Cornflour: Simple Tips, Common Mistakes, and Delicious Ideas

If you’ve ever wondered what cornflour can do in your kitchen, you’re in the right place. It’s a cheap, fine powder that thickens sauces, lightens cakes, and replaces wheat flour for gluten‑free baking. Below you’ll find the basics, a few do‑and‑don’t’s, and quick recipes you can try right now.

How to Use Cornflour in Baking

First, remember that cornflour is a pure starch. It won’t give structure the way wheat flour does, so you usually pair it with a protein‑rich flour or use it in recipes that rely on other binders. When you need a light crumb, swap up to a quarter of the wheat flour for cornflour – this makes cakes and muffins softer.

For gluten‑free baking, mix cornflour with rice flour, potato starch, or tapioca starch. A common blend is 40 % cornflour, 30 % rice flour, and 30 % potato starch. This combo mimics the texture of regular flour without the gluten.

When thickening soups or sauces, dissolve a tablespoon of cornflour in cold water first. Adding it straight to a hot liquid creates lumps. Stir the slurry in, then let it boil for a minute – you’ll see a glossy, smooth finish.

Quick Cornflour Recipes You Can Try Today

1. Easy Cornflour Pancakes: Mix 1 cup of cornflour, ½ cup of rice flour, 1 tsp baking powder, a pinch of salt, 1 cup milk, and 1 egg. Cook like regular pancakes and enjoy a fluffy, gluten‑free stack.

2. Velvety Chocolate Sauce: Heat ½ cup milk, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, and 2 tbsp sugar. When it’s warm, whisk in 1 tbsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp cold water. Keep stirring until it thickens, then drizzle over ice cream.

3. Light Cornflour Shortbread: Cream ½ cup butter with ¼ cup sugar. Stir in 1 cup cornflour and ½ cup rice flour. Press into a pan, bake at 160 °C for 20 minutes, and you have a melt‑in‑your‑mouth bite.

4. Thickened Fruit Pie Filling: Combine sliced fruit with a little lemon juice, then sprinkle 2 tbsp cornflour over it. Cook on medium until the liquid bubbles and thickens, then pour into your pastry shell.

These recipes show how versatile cornflour can be. Adjust the amount a little if you need a thicker or thinner result – a simple tweak can change the whole texture.

Remember, cornflour absorbs water quickly, so don’t over‑mix batter. Over‑mixing can break down the starch and give a gummy feel. Keep stirring just enough to combine the ingredients.

Now you’ve got the basics, a few do‑and‑don’t’s, and four quick recipes. Grab a pack of cornflour and start experimenting – you’ll find new ways to lighten cakes, smooth sauces, and bake gluten‑free treats without any fuss.