How to Make Cake Flour
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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!
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.
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.
How to Make Cake Flour
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.
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
the cake I’m making calls for 3c of cake flour.
I only have flour so how much corn starch do I add with it
Phyllis, you would just triple the amount in the recipe so it would be 6 tablespoons of corn starch and 3 cups all-purpose flour. Be sure to remove 6 tablespoons of the all-purpose flour before adding the cornstarch.
Hi Robyn
With cake flour “how to make your own” what if the recipe requires 1 cup and quarter (150 grams) of cake flour. How do I make that up??
Emma, for 1 1/4 cups of cake flour, you would use 1 1/4 cups flour, remove 2 1/2 tablespoons of the flour, and add 2 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
Hi there, what if the recipe calls for 1 and 1/2 cup of cake flour?
Then you would make 1 1/2 times the recipe. 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, and remove 3 tablespoons flour. Hope this helps.
Thank you, very much, since Cake Flour it’s so expensive, this is a great substitute .
I’m always happy when these How To tips help someone. They have helped me so many times, too.
Hi, is this american measure of cup (128 grams) or english measure of cup (250 grams)
Thanks!
Kim
I use the US measuring cup (128 grams), Kim. Hope this helps.
Is there a substitute for cornstarch? I am trying to eliminate corn-related products in my diet.
Nicole, you could use tapioca starch, arrowroot powder, or potato starch.
So you take out 2 tbsp of flour from the 1 cup of AP flour and don’t use the 2 tbsp of flour?
Thanks, Lesa
Yes, Lesa. The cornstarch replaces the 2 tablespoons of AP flour to make the cup of cake flour.
Do I still need to add the baking soda and baking powder if the recipe calls for it.
If your recipe includes cake flour, baking soda, and baking powder, then use ingredients listed in the recipe.
So easy! Thank you!