The ultimate light and airy vanilla cake, this gluten free angel food cake is made with the simplest ingredients, in just the right amounts. Let me show you how to make the perfect fluffy white cake for serving with fresh fruit and cream, or chopping up for a trifle!
Gluten and dairy free, angel food cake is made with nothing more than egg whites, gf flour, confectioners' sugar and salt, in just the right combination. What could be simpler or more perfect for any celebration!
What makes this gluten free angel food cake special?
Impossibly light but never dry, glute free angel food cake is made for warm weather weekends. Slice it thick, and serve it with seasonal fresh berries and cream.
Cube it, and serve it as a parfait. And if you ask my kids, serve it for breakfast: it's practically health food since it's made almost entirely of miles of whipped egg whites.
A good gluten free angel food cake is light as air, and will never, ever leave you feeling heavy and regretful on a hot day—or any day.
Is angel food cake gluten free?
No! Any regular angel food cake that you might find is made with some form of wheat-based flour, making it not safe for anyone on a gluten free diet.
Plus, any recipe that has gluten free flour but doesn't specify that it's for a gluten free angel food cake will not make a gluten free angel food cake, either. If it's not labelled gluten free, there's a risk of cross contamination somewhere in the production process.
Tips for making the perfect gluten free angel food cake
There's a particular rhythm to making a classic angel food cake. You can of course read through the recipe instructions or watch the video and learn the step-by-step.
How to make light and fluffy angel food cake batter
Here's the bird's eye view of how to make the batter for gluten free angel food cake: It has two parts, sifting the flour blend and half the confectioners' sugar together (4 times!), and whipping the egg whites with some water, some flavoring, and the other half of the powdered sugar together.
Then, you combine the two parts by hand by carefully folding the lovely, fluffy, sifted dry ingredients into the puffy, fluffy egg whites. Transfer the mixture to the tube pan, and run a flat edge through the batter to break any too-large air bubbles. And voila! You've got a gluten free angel food cake ready for the oven!
How to handle your gluten free angel food cake after it's baked
Gluten free angel food cake must be cooled in the pan, upside down. The easiest way to do that is if your tube pan has 3 or 4 little feet that extend just beyond the lip of the pan. They're designed for this purpose.
If your pan doesn't have feet, simply invert the pan over the neck of a long neck bottle. The neck goes into the hole in the center of the tube pan.
Once the gluten free angel food cake has cooled, you'll need to separate it from the sides and the neck of the pan. Run a knife or offset spatula between the pan and the cake. You'll disturb the surface of the cake a bit, but that's meant to happen.
Why do you have to sift the dry ingredients to make a light gf angel food cake?
To make this cake a show-stopper, all you really have to commit to is to sift the dry ingredients 4 times. I hate sifting dry ingredients even once, but it's essential here.
An angel food cake is so simple and has so few ingredients, and its light and fluffy texture is the whole point here. Sifting the flour mixture removes any clumps, and aerates it so that it distributes almost effortlessly into the whipped egg whites.
Why do we need a tube pan to make gf angel food cake?
The best tube pan comes in two nonstick parts that fit together loosely: one part is the sides, with a hole in the bottom. The other part is the center column and bottom of the pan.
Place them together, and you have a complete pan, with tall sides and a tall center. These tall, nonstick but ungreased sides provide the perfect structure to support the light and fluffy cake batter, as it bakes.
I'm afraid to say that I tend to think of tube pans are semi-disposable as they always give out and start to stick after about 10 uses. I just accept it as a fact of life and make sure I buy an inexpensive 2-piece nonstick tube pan (that's an affiliate link; feel free to shop around!).
How to make gluten free angel food cake without a tube pan
If you don't have a tube pan, I don't recommend using another similarly-shaped pan like a bundt pan (someone always asks). Instead, you can divide the batter between two high-sided nonstick loaf pans, and start checking for doneness after 20 minutes.
You'll need to cool your angel food cake upside down on top of a wire rack, which won't elevate the cake as much as it should. You will have a harder time getting the cake out of the pan, but it shouldn't be impossible.
You can also try making our recipe for gluten free pineapple angel food cake, which is a bit heavier, and made in a round cake pan. Not only that, but you don't even have to sift the dry ingredients for that cake!
But even with the sifting, this recipe for angel food cake is so simple and never fails to impress. Let the celebrations begin!
