If you don't have cake flour on hand but still want to achieve a lighter and more tender texture in your cakes, you can make your own cake flour substitute using all-purpose flour and cornstarch. Here's how you can do it:
You will need:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions:
Measure 1 cup of all-purpose flour and remove 2 tablespoons of flour from it. This will create space for adding the cornstarch.
Replace the 2 tablespoons of flour with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Sift or whisk the mixture thoroughly to ensure even distribution of the cornstarch.
Continue to sift or whisk the mixture at least 5-6 times to further blend the ingredients and aerate the flour. This will help achieve a lighter texture in your baked goods.
Your homemade cake flour substitute is now ready to be used in your recipe. Measure the desired amount needed and use it as you would use cake flour.
It's important to note that homemade cake flour may not be an exact replica of commercially available cake flour, as it has a slightly different protein content. However, it can still yield good results and produce a lighter texture in your cakes compared to using regular all-purpose flour alone.
Also, keep in mind that cake flour has a finer texture than all-purpose flour, so the substitution may not be suitable for recipes that specifically require the fine texture of cake flour, such as certain delicate pastries.