National Angel Food Cake Day | October 10

Making angel food cake requires whipping egg whites until they are stiff. Cream of tartar stabilizes the egg whites. Additional ingredients are then folded into the egg white mixture.

The cake is then usually baked in an ungreased tube pan, leaving a hole in the middle of the cake. The center tube allows the cake batter to rise higher than other pans, causing the batter to clings to all sides of the pan. After baking, the pan is inverted while cooling to prevent the cake from falling in on itself.

Usually, rather than frosting, angel food cakes are topped with a glaze or a sweet fruit sauce and a swirl of whipped cream. Angel food cake also makes beautiful and amazing trifles. The airy layers absorb the flavors of fruit, caramel, liqueurs, and chocolate well. Another dessert that angel food gives an elegant look to is the parfait.

Need a recipe? Here are 5 to choose from: