King Arthur Flour's Never-Fail Biscuits Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Genius Recipes

April25,2021

5

8 Ratings

  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 10 minutes
  • Makes 12 biscuits

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

How to turn 2 ingredients into perfect biscuits, in less time than it takes to drink your coffee. Extra genius points: The formula is so simple, you'll probably never need to look it up again.
Serve them with butter and jam. Or honey. Or dress them like a Mainer, as Hamel recommends: Split them and dribble with cream before topping with berries and whipped cream (Are you counting? That's 3 creams!). Or embed a sugar cube doused in orange juice in each biscuit before baking, a Southern trick for a sweet, melty core that Hamel also likes. Or add herbs or bacon or cheese. Adapted slightly from PJ Hamel of King Arthur Flour. —Genius Recipes

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 6 ounces/170 grams (1 1/2 cups) self-rising flour
  • 1/8 teaspoonsalt (optional; for a saltier biscuit, add up to to 1/4 teaspoon)
  • 6 ounces/170 grams (3/4 cup) heavy or whipping cream
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 450° F, with a rack in the top third of the oven.
  2. Mix the flour and salt together (if using), then add the cream until smooth and batter-like. If it's not coming together, you can use your hands to lightly knead and press it together in the bowl.
  3. Scoop 1-ounce balls of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a couple of inches between them. A tablespoon cookie scoop works well here. Alternately, pat the dough 3/4 inch thick and cut biscuits with a cutter, if desired. (At this point the biscuits can be frozen and baked straight from the freezer.)
  4. Brush the tops of the biscuits with cream, milk, or water.
  5. Bake the biscuits 10 minutes or so, or until they are light golden brown on top and baked all the way through. Break one open to make sure they're done!
  6. Serve warm or at room temperature; to store, wrap well in plastic wrap and leave at room temperature. To keep them longer, store in the freezer.

Tags:

  • Biscuit
  • Bread
  • American
  • Cheese
  • Milk/Cream
  • Make Ahead
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Father's Day
  • Fall
  • Summer
  • Mother's Day
  • Easter

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Kelsey Parker

  • Melissa Y

  • Jen

  • Angie

  • Verónica Polanco

Recipe by: Genius Recipes

Popular on Food52

28 Reviews

weshook November 7, 2020

Just made these with diy self-rising flour and canned coconut milk (thicker than the beverage coconut milk) with about 1/2 teaspoon added coconut oil. Delicious, tender. They didn't brown much but that is usually the case with non-dairy baking. I also would make the batch into fewer, larger biscuits next time.

weshook November 7, 2020

Oh, I made a half batch, so that would be a teaspoon of coconut oil. I melted it and add the coconut milk to it and then stir so it combined before adding to the flour mixture.

kat159 October 15, 2021

I wish you would have told us about the recipe that was posted here and not the one you made instead

weshook October 16, 2021

Ok, I did make them as written but didn't comment on that. They were tender and tasty, but smaller than I expected. Easy to make. I thought highly enough of them that I gifted the self-raising flour mixed withe the added salt and cream as a biscuit kit for Christmas.

LaineyBakes August 8, 2020

I made these this morning - the first time I’ve used Self-Rising Flour and the first time I’ve made drop biscuits, so was eager to see how they turned out because... biscuits! Since I’ve never made this type of biscuit, I’m not sure if they came out right. They didn’t rise at all, it seems. They were, however, light, tender and tasty, which makes them a success regardless of their lack of stature. The fact they are so simple and quick to throw together makes them perfect for that GOTTA HAVE BISCUITS NOW craving everyone has, or is that just me....

bonnie R. February 12, 2020

i was raised around biscuits. my grandmother made them three times a day. i have never made a good biscuit in my life -- until today. as i made them i kept telling my spouse that, "ha ha, these will never work!" i was so wrong. they are way too good to be this easy and best of all, i feel like a master baker. unfortunately, they are so easy you can make them everyday and gain 120 pounds. haven't tried baking straight from the freezer but that's next.

Kelsey P. November 3, 2019

These are amazing. As a mother of two under three, I’m always looking for recipes I can make quickly and easily with a toddler’s help. We’ve now made these every other week for months! Highly recommend.

