Light and Airy Gluten-Free Angel Food Cakes

By Amanda Paa – Updated February 21, 2022
5 from 2 votes
These tasty mini angel food cakes (gluten free) are baked in a muffin tin to makes things easy. The texture of the cake is light, airy, and pillowy soft! Just like the classic. Top with homemade lemon whipped cream and fresh strawberries and serve. Recipe yields 16 mini cakes
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When you mention Mom and berries in the same sentence, the first thing that comes to my mind is Mom’s angel food cake. Her signature style of serving it, with crimson red strawberries she’d somehow sliced perfectly using a scraggly pairing knife. She’d let them sit amongst a dusting of sugar, coaxing out their sweet juices that begged to be absorbed by the light and airy cake. The tender, juicy strawberries nestled atop homemade whipped cream, it was my favorite summertime delight. had to spend hours turned upside down, balancing on a bottle of Worcestershire sauce, which I can still picture clear as day.

It had been years since I’d had a piece of this cake, and I realized it was up to me to create a light and airy gluten-free angel food cake that could hold its structure. I’ve developed many other delicious gluten-free dessert recipes, but this nostalgic cake was not one of them. Yet.

Grain-Free, Gluten-Free Angel Food Cake with Lemon Whipped Cream & Strawberries

I needed to learn the phases of egg whites so that I could get them firm and glossy, a must for it’s lift and airy quality.

After several trials, this “from-scratch” version is one that I’m confident you can do! Because I didn’t think many people had an angel food cake pan (in the 1980’s, yes – but not anymore), I decided to make them into minis using a standard muffin tin.

A mix of tapioca and cassava flour (which makes them grain-free too!) was the perfect equation for making gluten-free angel food cake. The batter light enough to let the egg whites do their thing, but starchy enough to get away without using gums.

Mini Angel Food Cakes {gluten-free}
Mini Gluten-Free Angel Food Cakes {made with cassava flour}

Tips for making Gluten-Free Angel Food Cake

  1. The pictures above show what firm and glossy egg whites look like. To be sure they whip, use room temperature eggs and make sure your bowl is completely clean. No speck of egg yolk should enter the bowl either.
  2. You must use super-fine sugar and since I don’t ever hand this on hand, I made my own by putting into my blender and whizzing until it was very fine, like sand. They do sell super-fine sugar, but I haven’t ever found an organic one. By making my own, I could use organic evaporated cane sugar, and save a tripe to the store.
  3. You must sift your dry ingredients (flour & sugar mixture).
  4. To keep a smooth consistency, you add the flour mixture literally 2 tablespoons at a time, folding by hand to mix, not stirring. It is the step that takes the longest, but it is essential.

You’ll let your berries sit in a bit more of the superfine sugar as the cakes bake and cool, or even better, do this step the night before. This is where the juiciness comes from, macerating so that they create their own “simple syrup”. The best.

The mini cakes have just the right amount of toasty crunch on the outside, and cloud-like fluffiness on the inside. Topped with homemade whipped cream, a divine dessert.

Grain-Free Angel Food Cake with Strawberries & Lemon Cream

How to Store Angel Food Cake:

You can store your gluten-free angel food cake on the counter, tightly wrapped in a covered container for 2 days. Or you can securely wrap in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 4 days, leaving it come to room temperature before serving.

Can I Freeze Angel Food Cake?

Yes! Angel food cakes freezes well, lasting about 4 months if securely wrapped in foil, then in a plastic storage container. De-thaw on the counter when you are ready to eat. Leave frosting or other ingredients off the cake if you are going to freeze it.

Mini Angel Food Cakes {gluten-free, grain-free}
Grain-Free, Gluten-Free Angel Food Cake with Lemon Whipped Cream & Strawberries

More Gluten-Free Cake Recipes:

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gluten-free angel food cakes on white plates with strawberries

Mini Gluten-Free Angel Food Cakes

Light and airy gluten-free angle cake made in a muffin tin! Each cake is the perfect serving, and absolutely delicious topped with whipped cream and strawberries.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time :20 minutes
Cook Time :20 minutes
Total Time :40 minutes
Yield: 16 mini cakes
Author: Amanda Paa

SCALE:

Ingredients

Cakes:

  • 3/4 cup (150 grams) superfine sugar, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 cup cassava flour
  • 1/4 cup (25 grams) tapioca starch/flour
  • 6 large egg whites at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Strawberries and Cream

  • 2 cups sliced strawberries
  • 2 tablespoons sugar regular will work, or you can use leftover superfine
  • 1 cup very cold heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon sugar regular will work, or you can use leftover superfine
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
  • zest of one lemon

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place flours, 1/2 cup superfine sugar, and salt in a sieve set over a bowl. Sift into bowl and set aside.
  • With a mixer, beat egg whites on medium-high until foamy, about 1 minute. Add cream of tartar; beat until soft peaks form. Continue to beat, gradually adding remaining 1/4 cup superfine sugar; beat until firm and glossy stiff form, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla; gently beat just to combine.
  • Remove bowl from stand mixer. Add the flour/sugar mixture In five batches, using the sieve or gently sprinkling over the egg whites, folding in gently each time. You’ll use a rubber spatula to fold in the mixture by cutting down the center and coming up the sides.
  • Gently spoon batter into a lightly greased, 12 cup muffin tin, filling each one to to the top. (You’ll have leftover batter, which I put into more muffin tins and bake after the first round is done.) Cut a knife or small spatula through each muffin cup to release air bubbles. Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees, then turn heat down to 325 degrees and bake for about 15 minutes, until cakes are golden and spring back when lightly pressed.
  • Let muffin pan cool completely. Run a knife around the inside of each little cake to release and unmold.
  • Stir together the strawberries and 2 tablespoons sugar, let sit for at least 30 minutes. To make the whipped cream, use a handmixer or whisk to whip the cream with 1 tablespoon sugar, and lemon extract in a bowl, until soft peaks form.
  • To assemble place each cake on a plate and top with whipped cream, and strawberries on the side and a bit on top. Sprinkle with lemon zest. (I added more strawberries to the top of mine after photographing, so the juices really sank in).
  • Cakes are best eaten the day they are made, but will last another day in an airtight container, out of the refrigerator.

