Angel food cupcakes taste just like the cake, but they bake in half the time! My recipe includes an optional homemade whipped cream for topping. They taste great plain too!Recipe includes a how-to video!
Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, cake flour, and corn starch; set aside.
⅔ cup powdered sugar, ½ cup cake flour, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
In a large (completely clean, dry, and grease-free) bowl mixing bowl, combine egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla and almond extracts, and salt. Use an electric mixer to beat on low-speed until combined.
¾ cups egg whites, ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar, ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon almond extract, ⅛ teaspoon salt
Slowly increase mixer speed to high, and once on high speed gradually add the granulated sugar, 1 Tablespoon at a time, mixing for about 20 seconds between Tablespoons.
½ cup granulated sugar
Beat until stiff peaks form. The meringue should be thick, glossy, sticky, and increased in volume. If you lift your beaters out of the batter, the peak that forms should hold its shape and not fold over or recede.
Add cake flour/sugar mixture and use a spatula to gently fold ingredients together until combined. Avoid over-mixing.
Divide batter evenly into the prepared cupcake liners, it is fine to overfill the liners, they will be very full.
Bake cupcakes on the center rack of your 375F (190C) oven for 16 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly touched, and any cracks on the surface look dry.
Turn off the oven and open the door several inches. Allow cupcakes to cool for 15-20 minutes in the oven before removing to cool completely in the cupcake tins.
Once cooled, carefully remove cupcakes. If desired, prepare whipped cream for topping.
Whipped Cream
Combine heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
1 ½ cups heavy cream, ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
Dollop or pipe frosting over cupcakes. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Cake flour
You may substitute all-purpose flour, you will need 55g or measure out ½ cup and then remove 1 Tablespoon.
Whipped cream
Add whipped cream to cupcakes only just before serving.
Storing
Store un-frosted cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. After frosting: Cupcakes won’t keep as well after whipped cream has been added, but you could store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Liners
The cupcake liners support the cupcakes, once removed from the liners they will slowly begin to sink in on themselves, so leave in the wrappers when serving.