My mom used to make angel food cake a lot when I was a kid. It has a very distinct smell that comes from the egg whites and cream of tartar. I remember her inverting the cake upside down and balancing the circular pan over a wine bottle on our back porch. And I remember loving the crunchy, sticky portions on the top that were browned and slightly over-done. I would pinch them off and eat them one spongy, sticky bite at a time.
My mom loves angel food cake, but I think she also loved that it was a healthier dessert option for my brother and I who were overweight from very young ages. Because to this day, my mom still NEEDS something sweet before bed…and angel food cake is far less damaging than some other choices.
Since Mr. Prevention entered the family, he has mom hooked on Twizzlers which luckily, interest me none at all. And the angel food cake that didn’t used to excite me, suddenly caught my eye. And, here we are.
Mom used to serve our angel food cake with Cool Whip. These cupcakes are topped with whipping cream beat into a fluffy, rich, mildly sweet cloud of finger-licking good. It’s similar to Cool Whip, but…better.
I opted to dye these red for the quickly approaching Valentine’s Day. I used about 2 teaspoons of red food dye and well, I’d say they are pretty red. Pretty, red, and pretty red 🙂
If you’re looking for a dessert that’s on the lighter side, it’s hard to beat a frosted cupcake for 81 calories and 2.2 grams of fat!
Angel Food Cupcakes slightly adapted from How Sweet It Is and Gourmet
Cupcakes:
12 large egg whites (1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 tsp cream of tarter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar (sift before measuring)
1 1/8 cups cake flour (sift before measuring)
1/4 tsp salt
Frosting:
1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Directions:
Let egg whites sit at room temperature for about one hour before beginning. While eggs are resting, measure out powdered sugar and flour, then sift powdered sugar, flour and salt together. Set aside. Line a cupcake tin (or two) with cupcake liners.
Preheat oven to 350 F and place rack in the bottom third of oven.
Using an electric or stand mixer, beat egg whites until frothy. Once frothy, add in cream of tarter, then beat at medium speed until soft peaks form. This took me about 5-6 minutes. Gradually add granulated sugar with the mixer still on medium speed, continuing to beat until egg whites thicken a bit more with opaque, soft, droopy peaks. Then beat in vanilla extract.
Remove the bowl from the mixer and sprinkle 1/3 of the dry ingredients over the egg whites. Fold gently with a spatula until combined completely. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients.
Once batter is smooth, pour heaping scoops of batter into each liner — they won’t rise much, if any. Bake for 18-19 minutes, or until tops are golden brown. Let cool completely.
To make the frosting, beat the frosting ingredients on high until fluffy and thickened, about 4-5 minutes.
Yield: 3 dozen frosted cupcakes.
Nutrition Information (per cupcake): 81 calories; 2.2 g. fat; 9 mg. cholesterol; 36 mg. sodium; 13.4 g. carbohydrate; 0 g. fiber; 1.6 g. protein
Result: Light and spongy. These angel food cupcakes require few ingredients and are fun to make. The recipe makes 36 cupcakes, so feel free to halve the recipe – this is what I did and I ended up with 18 cupcakes exactly. People ask me sometimes what a “good” recipe would be for a diabetic…this would be one of them! The only problem with these is that it’s that it’s hard to stop at just one! Enjoy!
[/print_this]For a little something different…Heather tagged me to answer 11 random questions and since I love reading others’ responses, I am going to play!
- What was your first date like? We went to TGIFridays. He ordered a French dip and it dribbled down his chin the ENTIRE meal. He insisted on paying, tried to kiss me, and I ended the evening as quickly as possible. As it would end up, we dated for 2+ years in high school and we’re still friends today – ha!
- Chocolate candy or fruit/gummy candy? Chocolate. That was an easy one.
- Newest food you tried? Bok choy – liked it!
- Cardio or strength? Cardio a million times over. I hate lifting.
- Biggest pet peeve? When I call someone and they ignore my call only to text me right back. Drives me bonkers and my brother does it all the time.
- Store you hate the most? Payless? They used to have cute shoes…I’ve not found anything I liked there in years.
- What did you want to be when you grew up as a kid? A teacher or a vet.
- Do you wear make up? Absolutely. I have blonde eyelashes and look scary without it!
- What’s the one thing you’d pick at a spa? foot massage…my feet always hurt. Thanks, plantar fasciitis!
- Favorite job you’ve had? Government health care for Native Americans…I learned so much about diabetes and met some truly amazing people in the process!
- One bucket-list recipe or cooking trick you want to learn how to do? I want to make Singapore Chili Crab and buns!
And since I really and truly do love reading people’s responses…I tag YOU! Please feel free to leave a comment answering one, some, or all of the above questions about you! I promise it’ll make my day 🙂
Don’t forget to come by tomorrow for a heart-healthy recipe in honor of February and National Heart Month…as well as a GIVEAWAY! 😀
Be well,
It’s very tempting to eat sweets and because of this recipe I have an option. Love the vibrant red color just in time for Valentine’s Day =)
I have such similar memories of my mom’s angel food cake. For us, it was a summer dessert, served with fresh strawberries (we never had cool whip in the house). I always wondered if you could make angel food cupcakes.
The cupcakes look yummy! And yay for the Singapore shout out 🙂
Ok, so these do look REALLLLY GOOD!! I love angel food cake, but I never would have thought to make them into cupcakes (until you said it the other night). I just can’t make cupcakes because if I Do they will be gone in a night (you know my cake and cupcake weakness…).
