Can I substitute Strong white flour for plain white for Christmas (rich fruit) cake?

Question

I have no plain, but lots of Strong plain. Does it work the same?

Answer 1

Strong flour is designed to be used for making bread. It might give your cake a more "crumby" texture but given that you're putting in so much fruit it shouldn't make any difference as most of a Christmas cake is fruit and the flour just holds it together. Remember to tie brown paper round your cake tin (a la Delia) as it is cooking for so long you don't want the outside to burn.

Answer 2

Yes you can substitute strong white for plain flour. Strong flour normally is used for bread baking but will do the job. You might need to use slightly more liquid in your dough and adjust your raising agent (baking powder or yeast). Alternative to use strong white flour instead of cake: Measure 1 cup all-purpose, then remove 2 tablespoons.

Answer 3

I'm sure you can, I've never used strong white but have been using strong wholemeal flour for years. Strong white may need a little extra liquid and as Christmas cake has a lot of fruit in it, you probably won't notice the difference.

Answer 4

no as the gluten content would not be high enough when you make bread what happens is that you first make a dough and then you knead it so that the dough becomes stretchy like elastic that's is the gluten in the flour and allows the bread to rise and be of the right texture if you try and use plain flour the dough would just be too tight and as such not be nice to eat it would not have the texture that you would associate with bread as when you knead the dough instead of getting that elasticity texture you would just get a tough pastry instead and would be rubbish you just would not want to eat it but please do try it so that you would see how bad it is

Answer 5

I am sure you can I know a cook and she uses strong flour in a lot of cakes.but haven't tried it myself though.

Answer 6

there is more gluten in strong flour i would only use strong flour for making bread or enriched yeast doe products like doughnuts or crossants

Answer 7

NO IT WILL BE TOO HEAVY, STRONG WHITE IS FOR BREAD MAKING. YOU CAN USE SELF RAISING AND LEAVE OUT THE BAKING POWDER.

Answer 8

I have heard its OK, but I wouldn't do it myself...;