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  6. Angel food cake vs. Pound cake

Angel food cake vs. Pound cake — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Article author photo Elen Khachatrian by Elen Khachatrian | Last updated on June 22, 2023
Medically reviewed by Ani Harutyunyan Article author photo Ani Harutyunyan
Angel food cake
vs
Pound cake

Summary

Angel food cake contains more magnesium, calcium, and Vitamin B2 than pound cake. It is also lower in cholesterol, saturated fats, and sugars.

Pound cake is richer in Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B family, folate, iron, and zinc.

It also has lower sodium.

Table of contents

  1. Introduction
    1. What's The Actual Difference?
      1. Nutrition
        1. Macronutrients
          1. Fats
            1. Carbs
              1. Calories
                1. Vitamins
                  1. Minerals
                    1. Glycemic Index
                      1. Health Impact
                        1. Diabetes
                        2. References

                          Introduction

                          We will discuss the main differences between angel food cake and pound cake, focusing on the nutritional value.

                          What's The Actual Difference?

                          Angel cake and pound cake have different ingredients, tastes, and appearances. 
                          Angel food cake is a sponge cake with egg whites, flour, and sugar. It differs from pound cake in that it contains no butter. The whipped egg white gives it an aerated texture. Pound cake's ingredients are t salt, flour, eggs, sugar, milk, butter, and vanilla. It has a sweet and buttery taste and a dense, velvety texture.

                          Nutrition

                          In this section, we will look into the differences between angel and pound cake nutrients. Find the nutrition infographics at the bottom of the page․

                          Specific food types used in this comparison are pound cake with butter and angel food cake.

                          Macronutrients

                          The chart below shows that angel food cake is richer in water and carbs. In contrast, pound cake contains more amounts of fats.

                          Macronutrient Comparison

                          Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
                          6% 58% 33% 2%
                          Protein: 5.9 g
                          Fats: 0.8 g
                          Carbs: 57.8 g
                          Water: 33.2 g
                          Other: 2.3 g
                          5% 14% 54% 26%
                          Protein: 5 g
                          Fats: 13.96 g
                          Carbs: 53.64 g
                          Water: 25.87 g
                          Other: 1.53 g
                          Contains more ProteinProtein +18%
                          Contains more WaterWater +28.3%
                          Contains more OtherOther +50.3%
                          Contains more FatsFats +1645%
                          ~equal in Carbs ~53.64g

                          Fats

                          Pound cake contains more fats than angel food cake. It has 14g of fat, while angel cake provides 0.8g of fat.

                          Fat Type Comparison

                          Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
                          22% 13% 66%
                          Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 0.121 g
                          Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.071 g
                          Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.367 g
                          43% 27% 30%
                          Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 4.811 g
                          Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.02 g
                          Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 3.419 g
                          Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -97.5%
                          Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +4153.5%
                          Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +831.6%

                          Carbs

                          Both have high amounts of carbs. Angel cake has 58g of carbs per 100g, and pound cake contains 54g of carbs per 100g. If you're controlling your blood sugar levels, be mindful of eating these cakes.

                          Calories

                          Both are high in calories. However, pound cake has more calories, containing 353 calories per 100g, whereas angel food cake contains 258 calories per 100g.

                          Vitamins

                          The vitamin content of pound cake is richer than that of angel food cake.

                          It provides five times more Vitamin B12 and more Vitamin B5, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and folate.

                          On the other hand, angel cake contains more Vitamin B2.

                          Vitamin Comparison

                          Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
                          Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0% 0% 0% 0% 26% 113% 17% 12% 7.2% 7.5% 0% 26% 0%
                          Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0% 14% 13% 24% 43% 57% 30% 29% 8.3% 45% 4.3% 32% 36%
                          Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +97.2%
                          Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
                          Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +69.6%
                          Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +82.9%
                          Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +144.9%
                          Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +16.1%
                          Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +500%
                          Contains more FolateFolate +20%
                          ~equal in Vitamin C ~0mg

                          Minerals

                          Angel cake has more magnesium, potassium, copper, and calcium than pound cake.

                          The amount of calcium is two times higher in angel cake.

                          On the other hand, pond cake has more iron, potassium, zinc, and less sodium than angel cake.

                          Mineral Comparison

                          Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
                          Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 8.6% 42% 8.2% 20% 26% 1.9% 139% 98% 11% 40%
                          Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 5.7% 14% 13% 56% 14% 12% 60% 49% 14% 27%
                          Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +50%
                          Contains more CalciumCalcium +197.9%
                          Contains more CopperCopper +85.7%
                          Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +131.4%
                          Contains more SeleniumSelenium +46%
                          Contains more PotassiumPotassium +60.2%
                          Contains more IronIron +184.6%
                          Contains more ZincZinc +514.3%
                          Contains less SodiumSodium -49.7%
                          Contains more ManganeseManganese +29.4%

                          Glycemic Index

                          The GI of pound cake is 54, whereas the GI of angel cake is unknown. However, both are high in carbs, so it is better to avoid too much consumption. Check our glycemic index chart page for more information about other foods' GI. 

                          Health Impact

                          Of these two cakes, angel cake is a healthier choice because it has no butter and also contains a good amount of fats and fiber. Besides, it has a low saturated fat and cholesterol content and is high in riboflavin and phosphorus [1]. Nevertheless, it is high in carbs, so be mindful of its consumption.

