By Erin McDowell, PureWow
Don’t be fooled by their heavenly name. Typically, angel food cake is surprisingly finicky to make at home. There’s the egg whites, the sifting, the folding… Can we skip to the eating part already? That’s why these 30-minute angel food cupcakes are so damn genius.
“The cons of angel food cake are that it involves a lot of egg separating and a lot of careful mixing to to make sure you don’t deflate the batter,” recipe developer Erin McDowell tells us. “But with these cupcakes, all the amounts are smaller, so that mixing happens really quickly. They also bake really fast, unlike traditional angel food cakes, which can take over an hour.” Even better, the whipped cream frosting stays firm, thanks to the addition of freeze-dried strawberries. “They’re great for parties, picnics and summer events because you don’t have to worry about that whipped cream deflating on you after ten minutes.”
Oh, and did we mention they taste like strawberry clouds?
Don’t be fooled by their heavenly name. Typically, angel food cake is surprisingly finicky to make at home. There’s the egg whites, the sifting, the folding… Can we skip to the eating part already? That’s why these 30-minute angel food cupcakes are so damn genius.
“The cons of angel food cake are that it involves a lot of egg separating and a lot of careful mixing to to make sure you don’t deflate the batter,” recipe developer Erin McDowell tells us. “But with these cupcakes, all the amounts are smaller, so that mixing happens really quickly. They also bake really fast, unlike traditional angel food cakes, which can take over an hour.” Even better, the whipped cream frosting stays firm, thanks to the addition of freeze-dried strawberries. “They’re great for parties, picnics and summer events because you don’t have to worry about that whipped cream deflating on you after ten minutes.”
Oh, and did we mention they taste like strawberry clouds?
- Prep: 10 min
- Cook: 20 min
- Total: 30 min
- 12 servings
Cupcakes
- 6 large egg whites
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ cup (99g) granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup (57g) cake flour
Frosting
- 1 cup (20g) freeze-dried strawberries
- ½ cup (57g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1⅓ cups (302g) heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1. Make the Cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup cupcake tin with paper liners. Do not grease the pan or the papers.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until frothy.
3. Begin to add the sugar gradually in a slow, steady stream. Add the salt and vanilla, then increase the speed to high and continue to whip the mixture to stiff peaks, about 5 minutes. (It should look white and shiny, not grainy.)
4. Using a silicone spatula, gently fold the cake flour into the egg whites by hand, adding a little at a time and folding until combined before adding the next addition.
5. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared liners, then transfer the tin to the oven. Bake the cupcakes until the tops spring back when touched, 18 to 20 minutes. Allow them to cool completely in the pan.
6. Make the Frosting: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the strawberries and confectioners’ sugar until they form a fine powder.
7. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whip the heavy cream and vanilla extract to medium peaks. Add the strawberry-sugar mixture to the cream and whip until incorporated. Spoon the whipped cream onto the cooled cupcakes.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until frothy.
3. Begin to add the sugar gradually in a slow, steady stream. Add the salt and vanilla, then increase the speed to high and continue to whip the mixture to stiff peaks, about 5 minutes. (It should look white and shiny, not grainy.)
4. Using a silicone spatula, gently fold the cake flour into the egg whites by hand, adding a little at a time and folding until combined before adding the next addition.
5. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared liners, then transfer the tin to the oven. Bake the cupcakes until the tops spring back when touched, 18 to 20 minutes. Allow them to cool completely in the pan.
6. Make the Frosting: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the strawberries and confectioners’ sugar until they form a fine powder.
7. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whip the heavy cream and vanilla extract to medium peaks. Add the strawberry-sugar mixture to the cream and whip until incorporated. Spoon the whipped cream onto the cooled cupcakes.
Cupcakes
- 60 calories
- 0g fat
- 12g carbs
- 2g protein
- 8g sugars
Frosting
- 107 calories
- 9g fat
- 6g carbs
- 1g protein
- 5g sugars
