How to Make Toasted Angel Food Cake with Strawberries - A Step-by-Step Guide

Angel food cake is a light and delicate dessert that's perfect for warm weather. But why not take it up a notch with a simple and delicious twist? Toasting slices of angel food cake and topping them with juicy strawberries creates a dessert that's both elegant and easy to make.

Not only is this recipe a fantastic way to elevate a classic dessert, but it's also a great option for those looking for a gluten-free treat. By using angel food cake instead of traditional wheat-based cake, th...

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Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups white sugar
  • 1 cup cake flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 12 egg whites, at room temperature
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1 ½ (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup butter, softened
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar, divided
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • ¾ cup sliced fresh strawberries
  • ¾ cup fresh blueberries
  • ¾ cup fresh blackberries
  • ¾ cup fresh raspberries
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 6 fresh strawberries with leaves
  • 12 black sugar pearls (such as Wilton® sprinkles)
  • 1 teaspoon stiff white decorator icing (such Wilton® Bright White), or as needed
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Additional Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 6 slices

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Place 1 3/4 cups sugar in a food processor and blend until superfine, about 2 minutes.
  • Sift half the fine sugar, cake flour, and salt together in a bowl.
  • Whisk egg whites, water, cream of tartar, and lemon extract together in a large bowl for 2 minutes. Beat in remaining fine sugar using an electric mixer until medium peaks form. Sprinkle some of the flour mixture on top; stir in gently. Repeat with the rest of the flour mixture. Spoon batter carefully into an ungreased fluted tube pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Invert onto a cooling rack and let cool completely, at least 25 minutes.
  • Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter together in a bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and creamy. Add lemon juice; beat until just blended. Gradually mix in all but 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar on low speed until frosting is just blended. Stir in lemon zest.
  • Mix 3/4 cup strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries thoroughly in a bowl with 2 tablespoons white sugar.
  • Cut a curved, smile-shaped line near the bottom of each whole strawberry; carefully cut another, flatter curve above. Connect the two curves and carve out space between to create the smile. Leave room above the smile and below the leaves for eyeballs.
  • Place reserved 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar in a small bowl. Dust hands with sugar and roll a tiny amount of stiff decorator icing between your fingers into a small ball. Place it on the strawberry, above the smile. Make another ball and stick it next to the first one. Stick 1 black sugar pearl onto each frosting ball to create eyes. Repeat with remaining whole strawberries.
  • Remove cake carefully from the pan, scraping edges from side if needed. Slice into 6 slices about 2 inches thick. Spread 2 tablespoons butter equally on the outside of the slices.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a cake slice; toast until lightly browned, about 1 minute per side. Place toasted cake on a plate. Spoon some frosting on top and let it drip down. Spoon sugared berries around the cake and place a smiling strawberry on top. Repeat with remaining cake slices, frosting, and berries.
  • Nutrition

    502 cal.

    • Total Fat: 16g
    • Saturated Fat: 10g
    • Cholesterol: 46mg
    • Sodium: 234mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 85g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Total Sugars: 71g
    • Protein: 7g
    • Vitamin C: 19mg
    • Calcium: 38mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 239mg