Name: BA's Best Angel Food Cake
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup cake flour, sifted; ⅔ cup powdered sugar; 1¾ cups egg whites (from 12–14 large eggs); 1½ teaspoons cream of tartar; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ⅔ cup granulated sugar; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; Berries and whipped cream (for serving); A 10" tube pan

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Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley

Angel food cake is so simple, but the specific ingredients and equipment matter. Yes, you do have to use a tube pan and cake flour, and yes, you do need to sift the dry ingredients and cool the pan upside down. But it all pays off in this cloud-like cake with just the right amount of sweetness. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

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