So when I first read about your “first date” I thought you were talking about your first date with Mark and I about DIEDDDDDD!
fav job I’ve had: working as a manager/lifeguard at a waterpark. SUCH fun summers being by the water 🙂
Wow 12 egg whites! ha These look light and fluffy! Love the nutritional profile but would hate to waste all those egg yolks!
you can make a hollandaise sause with all of those yolks!! (:
ya twizzlers…yuck…I don’t even consider them a candy….they are like plastic…lol I’m with you on chocolate though…sigh
These cupcakes are perfect for valentines day…and I LOVE the fluffy white cloud topping! 🙂
I loved reading your answers!! I’d pick a pedicure from a spa hands down. They are the best!
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Pedis are a close second, especially if they include a lil foot massage ;0)
Very pretty! My Grandma used to make/still does angel food cake all the time, it makes me think of her 🙂
What was your first date like? My first date with Matt involved us going to the movies (I think we saw The Butterfly Effect). He drove us there and I had forgotten my wallet in my car which I parked at his house. When I told him I left my wallet he gave me a mean, doubtful look and sighed in exasperation because he had to pay. I told him that I would pay him back and I did, the very next day, thinking he wouldn’t take my money. But he actually TOOK IT! I was convinced that he hated me and we would never go out again.
Chocolate candy or fruit/gummy candy? What’s ‘chocolate candy’? I pick chocolate if we’re talking something that’s good quality.
Newest food you tried? bibimbap: Korean rice with egg and veggies.
Cardio or strength? I like to push around heavy things.
Biggest pet peeve?When ladies get engaged or married and then stop talking to their girl friends. Not cool.
Store you hate the most?Wal-Mart. It’s always packed with cheap, pushy customers. The staff there act like they’re serving a prison sentence.
What did you want to be when you grew up as a kid?What didn’t I want to be. Some gems include: cashier (check!), puppeteer, and wax-figure maker for Mme Tussauds.
Do you wear make up? Sometimes on the weekend or if I’m doing something fancy but usually not. I’m too lazy to put it on and then have to wash it off before I workout.
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OMG! That first date story made my DAY! I just had to tell you…it was a CRAZY day and reading that was just what I needed 🙂
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Those cupcakes look amazing!! Perfect for Valentine’s Day – so pretty! 🙂
One bucket list recipe I want to make is croissants – I’ve made homemade Danish and puff pastry, but somehow never croissants! 🙂
These cupcakes are adorable! I haven’t had angel food cake in years but being on this “diet” has made me kind of crave sweets in the evening. This would be perfect! So cute for Valentines Day too!
These cupcakes are delightful! So cute!
The newest food I tried was jicama. I liked it! It was sweeter than I would have guessed.
My grandma always had angel food cake without icing as a snack when we went to visit. It was her thing. It’s also the birthday cake my dad requests every year. Our family is just obsessed with angel food…
I love red vines, but twizzlers, nope, they don’t do it for me. BUT, angel food cupcakes, these do it for me. Especially with REAL whip cream on top, YUM! What a cute little Valentine’s Day treat!
Wow, these are pretty. Love that vibrant color. I actually love angel food cake but don’t eat it very often. And I’ve never tried making it myself. Add that to my list of to-try’s 😀 I didn’t notice you mention food coloring, what kind did you use? I’ve heard some kinds don’t always work for baking? Or maybe I’m thinking of something else… I’m not a fan of any food dye, but for very special occasions I can make an exception 😀
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I just used standard dye…no gels or anything. I used 2 tsp. I didn’t include it in the recipe portion – sorry!
Growing up (okay and still to this day) angel food is my favorite cake. Every birthday I request it, and every birthday I get it.
Thanks for playing along, loved reading your answers! It’s cool that you wanted to be a teaching growing up, and you are one! Not only in class but educating your clients too.
Ahhh, these look so stinking cute!! Love them!
I love angel food cake. I’ve never made it for myself because I would for certain eat the whole thing way too fast, but somehow cupcakes seem less threatening. 🙂
I love these question games. I choose the first date one.
My first official date was a blind date and it was a disaster. We went out with my friend and her boyfriend, and the guy was so not someone I would ever go out with. He was way too interested in me, and kept touching me and calling me sweetheart. He tried to kiss me at the end of the night and I turned my head away. Then instead of going inside and hanging out with everyone some more, I went to pick up my drunk ex – fwb.
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LOL! I love it!
Mmm, your angel food cupcakes look fantastic! I love how they’re a much healthier dessert option…and they’re so pretty all dressed up for V-day! 🙂
Gorgeous cupcakes!
What was your first date like? blind date at Starbucks. Which moved on to TGIF Friday’s. And 6 hours later my mom was a bit worried 😉
Chocolate candy or fruit/gummy candy? Chocolate. Hands down.
Newest food you tried? hmmm….
Cardio or strength? lifting!
Store you hate the most? TJ Max. I’m jealous of everyone who claims to have good luck there.
What did you want to be when you grew up as a kid? A fashion designer!
Do you wear make up? daily.
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I’ve been on the hunt for something valentine’s day-ish but lighter to make for my dad and momma when I go home this weekend. THIS IS IT. Perfect in every way! My mom loooves angel food cake, but we usually only have it ( store bought) with fresh berries and cool whip in the summer. She’ll absolutely love this! Thank you thank you!
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Sarah: I’m so glad you found the perfect recipe to try 🙂 Thank you for your sweet comment!