What Can Replace Spelt Flour?

Question

I'm in the mood to make an olive oil cake and found this recipe on Martha Stewart that looks good, but it calls for spelt flour: 

http://www.wholeliving.com/recipe/olive-oil-cake

Can I replace it with AP flour? White whole wheat?

Or does someone else have an olive oil cake recipe they like, preferably with some chocolate in it...

Thanks!

Answer

This cake uses the 'muffin method' - mix dry, mix wet, combine. This type of batter is quite tolerant of variations in flour, whether you use all AP, or a mix of AP and whole grains. It does not specify whether the spelt flour is white or whole grain. I think your AP or WWW would equally well.

The comments mention various substitutions.

Answer

Spelt has a nice flavor, rather sweet, and is worth trying. I've only ever tried whole grain spelt. It is less springy than wheat (less strong gluten). In a yeasted bread, spelt uses less water than wheat, but that probably would not carry over to a quickbread, since those aren't kneaded. I bet the spelt might be excellent in a muffin, especially since it is less springy. I think I'll try that soon...

Answer

I have made this cake a few times (and I recommend it!). I have the cookbook it is in, Good to the Grain, by Kim Boyce, and the author says the spelt gives it a fine crumb. 

My thoughts: The recipe calls for a 1:2 ration of spelt to all-purpose flour. I have made it each time using Arrowhead Mills whole-grain spelt flour and a) I cannot say that I notice a distinctive flavor from the spelt; b) the crumb is nice, but not necessarily finer than that of a cake made with all AP flour; c) I have thought each time I made the cake that it would work just fine made with all AP flour. In other words, I think you could make and enjoy this cake with only AP flour, or with AP and white whole wheat if you want to retain some whole grain, though the higher gluten content of the latter would not give you as soft a crumb as the original recipe or making it with all AP.

BTW, I recommend using 2 T. fresh rosemary (it's not too much). I have also reversed the oil and milk quantities (3/4 cup oil and 1 cup milk) and it is still plenty moist and delicious, as long as you do not overbake.

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What Can Replace Spelt Flour?

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