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

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

Pound cake

1

Protein: 5 g

Fats: 13.96 g

Carbs: 53.64 g

Water: 25.87 g

Other: 1.53 g

Angel food cake

4

Protein: 5.9 g

Fats: 0.8 g

Carbs: 57.8 g

Water: 33.2 g

Other: 2.3 g

Contains more FatsFats

+1645%

Contains more ProteinProtein	+18%
Contains more WaterWater	+28.3%
Contains more OtherOther	+50.3%

~equal in Carbs ~57.8g

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

Pound cake

2

Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 4.811 g

Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.02 g

Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 3.419 g

Angel food cake

1

Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 0.121 g

Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.071 g

Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.367 g

Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat	+4153.5%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat	+831.6%

Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat

-97.5%

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.

Pound cake

11

Angel food cake

1

Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A	+∞%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E	+∞%
Contains more Vitamin DVitamin D	+∞%
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 Vitamin KVitamin K	+∞%
Contains more FolateFolate	+20%
Contains more CholineCholine	+∞%

Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2

+97.2%

~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.

Pound cake

5

Angel food cake

5

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%

Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium	+50%
Contains more CalciumCalcium	+197.9%
Contains more CopperCopper	+85.7%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus	+131.4%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium	+46%

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.