All you want is 2 widespread components to make a simple cake flour substitute! With simply all-purpose flour and cornstarch, you’ll be again on monitor to baking the softest desserts and cupcakes.
The right way to Make a Cake Flour Substitute
The extra you bake, the extra you understand that after they say that cooking is an artwork, and baking is a science, they aren’t kidding! Even a easy change of components could make all of the distinction. In the case of the softest desserts and cupcakes, I’ve come to depend on cake flour for the tenderest outcomes.
On occasion, although, my inventory runs out. When that occurs, I make this crazy-easy cake flour substitute. All it takes is 2 widespread components: all-purpose flour and cornstarch.
What Is Cake Flour?
Cake flour is a low-protein flour that’s milled additional tremendous and comprises about 5-8% protein. In the meantime, all-purpose is barely greater, at 10-12%. In baking, the next protein content material means extra gluten improvement. Cake flour’s decrease protein content material means much less gluten, for a softer, moist crumb and fluffier texture. Right here’s a fast overview of the variations:
Cake Flour: Low-protein, which suggests much less gluten formation. This makes it a better option for desserts and cupcakes, for instance (see beneath for straightforward recipe concepts).
All-Function Flour: All-purpose flour is medium-protein, with average gluten consequently. This makes it an actual all-rounder, appropriate for all the things from chocolate chip cookies to pancakes.
Bread Flour: Bread flour has a excessive protein content material, which results in extra gluten formation. This makes it perfect for bread recipes with a more durable texture, like a homemade baguette.
Cake Flour In Baking
You is likely to be questioning, “What occurs if I simply use all-purpose as a substitute of cake flour, and vice versa?” The excellent news is, for essentially the most half, nothing horrible. Many individuals (myself included) sometimes use these flours interchangeably, with out a cake turning into one thing from an episode of “Nailed It!” Nevertheless, your baked items gained’t end up as tender and delicate.
After all, there are some exceptions. Chocolate cake, for instance, tends to end up overly tender and flimsy when made with cake flour. It is because it already comprises cocoa powder, one other finely milled ingredient. One other one is carrot cake and different recipes that comprise added fruit and/or greens, like zucchini bread. The extra moisture from these moist components requires more durable flour. In these recipes, it’s finest to stay with all-purpose.
I sometimes use cake flour in recipes that decision for a lighter crumb. This brings us to the even higher information: all it takes is one ingredient to show all-purpose right into a cake flour substitute.
Let’s Flip All-Function Flour Into Cake Flour!
For those who’ve already began on a recipe for fluffy cupcakes, solely to search out that your bag of tremendous flour is empty, by no means worry. It’s easy sufficient to make a fast, selfmade substitute. To melt the proteins in all-purpose flour and make it extra like cake flour, simply add starch! On this case, cornstarch, to be precise. Right here’s what you’ll want:
All-purpose flour
Cornstarch
Whisk or tremendous mesh sifter
Making a cake flour substitute is really easy. All you do is fill 1 cup with all-purpose flour, scoop out 2 tablespoons, and change it with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Give it a whisk or sift it in a bowl, and there you’ve it. Your flour is able to use in your whole lightest and chewiest desserts. Scroll to the recipe card beneath the put up for extra particulars.
Ideas for Success
Earlier than you file this helpful selfmade substitute underneath “must-have baking hacks”, listed below are some ultimate suggestions to remember.
Measure the flour accurately. That is key! For those who don’t have a kitchen scale to weigh out your flour, I like to recommend utilizing the spoon and sweep technique. Spoon the flour from the bag into your 1-cup measure. Then, use the again of a knife to degree it off. No matter you do, please don’t scoop the flour proper from the bag. You’ll wind up with means an excessive amount of.
Ensure you’re utilizing cornstarch and never cornmeal. They aren’t the identical factor!
Can I make cake flour with out cornstarch? Sure, you should use equal components arrowroot powder rather than cornstarch to make this selfmade substitute.
The right way to Retailer
It’s vital to retailer flour in a cool, dry place away from daylight (like a pantry). For those who reside in a hotter local weather, or in case you’re protecting flour for longer than one yr, retailer it within the freezer! The flour will maintain recent within the freezer for as much as 2 years.
12 Cake Flour Recipes
This substitute works like a allure! Put it to the check with these straightforward recipes for tender and moist desserts, cupcakes, and extra.
Vanilla Cupcakes
These vanilla cupcakes may simply be the softest and most moist cupcakes ever! They’re straightforward to make and ideal for birthdays. Prime them with a swirl of your favourite frosting, and don’t neglect the sprinkles.
Cannoli Cake
Flip a traditional bakery deal with right into a decadent layer cake with this straightforward cannoli cake recipe. It’s created from wealthy vanilla cake layered creamy selfmade mascarpone filling, loaded with mini chocolate chips.
Neapolitan Cake
Three layers of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry cake make up this present stopping Neapolitan cake impressed by the well-known ice cream taste. It’s smothered with creamy Swiss meringue buttercream in all three flavors, too!
Good Vanilla Cake
If there’s one steadfast cake recipe that you simply want in your life, it’s this good vanilla cake. All you want is a number of easy components, and a simple trick or two to make it extremely buttery and tender!
Strawberry Pop Tart Cake
Dwell out your wildest childhood goals with this Strawberry Pop Tart layer cake! Tender vanilla cake layers are full of strawberry jam, after which the entire thing is frosted with buttercream and topped with Pop Tarts.
Italian Cream Cake
Moist and tender Italian cream cake is a traditional recipe that’s at all times a success. There’s one thing so luxurious concerning the wealthy layers of cake full of cloud-like whipped cream cheese frosting. Throw in some crunchy pecans and coconut for an irresistible dessert match for an important day!
Pink Lemonade Chiffon Cake
If there’s one factor that’s as unimaginable because the cake itself, it’s the scrumptious pink lemonade frosting on this chiffon cake! This straightforward cake makes a beautiful dessert full of the candy, shiny flavors of pink lemonade all through.
Angel Meals Cake
Cake flour offers angel meals cake the lightest, most heavenly crumb. I high this cake with wine-soaked berries for a grown-up twist. It’s the last word cake to take to potlucks and cookouts, and it at all times disappears from the cake stand!
Coconut Cake
Coconut lovers, this one’s for you. It’s made with outrageously tender coconut cake layered with coconut buttercream frosting. Each inch of this fluffy cake is full of candy shredded coconut. So good!
Whipped Cream Pound Cake
Make the fluffiest, ethereal pound cake with whipped cream, you’ll by no means return. This straightforward vanilla pound cake is ideal to serve by the slice topped with much more whipped cream and berries.
Skillet Biscuits
These tender buttermilk biscuits with crispy, buttery edges prepare dinner up tender and scrumptious in a forged iron skillet. Dig into them for breakfast topped with honey butter, you’ll wish to make this biscuit recipe on repeat!
7UP Cake
This old school 7UP poundcake has all of the flavors of a lemon pound cake, made with a lemon soda twist. Drizzled with a mouthwatering selfmade citrus glaze, this bundt cake recipe is a keeper.
Learn to make a simple cake flour substitute with simply two components! All you want is all-purpose flour and cornstarch, and also you’ll be again on monitor to baking the softest desserts and cupcakes.
14 tablespoons all-purpose flour (1 cup minus 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Add the flour and cornstarch into a big bowl. Whisk collectively to mix.
Notes
As a substitute of measuring 14 tablespoons of flour, you possibly can merely measure one cup of flour and take away two tablespoons.
Key phrases: methods to make cake flour, cake flour substitute, cake flour recipes