Gluten free angel food cake: ingredients and substitutions
Sadly, you cannot make this light and fluffy gluten free angel food cake if you substitute any of the ingredients specified. This gluten free sponge cake only calls for flour, confectioners' sugar, and egg whites, and you simply can't make it without egg whites.
There are vegan recipes on the web (this vegan angel food cake recipe looks good, although I haven't tried it). But that's just an entirely different recipe—and that one isn't gluten free.
How to use up leftover egg yolks after making gf angel food cake
If you're separating 12 to 13 actual eggs to get enough egg whites to make this recipe for gluten free angel food cake, you are going to have a ton of egg yolks left over. Here are a few recipes that you can make with at least some of those egg yolks:
- Gluten free egg noodles will use 4 egg yolks
- Gluten free Swedish meatballs will use up 3 egg yolks
- The custard in this gluten free trifle will use a whopping 8 egg yolks; plus, you can use your gluten free angel food cake in the trifle in place of the gluten free pound cake.
- Creamy gluten free key lime pie uses 6 egg yolks
Gluten Free Angel Food Cake | Light and Fluffy
Equipment
- 10-inch cast aluminum nonstick tube pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup (140 g) 140 g gluten free cake flour (115 grams all purpose gluten free flour blend + 25 grams cornstarch) (See Recipe Notes)
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- 1½ cups (173 g) confectioner’s sugar (divided into two equal parts)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ¾ cups (430 g) egg whites (whites of about 12 eggs), at room temperature
- ⅓ cup (2 ⅔ fluid ounces) warm water
- 1½ teaspoons cream of tartar
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract (can substitute 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
- Berries and whipped cream for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Set a 10-inch nonstick tube pan (preferably a two-piece tube pan that has a removable bottom) to the side. Don’t grease or otherwise prepare it.
- Sift flour mixture 4 times. This is an essential step. Set a medium-size bowl and a piece of parchment paper side by side on a flat surface, along with a sifter.
- Sift the gluten free cake flour, xanthan gum, and ¾ cup (86 grams) of the confectioner’s sugar into the bowl. Remove the sifter, and sift the mixture again onto the parchment paper.
- Sift 2 more times for a total of 4 times between the bowl and the parchment. Add the salt, and whisk to combine.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the egg whites, warm water, cream of tartar and almond (or vanilla) extract until begging to foam (about 30 seconds).
- With the mixer on medium-high speed, add the remaining 3/4 cup (86 g) confectioner’s sugar in 3 or 4 batches, until soft peaks form (3 to 4 minutes).
- Once all the sugar has been added, increase the speed to high and beat until peaks become stiff and glossy, about another 2 minutes. The beater will begin to leave a trail in the whites. Remove the mixing bowl from the mixer.
- In 4 batches, add the sifted flour mixture to the meringue, gently folding it into the meringue with a silicone spatula after each addition. Work quickly but carefully, so as not to deflate the egg whites. The mixture should be fluffy but relatively stable.
- Carefully transfer the cake batter to the ungreased tube pan. Run a butter knife or small offset spatula carefully through the batter in a careful circular motion to release any trapped pockets of air. Smooth the top with a silicone spatula. The pan will be nearly full.
- Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven, and bake until a cake tester inserted near the center comes out clean, the top is lightly browned, and it springs back when pushed gently, about 35 minutes. Don’t overbake.
- Invert the pan over a long-neck bottle if your pan doesn’t have legs to elevate it from the counter when inverted. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for at least 1 hour.
- Re-invert the cake so it’s right-side up. Coax the cake away from the sides and neck of the pan with a butter knife or offset spatula (ideally, plastic, so you don’t scratch the pan).
- If your pan is in two parts, with removable sides, press upward on the cake bottom and remove it from the rest of the pan. Run a straight edge along the bottom of the cake to separate it from the bottom of the pan.
- Place a wire rack on top of the cake, then invert both onto a wire rack. Remove the bottom of the cake pan. Allow the cake to finish cooling to cool to room temperature.
- Slice the cooled cake with a large serrated knife. For a clean cut, move the knife in one direction only, rather than sawing back and forth. Plate each slice with the optional berries and whipped cream and serve.
- Angel food cake freezes very well. You can wrap the whole, cooled cake tightly in freezer-safe wrap and freeze whole. You can also wrap individual slices tightly and freeze. Defrost at room temperature before serving.
