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    Home » Recipes » Strawberry Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze

    Published: Jan 1, 2022 · Modified: Jan 18, 2022 by Cara Lanz · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Strawberry Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze

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    Strawberry Angel Food Cake

    A strawberry angel food cake is a light and refreshing taste of summer you can have any time of the year. This strawberry dessert recipe is made with just two ingredients -- an angel food cake box mix and frozen strawberries. Topped with a simple cream cheese glaze, this angel food cake recipe combines the classic strawberries and cream flavors for a delicious and easy dessert that just might become a new family favorite.  

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    You’re going to love this

    Strawberries and angel food cake. If you love the classic combination of fluffy angel food cake with fresh berries -- and maybe a dollop of Cool Whip or whipped cream -- you're in for a treat! This angel food cake dessert has all the same flavors, just rearranged in a different way. And instead of whipped topping, this strawberry cake is topped with a tangy cream cheese glaze.

    Easy dessert recipe. This 2-ingredient strawberry angel food cake dessert takes no time at all to make, with ingredients you can easily find at your local grocery store. Just add thawed frozen strawberries and water to the cake mix and you’re well on your way to a delicious strawberry cake. 

    Fancy enough for special occasions. Sure this strawberry angel food cake recipe starts with a box mix, but adding the strawberries and cream cheese glaze dresses it up enough for special occasions. And a light and airy angel food cake just might be a welcome relief from other heavy desserts.

    Frozen strawberries. Using frozen strawberries in this cake recipe means that you don't have to wait until strawberries are in season to make this cake. The frozen strawberries are ideal for this strawberry angel food cake because when they thaw, they are very, very soft so they break up easily with just a regular hand mixer.

    Healthy-ish. Relatively speaking, angel food cake is on the lighter side of things. So if you or anyone in your crew is trying to cut calories or fat from their diet, they can still work this strawberry angel food dessert into their plan. 

    Pretty dessert. This cake is pink so that automatically qualifies it as pretty. I was tempted to play around with food coloring to brighten up the pink hue, but I think the natural color of the strawberries is perfect just as it is. But if you’re going for something brighter, feel free to add a few drops of red dye to your mix. 

    Just the right amount of cream cheese glaze. The first time I made this cream cheese glaze recipe, I thought this could never be enough. I’m kind of a more-is-more person when it comes to frosting, anyway. But this is really just the right amount to cover the top and drip down the sides. 

    How to Make Strawberry Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze

    Preheat the oven according to the instructions on the cake mix box. 

    Place the thawed strawberries in a large bowl and mash them thoroughly with a fork.

    Add the water and angel food cake mix. Mix on low until combined, then on high for about 1 minute, until the batter is light and fluffy. 

    Place the batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan. Run a knife through the cake batter to deflate any air bubbles.

    Whenever I make angel food cakes with fruit in them, like this one or 2-Ingredient Orange Angel Food Cake, they tend to develop large air bubbles, which can cause the cake to collapse, have an uneven appearance, and well, just really big holes in it. So I recommend taking the time to do this.

    • strawberry angel food cake
    • strawberry angel food cake

    Bake the angel food cake according to the directions on the package, until the top is golden brown and the cracks are dry, usually around 35-45 minutes.

    Remove the strawberry angel food cake from the oven and immediately turn the pan upside down onto a baking rack or the neck of a bottle. If your angel food cake pan has feet on it, you can just invert it and let it cool upside down.

    It will take about two hours to for the cake to cool. Once the pan feels completely cool, run a thin knife around the edges to release the cake from the pan. It will be super moist because of the strawberries, so be gentle. 

    How to Make Cream Cheese Glaze

    Beat 4 ounces softened cream cheese until it is smooth and creamy. Beat in ½ cup sifted powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2-4 tablespoons milk until it reaches a glaze consistency.

    Spread cream cheese glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. 

    Strawberry Angel Food Cake
    Strawberry Angel Food Cake

    Strawberry Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze

    Cara Lanz
    A strawberry angel food cake is a light and refreshing taste of summer you can have any time of the year. The cake is made with just two ingredients -- an angel food cake box mix and frozen strawberries. Topped with a simple cream cheese glaze, this angel food cake recipe combines the classic strawberries and cream flavors for a delicious dessert you’ll make again and again.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 198 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Strawberry Angel Food Cake

    • 1 box angel food cake mix
    • 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries, thawed Measure the strawberries when frozen. When defrosted, you should have about one cup of mashed strawberries.
    • 1 cup water

    Cream Cheese Glaze

    • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
    • ½ cup powdered sugar, sifted
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2-4 tablespoons milk

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven according to the instructions on the cake mix box.
    • Thoroughly mash the thawed strawberries with a fork.
    • Add strawberries and water to the angel food cake mix. Mix on low until combined, about 30 seconds, then on medium for about 1 minute, until the batter is light and fluffy.
    • Place the batter into an angel food cake pan. Run a knife through the batter to deflate any air pockets.
    • Bake the cake according to the directions on the package, until the top is golden brown and the cracks are dry.
    • Remove from the oven and immediately invert the pan onto a wire rack or bottle -- basically, do what you need to do to keep it upside down while it cools so it doesn’t deflate. I’ve personally never had luck using a bottle for this particular maneuver, so I bought an angel food cake pan with feet on it.
    • When cool, run a knife around the edges to release the cake from the pan. It will be super moist because of the strawberries, so be gentle.

