What is the difference between all-purpose flour and cake flour?

Question

And can I use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour in a recipe?

Answer 1

The amount of the gluten in the AP flour......CF is a finer milling (grind) of flour from a different type of wheat, and it makes for a finer "crumb" (a culinary term for the size of the finished product) Here in the US, Swan's Down is the most popular brand to find in well stocked supermarkets.....but try this test for yourself:

Buy some Cake Flour and some All Purpose Flour

Buy some Hershey's unsweetened cocoa Powder

On the back of the Cocoa Powder, there is a great recipe for a cake, make 2 cakes, one the AP flour and one with the CF, and I think you'll be amazed at the difference.......so, you be the judge of it......I personally go out of my way to find cake flour when baking a cake.......Enjoy!!!

Christopher

Answer 2

When I'm short on cake flour, I use AP flour cut with some corn starch. For each cup of AP flour, replace two tablespoons' worth with the corn starch. The easiest way to do this is to put the 2 tablespoons of corn starch into a measuring cup first, then fill the remainder with the AP flour. Works great.

Answer 3

the difference is the amount of gluten in the flour... cakeflour has less so that it's more 'tender'. All purpose is a blend of cake and bread flours. bread flour is high in gluten so that bread will hold it's shape and size.

All purpose may be substituted, however, sift it first and expect a less tender item. (also, make sure to not overmix).

Answer 4

when substituting all purpose flour for cake flour sift it a couple times.

Answer 5

one of them has all purposes, and the other is just cake flour