Whether you’ve got flour in the cupboard or not, the magic of a home-baked cake is never out of reach. In place of traditional wheat flour, sub in almond meal, polenta or semolina. Each lends its own character to a flourless cake — a nutty richness here, a toasy flavour there. While they behave differently in the bowl, they reward the baker with textures that range from lush and fudgy to light and cloud-like — perfect for everything from a rich torte to an airy…

