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National Angel Food Cake Day

Food · October 10

A day for angel food cake, the tall, airy sponge made from whipped egg whites, sugar and flour, with no butter or yolks.

National Angel Food Cake Day falls on Sunday, October 10, 2027. That is 348 days away.

Angel food cake is a sponge cake built almost entirely on air. The batter is egg whites whipped with sugar until glossy and stiff, then folded gently with a little flour. There is no butter and no yolk, which is why the crumb comes out so white and so light.

It bakes in a tall tube pan, the kind with a hollow center post. The center helps heat reach the middle, and the ungreased sides give the rising batter something to climb. When it comes out of the oven, bakers turn the pan upside down and let the cake cool hanging that way, so it does not sink under its own weight. A cake that stands on its head to keep its shape has earned some respect.

The texture is springy and a little chewy, closer to a cloud than a pound cake. Because it is so plain, it takes well to company. Berries and whipped cream are the usual pairing, and a spoonful of fruit sauce soaks into it nicely. Some people tear it by hand rather than slice it, since a regular knife can squash the airy crumb. A serrated knife used with a gentle sawing motion works better.

Leftover slices get a second life when toasted lightly in a pan, which crisps the outside and keeps the center soft.

Ways to celebrate

• Try baking angel food cake in a tube pan at home.
• Top a slice with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
• Toast a leftover slice in a dry pan for crisp edges.
• Share a cake with neighbors or coworkers.

Dates

All national days on October 10

Also on October 10

• National Cake Decorating Day
• National Handbag Day

Categories: Food days