It’s extremely convenient to have cake flour in a canister that already has everything you need including leavener. It makes gluten-free cake baking a breeze! Since this mix contains baking powder and baking soda, it is perfect for just about any cake recipe. It addresses the times you need an acidic ingredient as well. For example, when you use Dutch-processed cocoa, which is alkaline-based, you should use baking soda.
I have included two versions of this recipe. The first is what you can use in any recipe on this site calling for Self-Rising Flour Blend. The Pastry-Quality Flour version is perfect for chocolate or spiced recipes that are tan or brown in color. It is also ideal for traditional recipes calling for pastry flour. Use this mix to make light and high-rising cakes and cupcakes.
Typically, a gluten free pastry flour will only contain potato starch. Therefore, to lower the protein level I added just a bit of potato starch in this gluten free cake flour blend. I substituted a little of the potato starch for tapioca flour/starch (or cornstarch), which does not contain any protein at all.
The lower protein level provides a softer texture for cakes, muffins, etc., compared to the chewiness you would want in bread. A gluten-free pastry flour blend may only contain white rice flour, but with only an additional gram of protein, per serving, I found that adding a bit of brown rice flour is a healthier choice and still makes a perfect gluten free cake flour blend. Regular (gluten-containing) cake flour contains 8% to 10% protein, versus 5% to 8% in pastry flour. In gluten-free baking we need more than that.
Update: I have found that sorghum flour creates more of a crumb in cakes. If you wish cleaner cuts and fewer crumbs, substitute additional superfine rice flour for the sorghum flour or add additional oil.
I’m sure it would be easy to find a gluten free recipe which calls for your typical rice flours. However, the use of superfine white and brown rice flours improve gluten free baked goods. Its use improves texture and avoids any grittiness. Now, let them eat cake, that’s great!
Note: See some of the recipes on this site using this gluten-free self-rising flour blend at the bottom of this page.
You may find superfine white and brown rice flour at Vitacost.com. They carry Authentic Foods and Vitacost brands. The Vitacost brand is not as fine as Authentic Foods, but it does a great job and will save you money. If you do not have access to purchasing online or the funds, as it costs more than regular rice flour, you can try grinding regular rice flour in a coffee grinder which will make it fine, but not superfine. Better yet, use a mill grinder on the fine setting.
A self-rising gluten free cake flour blend recipe which is not gritty, and as close to the real thing as possible! Non gluten-free dieters cannot tell the difference.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Tips
Sorghum and oat flour contain higher protein levels compared to rice flour. In addition, they both make baked goods tan in color. This is their purpose in creating a substitute for traditional pastry flour.
If using this flour blend to substitute regular all-purpose flour in a gluten recipe, I suggest baking it at 350°F, no matter the temperature called for in the recipe. You should also add 2 tablespoons in a 2-layer cake recipe.
If cakes fall, it is often a sign of too much leavener or under baking.
Did you know?
Did you know that sorghum flour is digested slower than many other flours, making it a great choice for diabetics?
Recipes using Carla’s Gluten-Free Cake Flour Blend:
Gluten Free Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Smooth Cream Cheese Frosing
Apricot Cherry Gluten Free Streusel Coffee Cake Recipe (or Tart)
Gluten Free Pineapple Cherry Upside Down Dump Cake
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Recipe
Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipe
Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread Recipe
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Gooey Gluten-Free Brownie Recipe: Sweetened with Brown Rice Syrup
Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Recipe
Gluten-Free Boston Cream Pie Recipe
Gluten-Free Coffee Cake Recipe
Corn Free Gluten Free Sweet Potato Spoon Bread
Gluten Free Cinnamon Banana Muffins
Gluten Free Cornbread – Cranberry Polenta Bread
Golden Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Bundt Cake
Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake
Gluten Free Sweet Potato Muffins
Visit Carla’s Gluten Free Online Store for ingredients you will need.
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View Comments
Can I omit the baking soda and baking powder and only add it when I need to use it in cakes?
Joy,
For a gluten free flour blend recipe that is not self-rising, see this recipe - http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/gluten-free-all-purpose-flour-blend/.
Enjoy!
