Self raising flour?

[flowergrader]

Help needed from the good people of forum land please!!!

I know that self raising flour is 'farine a gateau' in France however does it do the same as s/r flour or do I need to add something else to pep it up a bit?

Tried making a Victoria sponge, as I have done successfully loads of times before in England, and 'twas a complete disaster although on a positive note it did taste OK, just a bit 'dense'!

Any ideas as to what may be going wrong would be gratefully appreciated.

Regards
Mrs FG xxx

[Deleted]

I've also tried to make sponges, cup cakes (buns as my Mum calls them) and muffins with the S/R flour here, with a similar lack of success, with and without baking powder. I have yet to try and add some yeast but have become really disheartened by my failures. Strangely my Mum also complains about the S/R flour she gets and pays a bit extra now for a known make like McDougalls.

However, I use supermarket own brand 'farine a gateaux' to make scones which are a great success, though maybe some of this is down to the hand kneading I don't know.

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[Em]

I buy "plain" flour and add raising agent works better. I buy my flour and raising agent at lidl.

[Deleted]

Raising agent Em?....do you mean yeast or does Lidl carry secret ingredients?

[Ali]

Must admit my cakes have been ok with farine a gateau but I guess soggy and dense has always been an adequate description of my offerings

fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levure_chimique

Levure chimique is the raising agent, pink packets, usually on lower shelves of cake making ingreds.

[Em]

I have no idea but lidl brand of baking powder works the best it's in an orange packet.... I always use farine fluide as the cheaper flour is bettween bread flour and english plain flour it gives dense cakes.
I should add I use a tiny bit more than it says on the packet where it says 5g I use 7g.........

[flowergrader]

Thanks everyone, will have to give raising agents a try.

The only down side to dodgy cakes is I have to eat them up rather than share, don't like to throw them away, so not great for the diet!!!

Mrs FG xxx

[Deleted]

I always buy my flour in Netto both plain and self raising.Never have any problem with it.As some peeps can vouch for.

[Elkay]

Feb 15, 2014 20:35:33 GMT 1 @sabjac said:

I always buy my flour in Netto both plain and self raising.Never have any problem with it.As some peeps can vouch for.

Certainly can