If you've ever wondered about cake flour, all your questions are answered here! Learn all virtually why this ingredient is often used in recipes, what it is, where to go it, and how it'south used.

Square image of a copper measuring cup filled with cake flour, on a dark background.

I've been using cake flour in my block and cupcake recipes since way before I ever even started this website. If you've been tuning in to my Live recipe demos (11am EDT on Facebook and Instagram!), then you've probably heard me explicate why.

It's i of the number one questions I get asked by readers. So I thought it was about fourth dimension I pause information technology all downwards and explain it in a postal service.

Vertical image with text overlay of a copper measuring cup filled with cake flour.

This is going to be the get-go in a series of non-recipe posts! I'g tentatively titling the serial "Bake like a Boss: tips & tricks that will accept your baking to the side by side level." What do you recollect?

And then, today'southward topic is cake flour. I have a lot of cake and cupcake recipes on this site, and near of them call for cake flour.

WHAT IS Block FLOUR?

Cake flour is a flour that is very finely milled from soft winter wheat. It has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, and it is finer, lighter, and softer. It's also bleached, so the color is paler and the grain is less dumbo.

Side-by-side comparison of cake flour and all-purpose flour.

Because of the lower protein content, cake flour produces less gluten. You lot know when you're making bread and it gets that chewy, elastic texture to it? Then yummy right?

Well, it'south good when yous're talking about soft pretzels, but it's really not so practiced when you're talking about cakes.

When it comes to cakes, nosotros want them to be light, soft, and tender, with a fine, close nibble. And that is exactly what you will get if yous use cake flour!

The first time I broiled a cake with cake flour, I was astonished. It sounds silly, simply information technology was kinda life-changing for me. I could not get over the difference it made in that cake.

Ever since then, I swear by it! I mean, if yous're going to go to the trouble of blistering a block from scratch, wouldn't you desire information technology to exist the best possible cake? Ever since that starting time cake, all those (coughing! cough!) years agone, I've always made certain to proceed cake flour in my pantry.

WHERE Practice You lot Go Cake FLOUR?

Cake flour is pretty easy to detect here in the US. I've never been to a supermarket that doesn't carry it. It's e'er constitute in the baking aisle, right in the same general area as all-purpose flour.

In that location are all sorts of flours: bleached all-purpose, unbleached all-purpose, bread flour, pastry flour, whole wheat flour… the list goes on and on. Cake flour is just some other one of those, unique in its purpose, and it tin can be found correct alongside all the others.

It can also be ordered online. Click hither to see several different options.

Some of my favorite brands are Softasilk, Swan'due south Down, Male monarch Arthur Flour, and Bob's Red Mill. They are all great products and will yield splendid results.

If you do not alive in the US, yous might have a little more than difficulty. As far as I know, there is naught quite the same available in Europe. Cake flour is Not "self-raising flour," and information technology is Non "sponge flour." The closest thing would exist "plain flour," sifted with a trivial cornstarch (encounter "Block Flour Substitute" beneath).

Vertical image of cake flour being sifted into a glass bowl.

CAN I JUST USE ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR INSTEAD OF Cake FLOUR?

In a pinch, yes. But if you really want to bake like a boss, I'd highly recommend keeping a box of cake flour in your pantry.

If yous use all-purpose flour, yous will find that your cakes and cupcakes volition have more of an open up crumb. In other words, in that location volition exist bigger pockets of air within the block.

They volition also be a trivial more dense and chewy. I prefer the light, soft texture of cakes that have been baked with block flour.

CAKE FLOUR SUBSTITUTE

If you're still non convinced, or if you live in a part of the world where cake flour is non available, y'all tin can create a reasonable facsimile by replacing 2 tablespoons (for every loving cup) of all-purpose flour with cornstarch.

Cornstarch has very little protein and information technology will help to lighten the all-purpose flour. Depending upon where you are in the world, information technology may become by the name "corn flour." It is white and powdery. It is NOT corn repast, which is normally yellow and gritty.

Cake flour substitute: vertical image of a copper spoon placing cornstarch into a small brown bowl.

Sift the flour and cornstarch together, then measure, either by weight or by lightly spooning into a measuring loving cup and then leveling off. NEVER pack flour into a measuring cup!

With that said, merely bear in listen that this substitution is still not exactly the aforementioned thing every bit cake flour, and then the results volition exist better merely not identical.

Most of the recipes here on Baking a Moment are measured by cups and teaspoons, because that'southward the mode the majority of my readers bake. Just if you adopt to measure your ingredients past weight, be certain to check out my free printable Weight Conversion Chart.

Free Printable Weight Conversion Chart Graphic

IS CAKE FLOUR GLUTEN-FREE?

No, cake flour is not gluten-complimentary. It is still made from wheat. While information technology does produce less gluten than all-purpose flour, it's withal not recommended for people who accept a gluten intolerance.

If you want to broil a gluten-gratis cake or cupcake, substitute all the flour in the recipe for a gluten-free flour blend. Look for one that subs ane for 1 (in other words, 1 cup of gluten-free flour is equivalent to 1 loving cup of all-purpose flour). Here are some skillful options:

  • Rex Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Measure for Mensurate Flour
  • Bob'south Crimson Mill Gluten-Costless All-Purpose Baking Flour
  • Cup4Cup Multi-Purpose Gluten-Gratis Flour
  • Pamela's Products Gluten-Gratuitous All-Purpose Flour Blend
  • Better Batter Gluten-Costless Flour
  • Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Organic Perfect Flour Blend

WHAT Tin I Utilise Cake FLOUR FOR?

Obviously cake flour is great for cakes. But what if you don't bake a lot of cakes and you desire to use up what you have left over?

Good news! Cake flour is great in all kinds of recipes. Any time you're baking something that wants to exist airy and delicate, block flour is a neat option.

Hither are a few examples:

Things you can make with cake flour image collage

  1. Scones
  2. Biscuits
  3. Muffins
  4. Pancakes
  5. Waffles
  6. Quick Breads

But I would stick with all-purpose flour for things similar cookies or pie crust, and use bread flour for anything yeasted (such as pizza dough or dinner rolls.

Horizontal image of a copper measuring cup filled with cake flour.

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