What can I use instead of Bread flour?

All-purpose flour: 1 cup all-purpose flour. AP flour + vital wheat gluten: 1 cup AP flour + 1 tsp vital wheat gluten.

What changes when you substitute Bread flour?

Denser, less chewy loaf. Nearly identical.

Substitute for Bread flour

What it does in a recipe: High protein (~12-14%) develops strong gluten for chewy, tall breads.

2 substitutes, ranked by what's already in your pantry. Amounts are dataset values — US and metric where a ratio exists.

All-purpose flour

per 1 cup bread flour

US1 cup all-purpose flour

Metric125 g

Pantry stapleBaking-safe ✓Dairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeVeganAlcohol-freeSesame-freeContains gluten

AP's lower protein makes less gluten; knead 1-2 min longer.

What changes: Denser, less chewy loaf

Best for: Most yeast breads

AP flour + vital wheat gluten

per 1 cup bread flour

US1 cup AP flour + 1 tsp vital wheat gluten

Metric125 g + 3 g gluten

SpecialtyBaking-safe ✓Dairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeVeganAlcohol-freeContains gluten

Vital wheat gluten restores the protein gap directly.

What changes: Nearly identical

Best for: Yeast breads

Related swaps

Common questions

What can I use instead of Bread flour?: All-purpose flour: 1 cup all-purpose flour. AP flour + vital wheat gluten: 1 cup AP flour + 1 tsp vital wheat gluten.
What is the exact ratio to substitute Bread flour?: All-purpose flour (per 1 cup bread flour) — US: 1 cup all-purpose flour. Metric: 125 g.
What changes when you substitute Bread flour?: Denser, less chewy loaf. Nearly identical.

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