When it comes to accessories or lingerie, less is often more. That principle applies to food as well, like when your recipe calls for a "scant" measurement -- one that is not quite up to the full amount. Properly measuring a scant cup of flour will ensure that your recipe comes out just as you had intended.
Scoop the flour into a measuring cup.
Tap the cup gently against the counter to tamp down the flour, eyeing the level to see how much flour you’ve added.
Add more flour to fill the cup about 7/8 full, or to just below the full-cup indicator, if necessary.
Remove any excess flour with the scoop to ensure you do not have a full cup.