                          Diabetes

                          According to research [2], consuming highly processed foods high in simple carbohydrates may significantly increase blood sugar levels in people with type 1 and 2 diabetes. So it is better to avoid them if you have diabetes or comorbidities.

                          References

                          1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19646042/
                          2. https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/27/9/2266/22648/Dietary-Carbohydrate-Amount-and-Type-in-the
                          Article author photo Elen Khachatrian
                          Education: Nutrition & Microbiology at YSU
                          Last updated: June 22, 2023
                          Medically reviewed by Ani Harutyunyan

                          Infographic

                          Angel food cake vs Pound cake infographic
                          Infographic link

                          Comparison summary table

                          Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
                          Angel food cake Pound cake
                          Lower in Sodium ok
                          Lower in Glycemic Index ok
                          Rich in vitamins ok
                          Lower in Cholesterol ok
                          Lower in Sugar ok
                          Lower in Saturated Fat ok
                          Lower in price Equal
                          Rich in minerals Equal

                          All nutrients comparison - raw data values

                          Nutrient Angel food cake Pound cake Opinion
                          Calories 258kcal 353kcal Pound cake
                          Protein 5.9g 5g Angel food cake
                          Fats 0.8g 13.96g Pound cake
                          Net carbs 56.3g 53.04g Angel food cake
                          Carbs 57.8g 53.64g Angel food cake
                          Cholesterol 0mg 66mg Angel food cake
                          Vitamin D 34IU Pound cake
                          Magnesium 12mg 8mg Angel food cake
                          Calcium 140mg 47mg Angel food cake
                          Potassium 93mg 149mg Pound cake
                          Iron 0.52mg 1.48mg Pound cake
                          Sugar 33.36g Angel food cake
                          Fiber 1.5g 0.6g Angel food cake
                          Copper 0.078mg 0.042mg Angel food cake
                          Zinc 0.07mg 0.43mg Pound cake
                          Starch 17.36g Pound cake
                          Phosphorus 324mg 140mg Angel food cake
                          Sodium 749mg 377mg Pound cake
                          Vitamin A 0IU 241IU Pound cake
                          Vitamin A 0µg 70µg Pound cake
                          Vitamin E 0.65mg Pound cake
                          Vitamin D 0.8µg Pound cake
                          Manganese 0.085mg 0.11mg Pound cake
                          Selenium 7.3µg 5µg Angel food cake
                          Vitamin B1 0.102mg 0.173mg Pound cake
                          Vitamin B2 0.491mg 0.249mg Angel food cake
                          Vitamin B3 0.883mg 1.615mg Pound cake
                          Vitamin B5 0.198mg 0.485mg Pound cake
                          Vitamin B6 0.031mg 0.036mg Pound cake
                          Vitamin B12 0.06µg 0.36µg Pound cake
                          Vitamin K 1.7µg Pound cake
                          Folate 35µg 42µg Pound cake
                          Trans Fat 0.192g Angel food cake
                          Choline 65.6mg Pound cake
                          Saturated Fat 0.121g 4.811g Angel food cake
                          Monounsaturated Fat 0.071g 3.02g Pound cake
                          Polyunsaturated fat 0.367g 3.419g Pound cake
                          Tryptophan 0.075mg 0.041mg Angel food cake
                          Threonine 0.248mg 153mg Pound cake
                          Isoleucine 0.312mg 0.204mg Angel food cake
                          Leucine 0.481mg 0.397mg Angel food cake
                          Lysine 0.364mg 0.198mg Angel food cake
                          Methionine 0.183mg 0.117mg Angel food cake
                          Phenylalanine 0.334mg 0.239mg Angel food cake
                          Valine 0.354mg 0.249mg Angel food cake
                          Histidine 0.131mg 0.117mg Angel food cake
                          Fructose 0.33g Pound cake
                          Omega-3 - EPA 0.001g Pound cake
                          Omega-3 - DHA 0.007g Pound cake
                          Omega-3 - ALA 0.372g Pound cake
                          Omega-3 - DPA 0.005g Pound cake
                          Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.015g Pound cake
                          Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.008g Pound cake
                          Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.004g Pound cake
                          Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 2.895g Pound cake

                          Which food is preferable for your diet?

                          ok
                          ok
                          is better in case of low diet
                          Angel food cake Pound cake
                          Low Calories diet ok
                          Low Fats diet ok
                          Low Carbs diet ok
                          Low Glycemic Index diet ok

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                          Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

                          The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
                          Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
                          16%
                          Angel food cake
                          26%
                          Pound cake
                          Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
                          39%
                          Angel food cake
                          26%
                          Pound cake

                          Comparison summary

                          Which food contains less Sodium?
                          Pound cake
                          Pound cake contains less Sodium (difference - 372mg)
                          Which food is lower in glycemic index?
                          Pound cake
                          Pound cake is lower in glycemic index (difference - 13)
                          Which food is richer in vitamins?
                          Pound cake
                          Pound cake is relatively richer in vitamins
                          Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
                          Angel food cake
                          Angel food cake is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 66mg)
                          Which food is lower in Sugar?
                          Angel food cake
                          Angel food cake is lower in Sugar (difference - 33.36g)
                          Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
                          Angel food cake
                          Angel food cake is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 4.69g)
                          Which food is cheaper?
                          ?
                          The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
                          Which food is richer in minerals?
                          ?
                          It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.

                          References

                          All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

                          1. Angel food cake - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172694/nutrients
                          2. Pound cake - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172704/nutrients

                          All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

                          Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.