    Make the Cream Cheese Glaze

    • Beat 4 ounces softened cream cheese until it is smooth and creamy. Beat in ½ cup sifted powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2-4 tablespoons milk until it reaches a glaze consistency. Spread over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 343mgPotassium: 79mgFiber: 1gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 133IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Strawberry Angel Food Cake
    What else can I Put on this Angel Food Cake?

    There are so many tasty toppings you can put on a plain angel food cake -- or this strawberry angel food cake. Here are 9 fun things to put on angel food cake:
    1. More strawberries! Fresh strawberries will amplify the strawberry flavor of this delicious strawberry dessert.
    2. Blueberries. There's nothing better than angel food cake with strawberries and blueberries, so it only makes sense that fresh blueberries or a blueberry sauce will taste amazing on this strawberry cake.
    3. Chocolate. A drizzle of chocolate ganache over the cream cheese glaze would be so decadent, wouldn't it? So would chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips -- plus, you'd get some crunch factor!
    4. Lemon. Lemon and strawberries are natural-born BFFs, so a swirl of lemon curd or some lemon zest in the strawberry angel food cake mix would be delicious.
    5. Lime. Another citrus fruit that goes well with strawberries is lime. For a quick garnish, you could sprinkle some lime zest over the cream cheese glaze before it sets.
    6. Mint. Add some fresh chopped mint to the cake mix or as a garnish for an instant boost of bright flavor.
    7. Rhubarb. Serve your strawberry angel food cake dessert with a warm rhubarb compote.
    8. Pineapple. Some sliced grilled pineapple will bring all kinds of summery flavors to this angel food cake dessert.
    9. Balsamic vinegar + black pepper. If you've never tried balsamic vinegar on fresh strawberries, it's a delightful combo. Same with black pepper. Sounds weird, I know. But if you're at all curious, give it a try. Start with these roasted balsamic strawberries, and add some fresh cracked black pepper.

    Do I need a grease the pan for angel food cake?

    No, not at all. And in fact not only do you not need to, but you shouldn't grease the pan for making angel food cake. Because angel food cake rises so high as it bakes, it needs to be able to grab onto the pan. And if the pan is greased, it just won't have anything to hang onto.

    Why do you cool angel food cakes upside down?

    The reason for cooling an angel food cake upside down is so that it doesn't collapse. That's why a lot of angel food cake pans have feet on them, so you can rest it upside down.

    Can you make an angel food cake in a loaf pan?

    Absolutely! You will probably need two 9-inch loaf pans for one angel food cake recipe. When they come out of the oven, just rest the loaf pans on their sides to keep the cake from collapsing.

    How do you remove an angel food cake from the pan?

    Angel food cakes can seem like they're stuck in the pan because they don't just slide out like some others might. But it's really easy to remove an angel food cake from the pan.

    Here's what you do: Just run a knife around the outer edge of the cake and separate the two pieces of the pan. Then run your knife around the center hole and the bottom of the cake to loosen it from the tube section. Then invert the cake onto a serving plate.

    How do you make box angel food cake taste better?

    There are so many ways you can elevate a simple box angel food cake mix. This strawberry angel food cake is one.

    You can also mix in a can of oranges, like in this 2-Ingredient Orange Angel Food Cake recipe. Or stir in some pumpkin spice and pumpkin puree, like in this Pumpkin Angel Food Cake recipe. Or even add a whole bunch of chocolate, like in this Chocolate Angel Food Cake recipe.

    Can I freeze angel food cake?

    Yes!

    For an unfrosted cake, thoroughly wrap it in plastic. A couple of times, just in case. Then again in aluminum foil. You can store your angel food cake in the freezer for a couple of months. 

    You can also freeze a frosted angel food cake, depending on the type of frosting. Buttercream, cream cheese frosting, and ganache will all freeze fabulously. Just set the cake on a sheet pan in the freezer until it’s firm. If your freezer won’t hold an entire angel food cake, you can cut it in pieces. Once your cake (or pieces) are frozen firm, wrap them really well in plastic, then again in foil. 

    To defrost your cake, set it on the counter or in the fridge.

    When should I remove the pan from an angel food cake?

    Let the angel food cake cool completely in the pan before removing it. Otherwise, it could stick.

    Can I make angel food cake in advance?