Carla
Hi could you give any recommendations for a gluten free cake recipe (flour) that does not use rice flour. The child I am baking for has multiple allergies, gluten is only one of them. She is allergic to rice and nuts, I am having trouble finding any recipes that don't contain either rice flour or a nut flour. Thanks in advance for your help.
You could try this one: Carol’s Flour Blends - http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/sorghum-flour-blend/
I have been making your oat bread regularly for the last month (it is the best GF bread we've ever eaten!) and would love to use all the leftover egg yolks to make your yellow cake. However, my son is allergic to Rice, what would you recommend as a substitution? We can't do nuts either. So far he does well with Oats, tapioca, potato, sorghum, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, garbanzo flours
Shiri,
I am so happy to hear that you have been enjoying my oat bread recipe. Try Carol Fenster's flour blend: http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/sorghum-flour-blend/. However, the cake will not be very yellow as sorghum is tan in color. In addition, since sorghum isn't as starchy as rice flour, I suggest adding about 2 tablespoons additional oil or unsalted butter.
Enjoy!
Carla
Hi Carla,
My sister recently was diagnosed diabetic. She craves bread but I believe most to be too high GL for her. Will the sorgum be the best flour choice? Or are there combinations that would be just as good?
Thanks!
Kathy,
Gluten free bread is not a smart choice for diabetics at all. If she wants to play it a little safer, almond flour is high in protein and will probably be best. Perhaps you can play around this recipe (http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/grain-free-gluten-free-with-almond-bread/) and lower the starch and increase the almond flour until it reaches safer carb levels for her.
Another smart choice are breads on the market specifically made for a low-carb gluten-free diet. I have seen one online made predominantly of oat fiber. That would be her best bet, if she can tolerate gluten free oats. I didn't check how safe the brand is, though. I am currently doing some research to locate some safe/uncontaminated oat fiber so that I can create a low-carb bread recipe.
I hope this helps.
Carla
I am allergic to potatoes and have noticed a lot of gluten free baking uses potato starch or potato flour. Is there a comparable substitute?
Heather,
See the Gluten Free Starch Substitutes link on the substitutes page - http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/gluten-free-substitutes/.
I hope it helps.
Carla
If I mix this mix leaving out the baking powder, soda and xanthan gum and then add those ingredients acocrding to what my non GF recipe suggests (I've substituted this blend for the AP flour) do you figure that could work in cakes or would it be better to mix the GF flour blend as stated and disregard the amounts of soda/BP in the non GF recipe? I hope my question makes sense?!
Thank you so much for sharing this!!
Hi Carla,
I'm allergic to wheat and corn. I've noticed sourgum flour in a lot of recipes. I'm not sure what its made from. I know it wheat free but does it cantain corn or corn derivatives?
Hi Yvette,
Sorghum is a grain. It is not related to wheat or corn. It is completely gluten-free. I hope this helps.
Meanwhile, if you can purchase Authentic Foods "superfine" white and/or brown rice flour (available online and in my Store), I currently use my Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend Recipe + about 2 Tablespoons extra butter, oil or shortening in recipes. Here's the link to that flour blend recipe: http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/gluten-free-all-purpose-flour-blend. You make the mix as instructed and then add additional fat to a regular, gluten recipe. It works about 95% of the time.
Carla
This is a nice blend! I've used it to make Carla's banana bread & her carrot cake & both tasted wonderful!
Carla,
I appreciate all the recipes. I used the cake flour recipe to make one of my favorite deserts. At first bite it tasted like I remember but it left an after taste. Any idea what I might have not done right?
Hi Rick,
I have never had this flour blend be bitter. Your flour may be bad. I have kept brown rice flour too long, and it turns bitter. Check the expiration date on your flour. Also, brown rice flour, more than white rice flour should be refrigerated. Other than that, I would need to see the recipe. Why don't you email it to me, with the instructions: http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/contact.
Carla
Hi Carla - Thanks for sharing your recipe for the gluten-free cake flour blend. Can you include the weight measurements (grams) in each of the ingredient listed? That'll be very helpful as I noticed that my own measurement per cup of flour by weight can differ from someone else's drastically. Just want to make sure I get the same great result as yours. Thanks!
Hi Claire,
Next time I make a batch I'll be sure to do that.
Carla