Heavenly Angel Food Cake with Fresh Berries

Ingredients

- 1 cup cake flour
- 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
- 12 egg whites, room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- Fresh whipped cream (for serving)
- 2 cups fresh berries (e.g., strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Ensure the oven rack is positioned in the lower third.

2. Prepare Dry Ingredients
Sift together the cake flour and 3/4 cup of sugar. Repeat the process three times to ensure a fine mix.

3. Beat Egg Whites
In a large mixing bowl, combine egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until soft peaks form, which will take about 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Gradually Add Sugar
Slowly add the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar to the egg whites, 2 tablespoons at a time, while continuing to beat. This should take about 2 to 3 minutes. The mixture should be glossy and form stiff peaks.

5. Incorporate Flavorings
Gently fold in the vanilla extract and lemon zest with a spatula, being careful not to deflate the egg whites.

6. Fold in the Flour Mixture
Sift a small portion of the flour mixture over the beaten egg whites. Gently fold it in with a spatula. Repeat until all the flour mixture is incorporated. Do not overmix.

7. Transfer to Pan
Pour the batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.

8. Bake the Cake
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

9. Invert and Cool
Remove the cake from the oven and immediately invert the tube pan over a bottle or funnel to cool completely. This helps maintain its lofty structure.

10. Release the Cake
Once cool, use a thin knife to carefully loosen the cake from the sides and center tube of the pan, then invert onto a plate.

11. Dust and Serve
Dust the cake with powdered sugar, slice, and serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and a generous portion of fresh berries.

Total Time

PT1H30M
1 hour 30 minutes

Type of Dish

Dessert

Keywords

Angel food cake, egg whites, fresh berries, lemon zest, whipped cream, light cake, fluffy dessert, oven dessert, special occasion cake, low-fat dessert

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

1,920 calories total

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