    You bet! After you remove it from the pan, just cover it in plastic and store it at room temperature. If it’s frosted with cream cheese frosting or ganache, store it in the refrigerator.

    Hungry for More Easy Angel Food Cake Recipes?

    Orange Angel Food Cake with Honey Ricotta

    Pumpkin Angel Food Cake

    How to Make an Angel Food Cake Roll

    Recipe Essentials

    Nordic Ware Angle Food Cake Pan

    I recommend getting an angel food cake pan with feet on it, so you can easily invert it when it comes out of the oven. This is what I have.

    Baking Racks

    Whenever I'm icing or glazing something drippy, I like to place a baking rack over a sheet pan so the icing doesn't puddle around my cake or cookies or whatever.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mindy Fewless says

      March 30, 2022 at 2:09 am

      5 stars
      I could drink this glaze with a straw!! This was amazing!

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        March 30, 2022 at 6:35 pm

        Hi, Mindy! I'm so happy you loved the glaze! I do too ... I definitely call dibs on licking the bowl when I make this one! Thanks again :), Cara

        Reply
    2. Jess says

      March 30, 2022 at 1:50 am

      5 stars
      What a refreshing twist on a classic favorite!

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        March 30, 2022 at 6:32 pm

        Thanks, Jess, it means so much to me that you enjoyed it and took the time to drop a note :). Cara

        Reply
    3. Anita says

      March 30, 2022 at 1:44 am

      5 stars
      This is such an easy and delicious cake. It was already delicious even before adding the glazing.

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        March 30, 2022 at 6:32 pm

        Thank you, Anita, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! You're right, it's so good on its own -- I probably make it as often with the glaze as without.

        Reply
    4. rebecca says

      March 30, 2022 at 1:18 am

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! I usually just enjoy angel food cake with sliced strawberries, now I can have the double dose of strawberries + the tasty cream cheese glaze.

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        March 30, 2022 at 6:30 pm

        Hi Rebecca, thank you so much! Right, now you can double the strawberries in every bite :). Cara

        Reply
    5. Liz says

      March 29, 2022 at 11:15 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! what a perfect summer dessert. It is so easy to make with cake mix and using frozen strawberries is genius! My toddlers gobbled this cake up so quickly and was a delicious treat for them!

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        March 30, 2022 at 12:47 am

        Aw, thank you so much, Liz, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And it makes me so happy to know that your little ones loved it :).

        Reply
    6. Stacy says

      March 28, 2022 at 6:05 pm

      I have looked and looked for strawberry angel food cake. I have tried this recipe 4x and ALL 4X's it has fallen flat as pancake!!! I have tried cooking longer up to an hour and nothing helped. I would like to know what to try to keep it from falling.
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        March 28, 2022 at 9:49 pm

        Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that! I make this one a lot and have never experienced that. But here are a few thoughts that I hope will help you figure out the culprit. 1. Measure the strawberries when they are frozen. 2. Run a knife through the batter before baking, otherwise large air holes can develop, which can deflate the cake. 3. Rest the cake upside down until the cake has completely cooled. I like to give it a full two hours. I hope this helps you! Let me know, please! Cara

        Reply
    7. Tara says

      February 20, 2022 at 5:05 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely love the light texture of this cake! It sounds so good paired with the cream cheese glaze.

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 11:57 am

        Hi, Tara, thank you so much for your note! Strawberries and cream cheese are such a match made in heaven, I couldn't resist adding the glaze to this cake. Thank you! Cara

        Reply
    8. Vanessa says

      February 20, 2022 at 4:18 am

      5 stars
      Yum! This cake is delicious - love all the flavours! Also love how easy it is to make!

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 11:54 am

        Hi, Vanessa, Thank you so much for sharing your feedback -- it means so much to me that you enjoyed this yummy, easy strawberry cake!

        Reply
    9. veenaazmanov says

      February 20, 2022 at 2:12 am

      5 stars
      Delicious and yummy mix. So easy to make and I love the fruit combinations too. Glaze looks perfect. Best dessert for sure

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 11:49 am

        Thank you so much for your note, I'm thrilled that you enjoyed it! Cara

        Reply
    10. Cathleen says

      February 20, 2022 at 1:42 am

      5 stars
      I love how simple this recipe is, and how few ingredients it has!! It is definitely going to be a staple in my house from now on!!

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 11:48 am

        Hi, Cathleen, Thank you so much for letting me know how much you enjoyed it! Nothing like an easy cake mix hack to get to dessert as quickly as possible :). Thanks again, Cara

        Reply
    11. Kris says

      February 20, 2022 at 1:31 am

      5 stars
      This was so light and delicious! We really enjoyed it. Thank you. 🙂

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 11:40 am

        Hi, Kris, thank you for your note! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :). Cara

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love dreaming up easier, and sometimes healthier twists on dishes from the heartland.

    This is where I share my recipes, tips, and inspiration for a happy home.

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