Alicia July 28, 2019

I am not a particularly proficient baker in the slightest, but in my thirties I've discovered a fondness for biscuits that I'm trying to satiate. I tend to overwork the dough but this super easy, super quick recipe yielded light, fluffy biscuits for even someone has heavy handed as myself. I can't wait to try adding flavors!

Melissa Y. November 18, 2017

So you don't have to Google how to make self-rising flour :)
1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour.
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder.
1/4 teaspoon salt.
and why it might be worth the investment:
Self-rising flour is flour with the baking powder and a bit of salt already added. It's a staple in many Southern recipes; it's traditionally made from a softer, lower protein version of all-purpose flour, which is what grows there. This version, which uses higher-protein all-purpose flour, can be used in any recipe that calls for self-rising flour; be prepared to reduce the liquid in the recipe somewhat, and expect the results to be a bit less tender.
https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/homemade-self-rising-flour-recipe

Jen March 28, 2017

Wow! These were so yummy! I don't keep self-rising flour on hand so I made it by adding baking soda and salt to regular flour (recipe on King Arthur's website) and it worked beautifully! Enjoying my second biscuit with strawberry jam and trying to keep the keyboard clean... :)

Angie December 24, 2016

I tried these last week and am making another batch tonight. So easy and surprisingly light and fluffy. A friend snagged the recipe from me and said she loved them too -- she made her own self-rising flour instead of buying it and the recipe still came out great.

Verónica P. September 6, 2015

I've tried this tonight...amazing! I absolutely love this recipe.

Bethany B. June 10, 2015

I just made these with rhubarb and a little sugar, and they turned out awesome! I was worried about the moisture in the rhubarb turning everything to mush, but the biscuits turned out perfect.

thekezzagirl May 8, 2015

These turned out great! I made a batch of plain and a batch with chives and cheese. They turned out beautifully light and fluffy. I'm based in the UK and used whipping cream.

Angela April 7, 2015

I don't have self-rising flour. What would I need to add to all-purpose/wheat flour to be able to make these biscuits? They sound deliciously simple!

Kelsey April 2, 2015

My boyfriend and I made these the other day, they are wonderful! I was curious though, could I replace the heavy cream with Crème fraîche? I wonder if this would work and in turn make them slightly more moist....? If anyone has any idea let me know, thanks!

CT March 21, 2015

Thank you for sharing. These were absolutely great with homemade blueberry jam. I added an additional 1/8 cup of heavy whipping cream and this worked well. This recipe is certainly a keeper!

Linktransl March 19, 2015

The end of Step 3 indicates "At this point the biscuits can be frozen and baked straight from the freezer." Please clarify what the baking instructions would be for baking from frozen. I tried to bake frozen and formed biscuits to go with dinner tonight by preheating the oven to 450 and baking them for 15 minutes. The results were disappointing; this method yielded beautifully browned tops but burned bottoms and undercooked centers.

Jane November 1, 2016

I'm also wondering what the answer is to this...

Paula G. March 17, 2015

These are very tasty little nuggets even using my Not-King Arthur's best by June 2012 self-rising flour. Looking forward to making these again with new flour!

mshlm March 15, 2015

do you mix it together with an electric beater?

Kristen M. March 16, 2015

No, just by hand with a wooden spoon. Here are some photos from the article page that should help: https://food52.com/blog/12475-king-arthur-flour-s-2-ingredient-never-fail-biscuits

Barbara T. March 12, 2015

Can I use Half&Half?

KAF March 13, 2015

I doubt it. The full fat cream replaces the fat from butter.

suzi March 12, 2015

in place of dairy. sorry.

suzi March 12, 2015

any reason why this wouldn't work with full fat coconut milk?

Kristen M. March 13, 2015

Suzi, on the original article page, mrslarkin (a pro baker and the person who sent me this recipe) recommended doing this with a little extra coconut oil to replace some of the lost fat.

Marmalady December 4, 2015

I know this is an old post, but did you end up trying with coconut milk? how were they? thanks!

King Arthur Flour's Never-Fail Biscuits Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to an excellent biscuit? ›

Do not Overwork Biscuit Dough. Handle the dough as little as possible. Every time you touch, knead and fold, you are developing gluten. The more developed the gluten, the tougher the biscuit.

