Delicious Angel Food Cake and Fruit Skewers

Growing up, my mom’s go-to dessert for summer gatherings was always angel food cake with fresh fruit on the side. She’d slice the cake, place it on plates, and let everyone add their own berries. It was simple, but we all loved it.

Recently, I discovered that putting the cake and fruit on skewers makes the whole thing more fun and portable. Plus, my kids are way more likely to eat fruit when it’s served on a stick – there’s just something about food on skewers that makes everything more appealing, especially to little ones.

What Kind of Angel Food Cake Should I Use?

Store-bought or homemade angel food cake will both work great for these skewers, so choose what fits your time and comfort level in the kitchen. If you’re going the store-bought route, look for a cake that’s light and springy when you gently press it – avoid any that feel dense or heavy, as that’s a sign they might be stale. Most grocery store bakeries make fresh angel food cakes daily, which is usually a better choice than the pre-packaged versions in the bread aisle. If you’re making it from scratch, just make sure your cake has cooled completely before cutting it into cubes for the skewers, otherwise it might fall apart or stick to your knife.

Options for Substitutions

This simple dessert can be customized in several ways depending on what you have available:

• Angel food cake: While homemade angel food cake is great, you can easily use store-bought. In a pinch, you could also use pound cake or vanilla sponge cake, though keep in mind these are denser options.
• Fresh strawberries and blueberries: The fruit options are super flexible! Try raspberries, blackberries, chunks of peach, pineapple, or even grapes. If fresh fruit isn’t available, you can use well-drained canned fruit, though fresh will give you the best results.
• Whipped cream: Cool Whip and homemade whipped cream work equally well here. You could also try vanilla yogurt, Greek yogurt, or even a fruit-flavored yogurt dip. For a dairy-free option, coconut whipped cream is a nice alternative.
• Skewers: If you don’t have skewers, you can simply layer the ingredients in cups or small bowls – it’ll taste just as good!

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Assembling

The biggest challenge when making fruit skewers with angel food cake is cutting the cake into pieces that are too small, which can cause them to crumble or fall off the skewers – aim for 1.5-inch cubes to ensure they stay intact. Another common mistake is assembling the skewers too far in advance, as the fruit juices can make the cake pieces soggy, so it’s best to prepare them no more than 2 hours before serving and keep them refrigerated. If you’re using wooden skewers, don’t forget to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before use to prevent splintering, and when threading the ingredients, leave a small space between each piece to make eating easier and create a more appealing presentation. For the freshest results, pat your fruit dry with paper towels before assembling, and serve the whipped cream on the side rather than directly on the skewers to prevent melting.

What to Serve With Angel Food Cake Skewers?

These light and sweet angel food cake skewers are perfect for summer entertaining, and there are lots of tasty ways to make them even more special. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side makes for an extra-cool treat, while a drizzle of chocolate sauce or caramel adds a touch of decadence. If you’re serving these at a party, put out some additional fresh berries and different dipping sauces (like raspberry coulis or lemon curd) so guests can customize their skewers. For brunch gatherings, I love serving these alongside a hot cup of coffee or some sparkling prosecco with a splash of fruit juice.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These fruit skewers are best enjoyed right after assembly, but if you need to make them a bit ahead, keep the assembled skewers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 hours. The angel food cake might get a little soft, but it’ll still taste good!

Prep Ahead: Want to get a head start? You can wash and cut the fruit up to 24 hours in advance – just keep them in separate containers in the fridge. The angel food cake can be cut into chunks a day ahead too, stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Wait to add the whipped cream until just before serving.

Leftovers: Already assembled skewers won’t keep well overnight since the fruit will make the cake soggy. If you have extra ingredients, store them separately – fruit in the fridge, cake in an airtight container at room temp, and whipped cream in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	0 minutes
Total Time	10-15 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 600-700
• Protein: 8-10 g
• Fat: 20-30 g
• Carbohydrates: 90-100 g

Ingredients

• 1 angel food cake
• Fresh strawberries
• Fresh blueberries
• Whipped cream or cool whip

Step 1: Prepare the Cake and Strawberries

Begin by cutting the angel food cake into 1-inch cubes.

Next, take the large strawberries and slice them in half.

If you have smaller strawberries, you can leave them whole.

Step 2: Assemble the Skewers

Take your kebab skewers and start threading the ingredients onto them.

You can alternate between the angel food cake cubes, strawberry pieces, and blueberries in any pattern you prefer.

Get creative with your arrangement for a visually appealing display.

Step 3: Serve with Whipped Cream

Once the skewers are assembled, arrange them on a serving platter.

Serve with a side of whipped cream for dipping to enhance the flavors and enjoy this delightful treat!