Flour vs Cake flour

A side-by-side guide to substituting Cake flour for Flour (or vice versa).

Quick answer

Use 1.25 cup of Cake flour for every 1 cup of Flour.

Side-by-side

Flour

Base unit: cup

Read the full guide: Flour

Cake flour

Conversion: Use 1.25× as much (1.25 cup per 1 cup)

Tags: common

Notes: Cake flour is finer and lighter; use 25% more by volume for same protein content. Best for tender baked goods.

Read the full guide: Cake flour

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When to use Cake flour instead of Flour

Cake flour is finer and lighter; use 25% more by volume for same protein content. Best for tender baked goods. The conversion is use 1.25× as much (1.25 cup per 1 cup).

Common questions

Can I substitute Cake flour for Flour?

Yes — Cake flour is finer and lighter; use 25% more by volume for same protein content. Best for tender baked goods. Ratio: Use 1.25× as much (1.25 cup per 1 cup).

What's the conversion ratio for Flour to Cake flour?

Use 1.25× as much (1.25 cup per 1 cup). For other quantities, use the SubSwap calculator.

Are Flour and Cake flour interchangeable?

They are similar in most uses, but Cake flour is finer and lighter; use 25% more by volume for same protein content..

Is Cake flour a better substitute than other options for Flour?

Cake flour is one of the options SubSwap lists for Flour. The 'best' choice depends on your recipe — see the full list of Flour substitutes.

Looking for more Flour substitutes beyond Cake flour?

See all Flour swaps →

Related ingredients

Flour Cake flour Cornflour Tapioca Butter Egg Buttermilk Milk Sugar Baking powder All-Purpose Flour Pastry Flour White Flour