Notes
Nutrition information is approximate, at best, and calculated for the entire cake. Divide by the number of slices into which you slice the cake.
Nutrition
Gluten Free Angel Food Cake | Light and Fluffy
Equipment
- 10-inch cast aluminum nonstick tube pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup (140 g) 140 g gluten free cake flour (115 grams all purpose gluten free flour blend + 25 grams cornstarch) (See Recipe Notes)
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- 1½ cups (173 g) confectioner’s sugar (divided into two equal parts)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ¾ cups (430 g) egg whites (whites of about 12 eggs), at room temperature
- ⅓ cup (2 ⅔ fluid ounces) warm water
- 1½ teaspoons cream of tartar
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract (can substitute 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
- Berries and whipped cream for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Set a 10-inch nonstick tube pan (preferably a two-piece tube pan that has a removable bottom) to the side. Don’t grease or otherwise prepare it.
- Sift flour mixture 4 times. This is an essential step. Set a medium-size bowl and a piece of parchment paper side by side on a flat surface, along with a sifter.
- Sift the gluten free cake flour, xanthan gum, and ¾ cup (86 grams) of the confectioner’s sugar into the bowl. Remove the sifter, and sift the mixture again onto the parchment paper.
- Sift 2 more times for a total of 4 times between the bowl and the parchment. Add the salt, and whisk to combine.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the egg whites, warm water, cream of tartar and almond (or vanilla) extract until begging to foam (about 30 seconds).
- With the mixer on medium-high speed, add the remaining 3/4 cup (86 g) confectioner’s sugar in 3 or 4 batches, until soft peaks form (3 to 4 minutes).
- Once all the sugar has been added, increase the speed to high and beat until peaks become stiff and glossy, about another 2 minutes. The beater will begin to leave a trail in the whites. Remove the mixing bowl from the mixer.
- In 4 batches, add the sifted flour mixture to the meringue, gently folding it into the meringue with a silicone spatula after each addition. Work quickly but carefully, so as not to deflate the egg whites. The mixture should be fluffy but relatively stable.
- Carefully transfer the cake batter to the ungreased tube pan. Run a butter knife or small offset spatula carefully through the batter in a careful circular motion to release any trapped pockets of air. Smooth the top with a silicone spatula. The pan will be nearly full.
- Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven, and bake until a cake tester inserted near the center comes out clean, the top is lightly browned, and it springs back when pushed gently, about 35 minutes. Don’t overbake.
- Invert the pan over a long-neck bottle if your pan doesn’t have legs to elevate it from the counter when inverted. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for at least 1 hour.
- Re-invert the cake so it’s right-side up. Coax the cake away from the sides and neck of the pan with a butter knife or offset spatula (ideally, plastic, so you don’t scratch the pan).
- If your pan is in two parts, with removable sides, press upward on the cake bottom and remove it from the rest of the pan. Run a straight edge along the bottom of the cake to separate it from the bottom of the pan.
- Place a wire rack on top of the cake, then invert both onto a wire rack. Remove the bottom of the cake pan. Allow the cake to finish cooling to cool to room temperature.
- Slice the cooled cake with a large serrated knife. For a clean cut, move the knife in one direction only, rather than sawing back and forth. Plate each slice with the optional berries and whipped cream and serve.
- Angel food cake freezes very well. You can wrap the whole, cooled cake tightly in freezer-safe wrap and freeze whole. You can also wrap individual slices tightly and freeze. Defrost at room temperature before serving.
Notes
Nutrition information is approximate, at best, and calculated for the entire cake. Divide by the number of slices into which you slice the cake.
Kathleen says
looks great can i use liquid egg whites from the dairy dept in a grocery store?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Kathleen, that’s a good question! I have had success with some brands of egg whites in the carton, and not with others. I believe that the problem is that they are pasteurized, so they don’t generally whip well. I would highly recommend going with the whites from whole eggs.
Kathleen says
I used the container of egg whites and it was delish Plan to make another this week. Works great AND it did not last long. It was gobbled up in a few days.
Susan says
I made this cake last week and it was a home run! My non-GF friends loved it and were very impressed that I made angel food cake let alone a Gluten free one. Thanks for the recipe I will be making it again soon. I used the egg yolks to make a fabulous lemon curd to spoon over the cake with fresh raspberries! It was gone in a flash with everyone asking if there was more.
Nicole Hunn says
That’s so great to hear, Susan. Great use of the yolks!
