Angel food cake with strawberries is a simple, make-ahead dessert that comes together in about 10 minutes and requires only five ingredients: fresh strawberries, store-bought angel food cake (or another soft cake), chocolate, cream, and butter for a quick chocolate dipping sauce. It’s perfect for summer barbecues, picnics, or a no-fuss after-school treat.
Angel food cake with strawberries
When I’m hosting, I want dessert to be effortless: something I can prepare ahead, ideally without turning on the oven. This recipe fits those criteria. You simply thread halved strawberries and cake cubes onto skewers, then serve with a warm chocolate dipping sauce made from chocolate, cream, and a touch of butter.
The combination of juicy strawberries and light, airy cake is a crowd-pleaser, and the dipping sauce adds a touch of indulgence without much effort. Kids can help assemble the skewers while you focus on the rest of the meal.
Recipe snapshot
- 10-minute, 5-ingredient, no-bake dessert
- What you’ll need: Strawberries, store-bought cake, chocolate, cream, butter, and wooden skewers
- Skill level: Super easy
- Servings: 4 to 5 (double the quantities for a larger crowd)
- Perfect for: BBQs, campfires, casual gatherings, or quick treats
About the ingredients
Full ingredient amounts appear in the recipe card below. Here’s a quick overview and tips for choosing ingredients.
Skewers: Use thin wooden skewers found in the BBQ aisle, or slim metal skewers if preferred. Avoid very thick skewers so the cake and berries slide on easily.
Strawberries: This is best in spring and summer when strawberries are ripe. Cut medium or large strawberries in half; use whole small berries.
Cake: Angel food cake is ideal because it’s light and springy, which helps it grip the skewer and pairs beautifully with fresh fruit. If you prefer, any pre-made soft cake works — madeira, pound cake, vanilla, or lemon cake cut into bite-sized cubes are all good alternatives.
Chocolate: A quick chocolate sauce is essential. Dark chocolate gives a less-sweet contrast to the fruit, but milk or white chocolate work fine if you prefer a sweeter sauce. Chocolate chips are fine too.
Cream and butter: Heat these together to create the base for the dipping sauce; the warm cream melts the chocolate into a glossy sauce.
How to make the skewers and chocolate sauce
Assembly is very straightforward.
1. Prepare the fruit and cake. Halve medium and large strawberries, or leave small ones whole. Cut the cake into cubes roughly the same width as the strawberry halves.
2. Thread the skewers. Alternate strawberry and cake pieces on each skewer until filled. Leave a little space at the handle end so they’re easy to hold.
3. Make the chocolate dipping sauce. Put butter and cream in a small microwave-safe jug or bowl. Heat in short intervals until warm and the butter has melted. Break the chocolate into pieces, add to the warm cream mixture, and let it sit for a minute or two to melt. Stir until smooth. Add a pinch of salt if you like to balance the sweetness.
4. Serve. Spoon the sauce into small bowls for dunking, or drizzle some over the assembled skewers before serving. Either approach works well—offer bowls for dipping if you want everyone to enjoy warm sauce.
These skewers are a fuss-free option that guests of all ages enjoy. They travel well to picnics and can be a fun alternative to s’mores at a campfire.
Helen’s top tips
- Prep ahead: Assemble skewers a few hours before serving and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make the sauce in advance and gently reheat just before serving.
- Use leftover sauce: Store extra sauce covered in the fridge. Once chilled, you can roll spoonfuls into simple truffles or drizzle the sauce over ice cream or cake.
- Try variations: Swap strawberries for other berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries) or soft fruits like pineapple or mango. Experiment with different cakes—lemon, chocolate, or Madeira all work. For a patriotic twist, alternate strawberries, cake, and blueberries.
More simple no-bake dessert ideas
- Thick Italian hot chocolate — a rich, spoonable treat
- No-bake caramel slice — great for feeding a crowd
- 10-minute no-bake chocolate truffle cake — elegant and fast
- Make-ahead cheesecakes — always a reliable party dessert
- Classic childhood favorites like peanut butter cereal bars or chocolate-covered rice crispy squares
Angel Food Cake With Strawberries (Chocolate Sauce)
Juicy strawberries and light cubes of angel food cake threaded onto skewers, served with warm chocolate dipping sauce. A 10-minute dessert that’s perfect for BBQs and casual gatherings.
Prep: 10 minutes Total: 10 minutes Servings: 4 to 5
Equipment
- Wooden skewers (or thin metal skewers)
- Microwave-safe jug or small saucepan and bowl
Ingredients
For the skewers
- 10 wooden skewers
- 24 strawberries, halved (about 1 lb)
- 1 lb angel food cake, cut into cubes (or other soft cake)
For the warm chocolate dipping sauce
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup heavy cream (or thickened/double cream)
- 3½ oz (about 100 g) chocolate (dark, milk, or semi-sweet)
- Pinch of salt (optional)
Instructions
- Thread the halved strawberries and cake cubes onto the skewers alternately.
- Combine the butter and cream in a microwave-safe jug or small saucepan. Heat until warm and the butter has melted, stirring occasionally.
- Break the chocolate into pieces and add to the warm cream and butter. Let sit for a minute to soften, then stir until smooth. Add a pinch of salt if desired.
- Pour the sauce into small bowls for dipping, or drizzle over the skewers. Serve immediately while the sauce is warm.
Notes
Make-ahead: Assemble skewers a few hours ahead and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat the sauce gently before serving if it’s been chilled.
Alternatives: Try pineapple, mango, blueberries, or other cakes such as lemon or chocolate. Leftover sauce can be chilled and shaped into truffles or used as a topping.
Nutrition (per serving, approximate)
Calories: 184 kcal • Carbohydrates: 6 g • Protein: 1 g • Fat: 17 g • Saturated fat: 10 g • Cholesterol: 44 mg • Sodium: 51 mg • Fiber: 1 g • Sugar: 3 g