Fun with Flours- Cup for Cup, Measure for Measure or 1-1 Flour

This blog is a part of our introduction to gluten-free baking series, Fun with Flours, that will cover the basic building blocks of baking, flour. This series is perfect for those who are new to a gluten-free lifestyle or recently diagnosed with celiac. We know that going gluten-free can be like learning to speak a new language. We hope that by breaking things down into simple digestible (no pun intended) chunks of information on the foundations of gluten-free baking we can help you feel at ease to try your own hand at it. Or at least feel a little more informed about the love we put into each and every piece we produce for you all.

Let’s start with the workhorse. Cup-for-Cup, 1-to-1, Measure for Measure, or sometimes called Gluten Free AP.

Much like All Purpose Flour is the building block of conventional baking, this flour is really the do it all star of your Gluten-Free kitchen.

We use 1-to-1 in our tahini chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cream pies, pie crust, bar cookies and more.

Cup-for-cup or 1-to-1 flour is a type of gluten-free flour that's designed to be used as a direct replacement for wheat flour in recipes. The idea behind this type of flour is that you can simply substitute it for wheat flour in a recipe without having to make any adjustments to the recipe or the baking process. These flours are easily found on your grocery store shelf and are ready to go right from the bag.

Cup-for-cup or 1-to-1 flour is typically made from a combination of gluten-free flours, like rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca flour, as well as a binder like xanthan gum or guar gum. The combination of flours and binders is designed to mimic the texture and structure of wheat flour, making it an easy and convenient choice for those who want to bake gluten-free. These flours are a great way to get your toes wet in gluten-free baking. They work exceptionally well in cookie and bar recipes. We would not recommend them in bread, or recipes that rely on gluten for structure, like buns, cinnamon rolls, bundt cakes or any kind of laminated pastry.

When using cup-for-cup or 1-to-1 flour in your baking, it's important to keep in mind that it may not work in every recipe. Some recipes may require adjustments to the baking time or the amount of liquid in the recipe, particularly if the recipe is particularly delicate or has a specific texture. While all gluten-free baking blends contain a blend of wheat-free flours, they are not all created the same. We love Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 as it is also dairy free. King Arthur is great too but some of their blends include milk powder and they do not include xanthan gum. Cup4Cup is a brand that was developed by chefs who worked for the famed Thomas Keller. Grab whichever is available in your local shop and play around.

Overall, cup-for-cup or 1-to-1 flour is a convenient and easy option for those who want to bake gluten-free without having to make major adjustments to their recipes. However, it's still important to be mindful of the recipe and the baking process to ensure the best results. We always encourage measuring and weighing ingredients carefully as it will drastically impact the quality of your baked good. We love the metric system and weigh everything on a kitchen scale. If that feels intimidating follow the instructions below for the way to measure the perfect cup of gluten-free flour.

1) Fluff the flour: Use a spoon to fluff the flour in the container to loosen it and break up any clumps.

2) Spoon the flour: Use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup until it is heaped.

3) Level off the flour: Use a straight edge, such as a knife, to level off the flour at the top of the measuring cup, removing any excess.

It's important not to pack the flour into the measuring cup or tap it down, as this can result in too much flour and affect the outcome of your recipe.

Drop a comment below on your favorite gluten-free flour blend.

Love ya. Mean it.

-Marti