Confession: Sometimes I don't plan ahead. Sometimes I want to make a cake, and I don't want to go to the store and buy cake flour. And by sometimes, I really mean always.
Second confession: I have never bought cake flour. Not once. Never. Ever.
Why would I? You can easily make it at home, with things you're bound to have on hand! Perhaps if I were to bake the Queen a special cake, I would try with some real cake flour and see if there was a difference, but for now I'm sticking with my homemade cake flour. It's just so easy and quick!
All you need is normal flour and cornstarch. For tools, have a tablespoon, a bowl, a sieve, and a 1 cup measure.
I start with an empty measuring cup. Take two tablespoons of cornstarch and put them in the bottom of the measuring cup.
Fill the rest of the measuring cup with normal flour,
Fill it nice and full,
Level the top,
then sift the two together!
Scoop it up and sift at least two more times.
Make sure it is totally mixed together! Use this in recipes calling for cake flour, and measure AFTER the sifting process.
How to Make Cake Flour
All purpose flour
cornstarch
a seive/sifter
Dump two tablespoons of cornstarch into the bottom of a measuring cup. With a spoon, fill the rest of the measuring cup with normal flour, and level at the top. Sift the flour and cornstarch together at least 3 times, making sure it is fully mixed together.
Ta-da! Cake flour! Store in a separate container and measure out after sifting.
elizabeth says
Hi Mary,
What is the difference between cake flour and regular flour? I've never used cake flour and I've made plenty of cakes. I appreciate the simple instruction.
mary says
Hi Elizabeth,
Cake flour is used for a few reasons, all with the end result of a lighter, fluffier, finer crumbed cake. Cake flour is lower in protein, as a lot of gluten isn't desirable in a cake. It is also sifted very well to be airy and light. Finally, in order to have the capacity to hold a lot of fat (as cakes tend to have butter and eggs!), cake flour has more starch.
I hope that answers the question!
Mary
Eileen says
...huh. I would have never thought to try something like this! Very interesting indeed.