What makes biscuits rise and fluffy? ›

Fully incorporating the butter and flour guarantees tender, airy biscuits every time. Low-protein flours keep biscuits fluffy and light, never tough. Yogurt provides both hydration and structure, for biscuits that bake up straight and tall but moist.

How do you make biscuits that don't fall apart? ›

Falling apart

The likelihood here is that your recipe needs a bit more liquid, or your recipe has too high a ratio of flour. Be sparing with any flour you put on the work surface to roll your dough too. Too much will dry it out and cause the cookie to crumble (so to speak).

What are the two most important steps in biscuit baking? ›

The two keys to success in making the best biscuits are handling the dough as little as possible as well as using very cold solid fat (butter, shortening, or lard) and cold liquid.

What type of flour makes the best biscuits? ›

The Bottom Line

I personally think that biscuits are at their best when you use a fine pastry-type flour like White Lily or Bob's Pastry flour. BUT, all-purpose flour is absolutely an option. I actually think that your technique when making biscuits is just as - if not, more - important than the flour you use.

What kind of flour do Southerners use for biscuits? ›

White Lily brand flour, especially the self-rising flour, is the gold standard among Southern cooks who make biscuits on a regular basis. White lily, self rising. I use it for everything except those thing I make using either cake flour or yeast.

Are biscuits better with butter or shortening? ›

The butter version rises the highest — look at those flaky layers! The shortening biscuit is slightly shorter and a bit drier, too. Butter contains a bit of water, which helps create steam and gives baked goods a boost.

Should you let biscuit dough rest? ›

Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 30 minutes. Gently pat out the dough some more, so that the rectangle is roughly 10 inches by 6 inches. Cut dough into biscuits using a floured biscuit cutter (or even a glass, though its duller edge may result in slightly less tall biscuits).

What is the secret to high rising biscuits? ›

Use very cold butter.

When the biscuits go in the oven, the butter will melt and cause steam. This buttery steam, in turn, helps produce flaky layers and a higher lift to the biscuits.

How can I get my biscuits to rise higher? ›

Bake them close to each other.

Biscuits are an exception to this rule: Placing them close to one another on your baking sheet actually helps them push each other up, as they impede each other from spreading outward and instead puff up skywards.

Why do my homemade biscuits taste like flour? ›

While over-handling your biscuit dough can make your baked goods turn out like hockey pucks, under-mixing it while you're still adding all of your ingredients can result in floury or grainy biscuits.

When cutting out your biscuits Why should you dip the cutter in flour? ›

If you smoosh the sides of the dough, your biscuits will be sloped on the sides and misshapen. To cut out your dough properly, press straight down instead of twisting. Dip the cutter in flour repeatedly to keep it from sticking. Transfer the circles of dough carefully to your baking sheet without pressing on the sides.

Is it better to use milk or buttermilk in biscuits? ›

Buttermilk adds a nice tang to the biscuit flavor and helps them rise better.

How long should you knead biscuit dough? ›

DO NOT OVERMIX. Dough will not be completely smooth. Gather dough into a ball and knead on lightly floured surface quickly and gently, about 6 to 8 times, just until no longer sticky. The kneading is meant only to flatten the pieces of fat into flakes, not to blend fat completely with the flour.

What is the basic biscuit formula? ›

The basic formula is as follows: 2 cups AP flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 6 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup milk—and the add-in(s) of your choice. I'm giving you two savory options. The red is a sun-dried tomato and cheddar biscuit with paprika and a touch of cayenne.

What is the king of biscuit? ›

Pillai became known in India as the 'Biscuit King' or 'Biscuit Baron'. He took over Nabisco's other Asian subsidiaries. Pillai then established links with Boussois-Souchon-Neuvesel (BSN), the French food company, and by 1989 controlled six Asian companies worth over US$400 million.

What is the most important step in biscuit making? ›

Mixing. The multi-stage mixing method is preferred for its ability to produce consistent doughs which are not fully developed. Blending all dry ingredients to rub or cut the shortening into the flour until fat is fully distributed and pea-sized lumps are visible.

What makes Southern biscuits so good? ›

Southern cooks have several tricks when it comes to making tender and delicious biscuits, from the cutters they use, to the type and amount of liquid incorporated, to the number of kneads required to turn out a perfect dough. The not-so-secret ingredient they rely upon is soft wheat flour.

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