You might remember all flours are created equally, but yous're wrong. Probably the most popular flours of the bunch are block flour and all purpose. These flours may wait the same because they're both fabricated from wheat. But co-ordinate to The Kitchn, the difference lies in how they are milled, what wheat was used to produce the flour, and what time of the year it was harvested. Just most importantly, protein content.

All Purpose flour has a protein content of 10-12% compared to Cake Flour's 7-8%. The lighter protein content creates a lighter consistency, which is why cake flour is typically used in cakes to create that airy texture. Both of these flours tin exist used interchangeably, for the most part. Then when information technology comes to using cake vs all purpose flour, at that place might not be as big of a difference as you call back.

Breads: All Purpose

rye bread, pastry, wheat, cake, chocolate, sweet, brown bread, bread
Helena Lin

The best type of flour to use for breads is all purpose or bread flour because of its high poly peptide content. All purpose flour is all-time for breads like a white sandwich staff of life, or if yous are making banana or pumpkin breadstuff. You don't want to apply cake flour hither because the breadstuff won't rise due to the low protein content. Just if it's all you lot have on hand, you tin add two tablespoons of cornstarch for every cup of flour.

Cakes: Either

chocolate, cheese, cream, cream cheese, carrot cake, carrot, cake
Julia Hedelman

Yous tin go either mode for cakes. For a lighter and airier type sponge cake, employ cake flour. But if you don't have cake flour, don't worry because all purpose will do just the same matter. All purpose is going to create a denser cake, so it's all about preference.

Muffins: Either

cake, sweet, chocolate
Diana Ghidanac

Typically most muffin recipes telephone call for all purpose flour and will create a dense, become-to muffin recipe. Merely if you lot're looking for a sweeter muffin, apply cake flour. Cake flour will requite your muffins a fluffier, more cake-like density.

Cupcakes: Either

goody, chocolate, cookie, muffin, candy, pastry, cake, sweet
Kierri Price

Since cupcakes have a lot of sugar, you tin can use cake or all purpose flour here. Like a unproblematic layer cake, block flour will create a lite and airy cupcake. All purpose volition create a denser cupcake.

Pancakes & Waffles: All Purpose

chocolate
Emma Brant

Homemade pancake and waffle recipes typically phone call for all purpose flour. The protein in all purpose flour is crucial for the class and construction of your pancakes or waffles. So if you want fluffy pancakes, make sure to use all purpose flour (and these other fun tips).

Pie Crust: All Purpose

crust, bread, apple pie, cake, sweet, pastry, pie
Jocelyn Hsu

The crust will either make or break your pie. So when y'all're looking to make the perfect pie crust, opt for all purpose flour. The higher protein content volition exist easier to work with, and it will be more than tender. You don't want to utilize block flour here since it has a low protein content and your dough will be hard to piece of work with.

Cookies: All Purpose

candy, chocolate cookie, pastry, cake, sweet, goody, chocolate, cookie
Scott Harrington

Who doesn't beloved a perfectly baked chocolate chip cookie? The trick in making cookies is using all purpose flour. Since all purpose has more than gluten, it will go out you with a chewy and more put together cookie. Cake and pastry flours are going to create a runnier cookie that won't stick together.

In the end, all purpose flour seems to accept cake flour beat every bit the universal flour. Although cake flour isn't far behind. If you lot don't have the flour chosen for a recipe on hand, make certain you await at the recipe beginning earlier switching flours.