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How to Make Cake Flour

Robyn Stone

Updated Sep 10, 2023

How to Make Cake Flour – Learn how to make your own cake flour at home. An easy two-ingredient substitute.

Have you ever started to make a cake , muffins , or another baked good only to find that recipe calls for a specialty flour like cake flour? I have. Plenty of times. It is a flour that I hardly ever keep on hand.

Thankfully, you can make your own with ingredients that you most likely do always have on hand!

How to Make Cake Flour - Learn how to make your own cake flour at home. An easy two-ingredient substitute. // addapinch.com - 2

What is Cake Flour?

Cake flour is a light flour made of soft wheat flour that has been chlorinated to produce flour with about 6-8% protein content and a beautiful texture.

How to Make Cake Flour - Learn how to make your own cake flour at home. An easy two-ingredient substitute. // addapinch.com - 3

Why Do You Use Cake Flour Instead of Regular All-Purpose Flour?

Since cake flour has such a low protein content, it produces less gluten when used in recipes. Therefore, it is primarily used in baking recipes for cakes, cookies , and muffins when a soft texture and light, airy result is desired. It is perfect for using when baking white cakes or cupcakes , as well as tea cakes .

What Two Ingredients Do You Need to Make Cake Flour?

You only need two ingredients that you probably keep on hand: cornstarch and all-purpose flour.

For every cup of cake flour called for in a recipe, measure one cup of all-purpose flour, remove 2 tablespoons of the flour, and then add the flour to a mixing bowl. Add in 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and whisk well to combine.

Voila! Problem solved.

Do You Have to Use Cake Flour in Recipes?

No, you absolutely do not. If you are using low-protein flour, such as White Lily, then these flours are considered great for baking. The low protein content of the flour makes the a great general-use flour, but also a perfect flour for baking.

If you are using a higher protein flour, I would consider using this recipe to lighten the protein content of the flour so that you have light, airy cake, and moist muffins!

Here’s how you make it.

Ingredients

▢ 2 tablespoons cornstarch
▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

Measure 1 level cup of all-purpose flour, remove 2 tablespoons of the flour and then place the flour into a bowl.
Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the all-purpose flour. Whisk together to combine and use as a substitute for 1 cup cake flour.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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You may also want to check out how to make your own self-rising flour substitute . It’s pretty life-changing if you ask me.

Enjoy! Robyn