How to Make Homemade Cake Flour {Substitute}

Learn how to to make homemade cake flour with 2 simple ingredients. This is a quick and easy substitute with just all purpose flour and cornstarch!

You can go to the store and search for special cake flour (and spend more money), or just use what you likely already have around your house. It’s also a great recipe to have in a pinch as a substitute when you didn’t realize you ran out of your favorite cake flour! For more helpful baking tips, check out How to blind bake pie crust and How To Make Brown Sugar. 

What is Cake Flour?

It’s a low protein flour that’s typically used in baking, especially cakes, in order to give them that wonderfully firm but soft texture. This is typically the flour that is used in fancy bakeries.

How to make DIY cake flour substitute recipe from scratch?

You only need 2 ingredients to make this!

Measure out– 1 cup of all purpose flour.

Remove– 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour from your cup and dump it back into your flour bag.

Add in– 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into your cup of all purpose flour.

Sift- Five separate times and you’re done!

Cake Flour vs All-Purpose Flour vs. Pastry flour (Is it the same as plain flour?)

The main difference is the protein content. Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour and that results in a light, airy and fluffy cake texture.

Can I use all-purpose flour to replace cake flour?

No, because cake flour gives a more airy, light texture often desired in many baked goods. All-purpose flour would make your recipe more dense and heavy. Some examples you can try with this cake flour include my Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake, Funfetti Cake, and Yellow Cupcakes.

Tips and techniques for homemade cake flour

The key is sifting- You need to sift these 2 ingredients multiple times because it allows the cornstarch and flour to mix together thoroughly.

Make more- You can easily double or triple this recipe and because it has a long shelf life you can use it many more times.

Don’t forget to remove some flour- You need to remove and replace 2 Tbs of flour with 2 Tbs corn starch. If you forget to omit the flour this won’t work as well.

Store in well sealed container– Because this will ensure humidity and other unwanted things stay out of the flour.

Storage

Room Temperature- Store this in a sealed container away from humidity for up to 6 months. Beware of climate and humidity affecting shelf life.

Fridge- Store in a sealed container away from possible liquid spills for up to 1 year.

Freezer- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 years.

More Baking Tips

• How to Frost a Cake Smoothly
• How to Color Fondant
• How to Make Homemade Sprinkles
• How to Soften Brown Sugar
• How to Frost a Cake Smoothly

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Homemade Cake Flour Substitute

Prep Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

Learn how to to make homemade cake flour with 2 simple ingredients. This is a quick and easy substitute with just all purpose flour and cornstarch!

Yield: 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 cup All-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp Cornstarch

Instructions 

• Measure out 1 cup of all purpose flour.
• Remove 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour from your cup and dump it back into your flour bag.
• Now, add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into your cup of all purpose flour.
• Sift once.
• Sift twice.
• Sift thrice.
• Sift again.
• And sift one last time!

Notes

• Don’t skip the sifting! 
• Store this in a sealed container away from humidity at room temperature. 
• Recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. 

Nutrition

Calories: 515kcal, Carbohydrates: 109g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 133mg, Fiber: 3g, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 5.8mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 515

Author: Abeer Rizvi