Easy Self-Rising Biscuits

There's always time to make biscuits with this easy self-rising biscuits recipe! Just add a few pantry staples and you'll have these 3-ingredient biscuits coming out of your oven in no time. Best of all, they are pleasantly crunchy on the outside yet moist and tender on the inside. You'll be making biscuits every day of the week once you try this recipe.

Prep
10 mins
Bake
10 to 14 mins
Total
20 mins
Yield
about 1 dozen 2" biscuits
Easy Self-Rising Biscuits - select to zoom
Easy Self-Rising Biscuits - select to zoom
Easy Self-Rising Biscuits - select to zoom
Easy Self-Rising Biscuits - select to zoom

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

  2. Place the flour in a bowl. Work in the butter or shortening just until crumbs are the size of large peas.

  3. Add 2/3 cup (152g) of the milk or buttermilk, and stir until the mixture holds together and leaves the sides of the bowl, adding more milk or buttermilk if needed.

  4. Scoop the dough onto a well-floured surface, and fold it over on itself several times, using more flour as needed to prevent sticking.

  5. Roll or pat the dough into a 5" x 8 1/2" rectangle about 1/2" to 3/4" thick.

  6. Cut biscuits with a sharp, round 2" cutter, dipping the cutter into flour between cuts to reduce sticking. Or cut the rectangle into 12 small rectangular biscuits, which will allow you to skip the step of re-rolling and cutting scraps.

  7. If you've used a round cutter, pat the scraps together, and cut additional biscuits.

  8. Place the biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving about 1" between them for crisp biscuits. Arrange biscuits so they're barely touching for soft-side biscuits. For higher-rising soft-side biscuits, place biscuits in an 8" round pan.

  9. Bake the biscuits for 10 to 14 minutes, or until they're a light golden brown.

  10. Remove them from the oven, and serve hot. Cool leftovers completely, wrap airtight, and store at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage. To refresh Easy Self-Rising Biscuits that have been stored at room temperature, place on a baking sheet, tent lightly with foil, and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 10 to 13 minutes, until heated through.

Tips from our Bakers

  • To make a sweeter, shortcake-type biscuit, add 3 tablespoons sugar to the flour, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to the milk.
  • For cheese biscuits, mix 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard and a pinch of cayenne pepper with the flour; work in the butter or shortening, then toss in 1 cup shredded cheese before adding the milk.
  • Don't have self-rising flour? Try our recipe for Buttered Biscuits using all-purpose flour.