National Angel Food Cake Day celebrates a dessert that has been popular in the U.S. since the 19th century. This cake is light and fluffy and is often served with some kind of sugar glaze or fruit topping. We like to think of it as the alter ego to devil’s food cakes, which are made with decadent chocolate. If you’re a fan of angel food cake, then you might want to give this holiday a try and celebrate it on October 10th.

The History of Angel Food Cake

Since the history of this holiday seemingly eludes us, we’ve decided to talk about the history of angel food cake. Most food historians believe that angel food cake was a derivation of many different cakes that were popular during the 19th century.

During this time, sponge cakes, silver cakes, and snow-drift cakes were all the rage, and angel food cakes seemed to be adapted from these cakes. What makes angel food cakes different from most cakes is that they don’t use butter.

It’s just a sponge cake that’s made with flour, sugar, and whipped egg whites. It also has cream of tartar added to it, which serves as a stabilizer for the egg whites and a whipping agent. It is then usually baked in a Bundt pan, although that’s not always necessary.

Although the angel food cake recipe has remained standard for many years, some chefs have begun to make adaptations to it. For example, the traditional angel food cake is usually made with either vanilla or almond extract, but some chefs have begun to use different types of extracts. The TV chef Alton Brown has an angel food cake recipe that uses orange extract instead of vanilla.

Facts About Angel Food Cake

Want some exciting facts about angel food cake? We’re sure you do, so we’ve provided the ones that we feel are the most fascinating below. Feel free to share the following facts with friends, family, and neighbors as you celebrate this holiday.

• Some historians believe that the first angel food cakes were baked by African American slaves in the American South.
• Other historians believe that angel food cake originated in southeastern Pennsylvania.
• Angel food cake was the favorite of Lucy Webb Hayes, the First Lady of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes.
• The name “Angel Cake” first appeared in the Boston Cooking-School Cook Book in 1884. In the 1886 edition, the name was changed to “Angel Food Cake.”

Observing National Angel Food Cake Day

If you want to observe National Angel Food Cake Day, then feel free to cut yourself a nice slice of this cake. If you want, you can purchase your cake from your local grocery store, but we highly recommend that you make your own. While you have your cake and are eating it too, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalAngelFoodCakeDay on social media to spread the word about it.