Did you make this?

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April 28, 2016

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24 comments

  1. Sara

    hi there…I so want to try this recipe but should stay away from refined sugar…would it be possible to use coconut sugar or some other substitute? Could put the coconut sugar through a processor to make it finer?

    • Amanda Paa

      hi Sara! you’ll need to use super fine (powdered) sugar for its fine texture. otherwise these will not bake up correctly.

  2. Leah

    5 stars
    I absolutely love these cakes. As a baker all my life, I thought this was another baked good I had ro live without when I went gluten free. These are beautiful. Delicious. Easy. Perfect!
    And fyi I bake them in parchment paper cupcake liners. They come out lovely and rise perfectly.

    • Amanda Paa

      I’m so glad to hear you tried these and enjoyed, Leah! I’ll be making them soon with strawberry season in full swing. No better combination than angel food and fruit!

  3. Robin Burgess

    I’m so excited at the prospect of having Angel food cake again! I am actually one of those weirdos who does own a real Angel food cake pan, and before I went gluten free I used it a great deal. Have you done the math to convert your recipe to a full sized recipe?

    • amandapaa

      Hi Robin! I still have not made it in a regular angel food cake pan. You could certainly try though, as this makes about 20ish minis, so I think it would be about right for a regular sized one.

  4. Gena

    So pretty, Amanda. I’d love to try these with aquafaba!

    G

    • amandapaa

      yes, aquafaba as the whipped cream would be so fun! if you give it a try, let me know. am fascinated by that concept after playing around with it at a culinary class in january.

  5. Sherrie

    Because I have a summer birthday, I requested a very similar dessert like this every year for my cake. I even had it as my wedding cake too because I have such a special place for it in my heart. I loved reading your berry story. Ones like these are what I live for. I have never attempted angel food cake. I’m really not a baker and it always seemed really overwhelming. But I have a bag of cassava flour and I think your recipe is the perfect one to put it to the test. xx!

  6. Shelly @ Vegetarian 'Ventures

    Love reading about your childhood food memories with your Ma. The instances where I didn’t understand having to wait for something to be ready came flooding back when I was reading that. Oh and these little cakes – oh my!

    • amandapaa

      the most important thing, but the hardest to learn! i even have this problem as an adult . ;) xo

  7. Amelia @ Eating Made Easy

    I’m so impressed by these little cakes, Amanda! I would have never guessed you could make Angel Food Cake gluten-free…but of course YOU can. Yum. I’ll definitely make thse next time our very good gluten-free friends come over!!

    • amandapaa

      I think you’d love them, and your gf friends! You really can’t tell the difference, which was my end goal. Happy Mother’s Day to you as well! xo

  8. Cassie

    Beaten egg whites just baked with sugar TERRIFY me because I’ve never had them before! Angel food cakes are known to be quite light and fluffy, so I bet that they HAVE to taste good right? These mini cakes look AMAZING with the cream and strawberries on top!

  9. Kelsey @ Appeasing a Food Geek

    Whoaaaa girl this looks amazing! I love the story (and appreciate the five dozen eggs that it took ha!). I have to say that I associate “simple” desserts like this as well as flavors like lemon and strawberry with the summer months. Honestly just looking at this is making me crave the sun! xoxo

    • amandapaa

      yes, I’m craving the sun too! but soon enough, right? at least cake gives us a taste of it. thanks for reading. xo

  10. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings

    I haven’t made angel food cake since before we were gluten free five years ago. These look lovely. And I’m anxious to try cassava flour since that’s one of the many gluten free flours I have never tried.

    • amandapaa

      Karen, the cassava flour is great! Really smooth, and has a nice weight to it. A nice blank canvas. Cheers to enjoying angel food cake!

  11. Sara @ Cake Over Steak

    I love thisss!!! (And I love the photos too.) I seriously appreciate all of the hard work you put into this recipe. Isn’t that just the best when your vision finally comes to life?! Ah! Just beautiful. I also associate simple cake and strawberries with my mom – it’s one of the only desserts she ever made consistently while I was growing up, and it was usually for my birthday. Love!

    • amandapaa

      your story sounds so similar to mine – mom’s dessert for all occasions! i can’t see the word angel food cake without thinking of her. and yes, the beauty of testing a recipe so many times to finally get it right, that’s a good feeling. as i know you can attest with your chocolate chip cookie recipe! xo

  12. Tessa | Salted Plains

    This is glorious! I am SO excited to make these. Love that it only took tapioca flour and cassava flour. Funny, my mom would serve angel food cake with strawberries all the time through the summer months and I don’t think I’ve had any since I went off to college. xoxo.

    • amandapaa

      angel food cake just screams the warmer months. i’m so glad this resonated with you! xo

  13. Kelly @ Inspired Edibles

    This post made me teary-eyed. Our maternal memories are primal imprinting themselves deep within us. Thank you for sharing your memories and I love how you salute all female mentors, so true. These little cakes are simply beautiful, x.

  14. Faith (An Edible Mosaic)

    I love food like this! I have similar memories of my mom cooking as a kid and I love recreating her foods as an adult in my own kitchen. Your angel food cakes are gorgeous, that texture looks perfect! And those fresh, beautiful strawberries on top. <3