short cake.1

  • Angel food cake is characterized by its light cloudy texture
  • This adds a novel sensorial attribute in the absence of rich buttery flavor1

Origin

Angel food cake was first developed in the 1880s in St. Louis, Missouri. The first detailed recipe of this cake was published in the Boston Cooking School Cook Book in 1884.2

By the 1930s, the angel food cake recipe was firmly established. During this time several research efforts were pursued to better understand the science behind the manufacturing process.2 Today, this cake is a staple of American cuisine and it’s commonly consumed with fresh strawberries.

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Ingredient

Commonly used ingredients in angel food cake:1

Ingredient Type Usage level (Baker’s percent) Function
Egg whites Fresh or frozen egg whites 267 %
  • Provides structure by the unfolding and aggregations of its proteins
  • Imparts color, a result of  Maillard’s browning reaction
Sugar White granulated sugar 266 %
  • Provides a sweet flavor
  • Stabilizes meringue by slowing the unfolding and aggregation of protein molecules
Flour Low protein flour (Cake flour) 100 %
  • Provides low gluten network structure
  • Imparts color, a result of  Maillard’s browning reaction
Flavor Vanilla liquid essence

Almond liquid essence

 2.5 %

1.25 %
  • Adds vanilla flavor/enhances other flavors and aromas
  • Adds almond flavor for a different flavor profile
Acid Tartaric acid powder 1.7 %
  • Stabilizes foam by lowering pH
Salt Granulated 1.5 %
  • Enhances flavor and aroma perception

Nutrition

Typical nutritional value of commercially available cake per 100 g:3

Component Grams
Carbohydrate 58.7
Water 32.9
Protein 6.1
Fat 0.3

*Composition made not add to a 100 g

Angel food cake has a lower fat and calorie content than other commercial cakes, and thus represents an alternative for low calorie consumers. A commercial food cake provides 259 kcal per 100 g serving.3

Commercial production

Production process of angel food cake at home or at the bake shop:1

  • Weighing and scaling the ingredients
  • Whipping: egg whites are whipped until they form soft peaks Salt and cream of tartar are added at the beginning of whipping.
  • Foaming: half of the sugar is added to egg whites and whipped to form a soft meringue.
  • Flavoring: vanilla and other essences are added to provide flavor.
  • Final mixing: flour and the rest of the sugar are added and gently folded into the mixture.
  • Baking: the batter is deposited in tube baking pans, and are baked at 180 oC (360oF) for 30 min.
  • Cooling

Processing considerations1

  • Egg white can be slightly warmed to provide a better volume. All other ingredients should be at room temperature.
  • Fresh eggs provide a better texture with a tight crumb, and thus are preferred over days old eggs.2
  • Sifting flour with half of the sugar provides a better distribution in the foam.
  • Avoid using steam when baking this cake.
  • For chocolate angel food cake, substitute 24% of flour for cocoa.

When baking:1

Tube Pan Temperature Time
8 in (20 cm) 180 oC (360oF) 30 min
10 in (25 cm) 175 oC (350oF) 50 min

Regulations

Angel food cake doesn’t have a specific FDA Regulation. However, all of its ingredients are considered safe when following good manufacturing practices. A guidance for labelling of cake products establishes the correct use of the label statement.4

In the EU, this cake doesn’t have a specific regulation just like in the US. However, EU Regulation No 1169/2011 establishes the allergen information that should be disclosed to consumers.5

References

  1. Gisslen, W. Professional baking. No. 1. Wiley, 2019.
  2. Goldstein, D. The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2015.
  3. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 30 October 2020.https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1100890/nutrients . Accessed 12 June 2021.
  4. US Food and Drug Administration. “Reference amounts customarily consumed: list of products for each product category: guidance for industry.”, 2018.
  5. Food Standards Agency. “Food allergen labelling and information requirements under the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation 1169/2011: Technical Guidance.” Allergen Label Tech Guide, 2015.