• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Stress Baking
  • Recipes
  • Baking Basics
  • Resources
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Baking Basics
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • About
  • Desserts
  • Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Baking Basics
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • About
    • Desserts
    • Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Baking Basics

    How to Make Cake Flour

    Published: Sep 30, 2020 · Last modified: Apr 3, 2022 by Leslie Kiszka / This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    How to Make Cake Flour | Stress Baking
    How to Make Cake Flour | Stress Baking

    Part 12 of my Baking Basics series: Don’t have cake flour? You will soon! All you need are all purpose flour, cornstarch, and a few minutes to make your own.

    A measuring cup full of a mound of cake flour

    If you’ve ever encountered a recipe that called for cake flour and you’ve panicked because you didn’t have any, stress no more!

    We covered the different types of flour and how to use them in this post, but this post is specifically about cake flour with step by step photos and instructions for making your own. You only need two ingredients and a couple minutes.

    What is cake flour?

    Cake flour has the lowest protein content of all the flours, which lends itself to softer and more delicate baked goods.

    It’s very fine, and is generally put through a bleaching process that weakens the gluten proteins – this means it absorbs more liquid and sugar than all-purpose flour, which means you get a more moist cake with a higher rise.

    So, long story short: cake flour is soft, which means your baked good will be soft, too.

    A measuring cup full of a mound of all purpose flour
    A measuring cup full of all purpose flour and leveled off

    How to make your own cake flour

    It really is quite simple – you just have to make sure you’re properly measuring your ingredients for the best results and the right ratio of flour to cornstarch.

    1. Measure out 1 cup all purpose flour and place it in a medium bowl. Now remove 2 tablespoons of the flour – just drop it back into your container of all purpose flour.
    2. Next, measure out 2 tablespoons cornstarch and add it to the bowl of flour.
    3. Use a mesh sieve (aff link) to sift the mixture into a separate bowl, and then repeat this process one more time. You want the mixture to be fine.
    A tablespoon of flour being poured into a plastic container
    All purpose flour being removed
    A tablespoon of cornstarch being scooped from a yellow container
    Cornstarch to be added
    A mesh sieve full of cake flour over a glass bowl
    Flour mixture being sifted
    A glass bowl full of finely sifted cake flour
    Finely sifted cake flour!

    How to use cake flour

    It works best in cakes, especially one like angel food cake since it’s such a light, fluffy and delicate type of cake. It’s also great for sponge cakes, biscuits, muffins and scones.

    • Cannoli Cupcakes
    • Strawberry Shortcakes
    • Yule Log Cake
    • Cranberry Vanilla Bean Scones

    Because it is softer and finer than all purpose flour, it can’t necessarily be substituted 1:1 for all purpose flour. If your recipe includes a good amount of wet ingredients like banana bread, hummingbird cupcakes or triple chocolate banana bread, you’ll want to stick with all purpose flour.

    As for storing your freshly made cake flour, be sure to store it in an airtight container – I use these and love them.

    If you’re using the mixture you just made for a recipe immediately, measure out the amount needed as you’ve incorporated more air and it will be more than 1 cup at this point. Just look at the photo below to see what I mean:

    Side shot of a measuring cup of flour showing it mounded over the top

    I hope this helps! Are there any questions about making your own cake flour that I didn’t answer? Let me know in the comments below!

    A measuring cup full of a mound of cake flour

    How to Make Cake Flour

    5 from 1 vote
    Don’t have cake flour? You will soon! All you need are all purpose flour, cornstarch, and a few minutes to make your own.
    Print Pin
    Total Time 5 minutes

    Recommended Equipment

    • Measuring cups
    • Spoon or scoop
    • Straight edged utensil
    • Medium bowl
    • Tablespoon (measuring spoon)
    • Mesh sieve/strainer

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup all purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

    Instructions
     

    • Measure 1 cup flour and place in a medium bowl. Remove 2 tablespoons (just place it back in with the rest of your flour).
    • Add 2 tablespoons cornstarch.
    • Use a mesh sieve to sift the mixture into a separate bowl. Repeat this process one more time.
    • If you’re using the mixture for a recipe immediately, measure out the amount needed as you’ve incorporated more air and it will be more than 1 cup at this point.
    • Store in an airtight container – I use these and love them.

    Notes

    Measuring Flour: To properly measure flour, use a spoon to fluff up the flour in its container, then use a spoon to scoop it into a dry measuring cup. Use a knife or other straight-edged utensil to level the flour across the top of the measuring cup.
    Author Leslie Kiszka
    Tried this how-to?Leave a comment and rating!

    Other content in the Baking Basics series:

    • How to Soften Brown Sugar (6 Ways!)
    • How to Make a Lemon Twist Garnish
    • How to Store Leftover Champagne
    • How to Make Simple Syrup
    • How To Freeze Cookie Dough
    • What is “stress baking”?
    • How to Make Buttermilk
    • Sprinkles 101: The different types of sprinkles and how to use them
    • How to Ship Cookies in the Mail
    • How to Make Cake Flour
    • Why You Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients Separately
    • How to Make Muffin Liners Out of Parchment Paper
    • Flour 101: How to Use Different Types of Flour
    • What Room Temperature Butter Means (and why it’s important)
    • How to Convert Temperatures from Fahrenheit to Celsius
    • How to Clean Your Silicone Mats
    • How to Calibrate Your Oven for Better Baking Results
    • Volume Conversions for Baking Recipe Ingredients
    • Baking Pan Conversions Made Easy
    • How to Measure Ingredients for Baking
    • Shelf Life of Common Baking Ingredients
    • How to Store Common Baking Ingredients
    • Introducing the Baking Basics Series
    • Essentials for Hosting a Stress-Free Thanksgiving
    • Baking Tips: 5 Steps You Should Never Skip
    • How to Store Fresh Fruit
    • 25+ Holiday Baking Tips
    • How to Make Shredded Chicken

    More Baking Basics

    • How to Soften Brown Sugar (6 Ways!)
    • How to Make a Lemon Twist Garnish
    • How to Store Leftover Champagne
    • How to Make Simple Syrup
    Leslie Kiszka in a red dress

    About Leslie

    I'm the hot mess behind every recipe you see here! I use baking as an outlet for relieving stress and anxiety to provide you with approachable homemade recipes and a little humor, for good measure.

    learn more about Leslie →

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a rating and comment (and always be kind)! Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi there, I'm Leslie! I use baking as an outlet for relieving stress and anxiety to provide you with approachable homemade recipes and a little humor, for good measure. About Leslie ⟶

    FAN FAVORITES

    • Easy Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
    • The Perfect Banana Bread
    • The Best Mascarpone Whipped Cream Frosting
    • Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad

    BAKING BASICS

    • How to Soften Brown Sugar (6 Ways!)
    • How to Make a Lemon Twist Garnish
    • How to Store Leftover Champagne
    • How to Make Simple Syrup

    My Favorite Thermometer

    Thermapen ONE

    Footer

    List of different websites that Stress Baking has been featured on

    About

    • What is "stress baking"?
    • Meet Leslie
    • Work With Me

    Disclaimers

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimers

    Resources

    • Recipes
    • Baking Basics
    • Tips & Recommendations
    • Shop my favorites

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for email updates
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    Blue Stress Baking logo

    Not responsible for computer or phone repairs caused by excessive amounts of drool ;)

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases - see disclaimers.

    COPYRIGHT © 2015-2023 Stress Baking

    543 shares