Substitute Cake Flour for All-Purpose Flour: Is It Possible?

Cake Flour

If you are planning to make one of your cakes, the main ingredient you will need is cake flour. However, if you don’t have cake flour that doesn’t mean you can’t use all-purpose flour.

The all-purpose flour is also easier to find. And in many cases even cheaper than the cake flour. But if you want to use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour, there are certain aspects you need to take into account.

The main rule when you substitute cake flour for all purposes flour is to use one cup of all purposes flour for every one cup and two tablespoons of cake flour.

However, there are other very important factors we will discuss further that will help you use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour successfully.

Is it Better to Use Cake Flour or All-Purpose Flour?

All-Purpose Flour

It is difficult to decide if universally, cake flour is better than all-purpose flour as it depends a lot on the way you use the ingredient. Each recipe will call for a specific type of flour. Therefore, if you want to obtain the best results, you should stick to that particular flour.

That being said, if you are planning to bake a cake, cake flour will definitely be your best option. However, that doesn’t mean your cake will not turn out delicious with all-purpose flour as well.

Cake flour is made of softer wheat that results in a reduced level of gluten. Thus, your cake will have a tender and softer texture. All-purpose flour, on the other hand, consists of both hard and soft wheat, and its level of gluten is somewhat average.

As the name suggests, you can use all-purpose flour for all types of dishes that need flour. However, if you use it to make a cake, you should expect a harder dough and less tenderness at the end of your cooking process.

So, if you are looking for a reduced level of gluten, all-purpose flour is not the best choice for you. If that is not a concern of yours, you can definitely use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour with no side effects and without compromising your dish at all.

Can I Use Cake Flour Instead of All-Purpose Flour for Cookies?

Butter paper

If you are planning to make cookies, the type of flour you decide to use will depend on the type of texture you expect your cookies to have.

If you want harder cookies, you can use all-purpose flour or even bread flour. However, if you want them to be softer and more crumbly, you will want to use cake flour.

Ultimately, you can use cake flour in any recipe for cookies instead of all-purpose flour but keep in mind that the consistency will be different and the cookies will crumble much easier after you bake them.

Respect the same ratio if you use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour in cookies recipes. However, be aware that you will obtain cookies with less structure.

Does Cake Flour Make a Difference?

Flour

Cake flour makes a huge difference if you use it instead of all-purpose flour or even other types of flour. And it is made to make a difference because cakes have a very particular texture that you will not find in any other desserts or dishes that call for flour.

Unlike other types of flour, cake flour will give you a softer dough, therefore, your cookies or any other dessert you make with it will crumble a lot easier.

It tastes just as good as all-purpose flour though, so you don’t have to worry about the flavor of your dessert. However, in many desserts, the texture is important, so you might not be as happy with a regular cake flour when your recipe calls for a type of flour that is richer in gluten.

Can I Use Cake Flour Instead of All-Purpose Flour for Chocolate Cake?

Chocolate cake

When it comes to chocolate cake, you might want to use cake flour. Chocolate cake is still a type of cake and a popular type actually. To prepare that delicious and soft dough for chocolate cake, you will need cake flour if you want it to turn out perfectly.

Your cake will turn alright if you use all-purpose flour as well. The only difference will be the fact that the dough will be firmer and will have more of a bread structure.

If you want to make the dough softer, add more syrup. You can buy the syrup of your choice already made or prepare it at home. A simple syrup would include water and sugar so you don’t have to complicate your recipe.

Also, keep in mind that some people prefer their cake with firmer dough, thus if that is the case, all-purpose flour might actually be a better choice.

Conclusion 

When you want to prepare a tasty cake you need to take into account the flavor you choose and the way your cake looks like. You want a dough that is soft enough to allow the toppings of your cake to run through it smoothly.

So using cake flour is most likely your best choice. The good news is that if you don’t have cake flour, your dessert will turn pretty good with all-purpose flour too. Meaning, you have plenty of room to get creative when you choose the type of flour you will use in your cake.

You can also use half-cake flour and fill the quantity you need with all-purpose flour. There are not many ways you can go wrong when you pick between these two, so just follow your gut.

2 comments
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like