How to Improve Boxed Angel Food Cake Mix

Did you know angel food cake has been an American favorite since the 1800s? The subtle flavor and fluffy texture continue to win over the hearts of sweet-tooths all over. And since now you can find pre-made batter mixtures at most grocery stores, baking one has never been easier.

But what if you could make this crowd-pleasing cake even better? Yes, it’s possible. Here’s what you need to know about how to improve boxed angel food cake mix.

5 tips for baking the best angel food cakes

Before we can show you how to make angel food cake mix better, let’s perfect a few techniques. Baking is a precise science, after all. Getting these steps right ensures you end up with a delicious cake every single time.

1. Add the right amount of water

The first step of making angel food cake is adding water to the dry mixture. Each brand has its own guidelines, so make sure to read the instructions on the back of the box. Usually, that’s somewhere between 1c and 1.5c.

2. Avoid mixing by hand

It’s not a good idea to whisk your angel food cake mix by hand. For starters, you’d need to whisk it quickly for a few minutes straight. Unless you’re looking for an intensive arm workout, you’d most likely get tired and frustrated halfway through.

Secondly, the mixture needs to be whisked until you see peaks form. The most important ingredient in any boxed mix is egg whites. If you can’t get them to the right consistency, the cake won’t be light and delicate. As you may know from experience, this is very hard to do right by hand, so it’s best to play it safe and use a standing or hand mixer.

3. Use the right baking pan

More often than not, your angel food cake box will say what size cake pan to use. Usually, angel food cakes are baked in deep flat-bottomed pans with a tube insert in the middle. Follow those instructions, if you can. Manufacturers put a lot of time and money into product research, so they know what size pans yield the best results. Using a pan that’s too big won’t let the cake rise high enough. A pan that’s too small will lead to spilling and a ruined cake.

4. Follow the package baking times

Read the package you bought to know for how long the angel food cake needs to be baked. Stick to those instructions to get the best results. When the cake is ready, the batter should be set and the top golden and slightly cracked.

5. Let the pan cool upside down

This is a crucial step that many home cooks don’t know about. Carefully flip over the pan and suspend the middle tube on a glass bottle. Make sure nothing will knock over your creation and walk away. The cake should take 2 hours to cool, but it could take longer on a summer day. Once it’s cool, you can ease the cake out of the pan by running a sharp knife along the sides of the pan. It should slide out easily.

Change things up with exciting ingredients

Now comes the fun, creative part. Here are some recipe ideas that will show you how to make angel food cake mix better.

1. Chocolate angel food cake

This chocolate angel food cake is decadent but easy to make if you have a boxed mixture in your pantry. Whisk in 1/3c of cocoa powder into the mixture and bake. Then, once the cake has cooled, melt 6oz of your favorite chocolate bar with 1/2c heavy cream and pour on top.

2. Pineapple angel food cake

Give your boxed angel food cake mix a summery twist by adding a can of crushed pineapple to it. Gently fold it into the whisked batter, careful not to deflate the mixture. If you over-whisk it, the cake will turn out chewy and dense.

3. Strawberry compote angel food cake

Cut an angel food cake horizontally into 2 or 3 sections. Then, spread a generous layer of strawberry compote or jam over each disk and reassemble the cake. Finally, top with whipped cream and decorate with fresh strawberries.

4. Angel food strawberry Swiss roll

This recipe idea takes more time, but it’s completely worth the effort. Start by baking the angel cake batter on a rectangular baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake until the top is golden and cracked and immediately remove from the pan.

While it’s still hot, carefully wrap it to look like a Swiss roll (use a clean tea towel to help you). Then, while it cools, combine whipped cream, a few drops of vanilla extract, and strawberry jam. Gently unfold the roll and layer the creamy strawberry mixture on it. Roll back up and serve.

5. Upside-down peaches-and-cream angel food cake

Hack two popular desserts at once by making an upside-down peaches-and-cream angel food cake. Coat peach slices in brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and cloves. Spread it on a lined rectangular pan and cover it with your whipped angel food mixture. Bake until the cake has set and top with sweetened heavy cream. Simple, right?

Experiment with your boxed angel food cake mix

There’s plenty you can do with boxed angel food cake mixes. From whisking jams and crushed fruit into the batter to taking inspiration from other iconic desserts, the sky is the limit! If you’re feeling inspired, there’s nothing better than trying out your own flavor combinations. Who knows, you could end up with a brilliant family recipe that gets passed down as an heirloom.

Buy the ingredients you’re missing to bake your elevated angel food cake mix via Instacart. All it takes is a few clicks, and you don’t even need to leave your house. Thanks to same-day delivery, your groceries could be at your doorstep in as little as 2 hours.

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