Pat Y says
Nicole, Thank you this sounds quite good, I may be able to have strawberry shortcake this year🙃. I do have a question, I can’t have cornstarch, so can tapioca starch, arrowroot or potato starch be sustituted for it? Thanks again.
Nicole Hunn says
You can try using arrowroot, Pat. Good luck!
Kasey K says
Made this with Caputo Fioreglut flour and it turned out terrific. So soft and fluffy! My wife loved it as her birthday cake. I made a half recipe and baked it in a loaf pan.
Marianne Wingfield says
Thank you so much, Nicole!! This is the ABSOLUTE best GF Angel Food Cake! Trust me, I’ve made many over the years (my husband’s favourite!), some from scratch & some from a GF mix, & None can hold a candle to your recipe. It has become a staple in our dessert repertoire :-)
Nicole Hunn says
I’m so glad to hear that, Marianne! Unfortunately, boxed mixes, especially for more of a specialty cake, don’t work well. I think they work overtime to make it really easy, and end up sacrificing a good result.
Chrystel says
I love this recipe!! I first made this for a gluten-free coworker’s birthday, and she absolutely loved it, as well as the rest of the team. I was super impressed with the texture, and bake itself went super well. 10 out of 5 stars!
Nicole Hunn says
Hahaha, Chrystel, thank you for letting me know! Angel food cake, made properly, is surprisingly delicious. So glad it turned out so well for you, and that coworker is lucky to have such a caring friend.
Michelle says
Is the video attached here? I can’t seem to see it.
Thank you for the recipe!
Nicole Hunn says
Yes, there’s a video, Michelle, but if you have an ad blocker on, you won’t see it. BTW, please don’t use an ad blocker. It’s the only way I make money for my work on this site. :)
Jeannette Jorgensen says
Can you make these as cupcakes?
Jeannette
Nicole Hunn says
I don’t recommend that, no, Jeannette. I have a recipe for tiramisu cupcakes that I think will give you what you’re looking for!
Donna Milner says
So what gluten -free dish did you make with the 12 egg yolks?
Nicole Hunn says
I often make custard, like I just did last night, Donna. Or gluten free key lime pie! You can also make semifreddo, which is amazingly delicious.
youngbaker says
hi nicole, this cake looks LOVELY. I don’t have a tube pan was wondering, can be in a bunt cake pan?
Margaret says
I made this recipe when you first posted it a few years ago. I have made it many times since then. And I even made it a week ago–before you posted the recipe again. Each time it comes out perfect. No one can tell the difference! That is just the way I like it. I have made one recent change though. I now have a new Kitchenaid mixer–and this one is 6 quarts instead of 5. While all those egg whites worked well even though they crept up the beater bar in the 5-quart mixer, the 6-quart does a better job and all the egg whites stay in the bowl. This recipe was perfect for a first run on my new mixer. Here’s a trick I learned way back in high school (more decades in the past than I want to talk about). Separate the eggs when they are cold but let them get to room temperature before beating and they will have more volume. It works every time and so does this recipe! Thanks Nicole!
Walktallpilates says
Just found your blog. Looks great, and your recipes look like fun. Thankyou!
Karen says
Memorial Day will be delicious. I just ordered a tube pan and it will be here Sunday! Thank you so much for all of your wonderful recipes.
Ann C says
OMG, you read my mind! My mouth is watering just thinking about this!!
Gesci says
I wonder why you’ve had so much trouble with tube pans? I’ve been using the same one for 13 years now, a 2-piece, and i make angel food cake frequently. I just run a plastic icing knife around the edges to loosen the cake and it retains the chewier golden crust no problem. I’ve got a GF friend now, though, and I’ve been meaning to try to make an angel food cake for her- thanks for sharing your recipe!
Amber Kirkpatrick says
Could I use a different starch than corn starch to achieve the same (or similar) lightness? Tapioca or arrowroot perhaps?
Mel says
Angel food cake is my favorite ever. Ever, ever. Your gluten-free cake looks magnificent (as always!). I’ll be sitting here waiting for you to make a chocolate version. I hate to quote you but you did say: All you really need is the right recipe. That’s where I come in. :)
Ann C says
Ooh, I SO agree!
Lauren Morra says
Yay! Angel food cake!!! This is such a perfect spring cake and our strawberries are ripening just in time. Thanks so much, I don’t know when I last had an angel food cake :)