Ask Nancy

All-purpose flour, like it's name implies, is a perfect "all-purpose" product to keep in your pantry. It can be used for cakes, pastries, cookies, thickening gravies, etc. Many recipes that call for cake flour can be made with all-purpose flour – the cake just won't be as fine textured as it would be if cake flour was used. Most people probably wouldn't notice! You could also substitute 3/4 cup all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch for every 1 cup of cake flour called for in a recipe.