Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (2024)

4.67 from 6 votes

6 Comments

Apr 12, 2019

(updated Jan 13, 2024)

by Kimberlee Ho

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Follow these steps at home to bake flaky, fluffy biscuits using just 2 simple ingredients: self-rising flour and cold heavy cream. There’s no need to add additional ingredients such as melted butter!

This is an easy and quick cream biscuit recipe that's ready in about 30 minutes start to finish. Yields a small batch of 6 perfect biscuits. Serve the biscuits warm, fresh out of the oven with Berry Jam or Peach Jam.

Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (1)

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Why you'll love this recipe for homemade self rising biscuits

  • the best biscuits with only two ingredients! As a seasoned home baker, I have tested many biscuit recipes in my home kitchen and this recipe always comes out on top as the easiest and fluffiest
  • super easy recipe that's ready in about 30 minutes start to finish
  • those flaky layers in these 2-ingredient cream biscuits
  • this biscuit dough can be made into drop biscuits just as easily as cut biscuits
  • this recipe makes a small batch of 6 perfect biscuits; if you want larger biscuits, you can certainly make those, too

The two ingredients that make up these perfect biscuits are self-rising flour and heavy cream. If you jumped ahead and read the recipe below, you'll see that there is an optional third ingredient, sugar.

Looking for more breakfast recipe ideas? Make some self-rising flour pancakes if you have extra self-rising flour. These pancakes make for a fluffy, diner-like, syrup drenched breakfast!

Include the sugar if you and/or your guests like these heavy cream biscuits on the sweeter side or if you will be using these flaky biscuits in a sweet dish or dessert, such as strawberry shortcake.Omitting the sugar will result in a less sweet, more traditional biscuit.

Self-rising flour contains a leavening agent, baking powder, hence the name 'self-rising'. This flour also contains salt and it's softer than all-purpose flour, resulting in a more tender biscuit.

This is why this ingredient is perfect in this recipe. No need to add additional ingredients making this the perfect biscuit recipe with no butter or melted butter. And it gives us the texture we want in great biscuits.

If you don't have self-rising flour and/or you don't feel like running to the store to get some, you can substitute the self rising flour with all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt. See the 'Ingredients & Substitutions' section below for ingredient amounts.

Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (2)

Ingredients & Substitutions for 30 minute biscuits

  • Self-rising flour - this ingredient helps make tender, flaky biscuits. To substitute, replace the self-rising flour with 2 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt.
  • Heavy cream - keep it cold until you mix it in, not room temperature; you'll need a little extra for brushing the tops of the biscuits just before baking. The cream can be substituted for regular milk or even buttermilk for homemade buttermilk biscuits. Be sure to use cold buttermilk. I would recommend using whole milk vs skim milk in this recipe if substituting
  • Sugar - optional
Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (3)

How to make these biscuits

Step 1

To start, add the flour to a large mixing bowl. Whisk in the sugar, if using

Step 2

With a wooden spoon (no need for a pastry cutter), mix the flour mixture while drizzling in the heavy cream. Continue mixing until a lumpy, soft dough forms. Do not over mix, as this will create dry biscuits.

You do not want dry, tough biscuits; you want a good biscuit that's tender, so mix just until the dry ingredients have been moistened by the cream

Step 3

Next, remove the dough from the bowl and place on a lightly floured cutting board or clean countertop. Using a rolling pin, gently roll the dough out into a square.

To create those flaky layers: Take the right third of the dough and fold to the center. Repeat with the left side of the dough, placing the left side over the center, like you're folding a letter into thirds. You should now have a rectangle measuring about 12 inches by 4 inches.

Fold the top third down to the center then fold the bottom third of the dough to the center. You should now have a square of dough. Press the dough gently and roll out again into a 12-inch square. Repeat the folding process once more (see photo for reference)

Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (4)
Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (5)

Step 4

Gently roll the dough out into an 8-inch square. The dough should be about an inch thick. Using a biscuit cutter or a drinking glass turned upside down, press down, without twisting and turning the cutter, to cut out biscuit rounds. Carefully lift the biscuit rounds onto a prepared baking sheet. Press the remaining dough together and cut out additional biscuits. Typically I get about 6 to 8 biscuits out of this dough.

Step 5

Brush the tops of the biscuits lightly with additional heavy cream.

Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (7)

Step 6

Bake for about 12 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Consider pairing these gorgeous two ingredient biscuits with my mixed berry jam or peach jam!

Pro tips

  • If you do not have self-rising flour, you can substitute 2 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt. Note: The biscuits may not be as tender as with self-rising flour
  • Mix the ingredients just until combined - do not overmix to prevent dry, tough biscuits
  • Avoid twisting and turning the biscuit cutter when cutting out the biscuits. Press the biscuit cutter firmly straight down through the dough then lift it straight back out of the dough. This technique will preserve the tender texture of the biscuits, the well-defined layers and allow the dough to rise evenly
  • Take the time to make an extra batch and freeze them so you always have some available for a meal! You can freeze them for up to 3 months, baked or unbaked. Be sure to cut out the biscuit dough then freeze, so they'll be ready to bake once you've thawed them at room temperature
  • To make self rising flour drop biscuits, after you've mixed the dough, scoop dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the tops with cream and bake
  • Biscuits are best served warm fresh out of the oven or re-warmed in the oven. Top with butter, mixed berry jam, peach jam or a dollop of whipped cream and strawberries!
Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (8)

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FAQs about this self rising biscuits recipe

Is self rising flour vs all purpose flour better for biscuits?

The mixture of hard and soft wheat in the flour along with leavening agents and salt makes self rising flour unique from all-purpose flour. This recipe was created with that in mind. This type of flour eliminates the need for many ingredients in the recipe and yields tender, flaky, hot biscuits.

What is a good self rising flour substitute?

If you do not have self-rising flour, you can substitute 2 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt.

Why are my biscuits not rising?

This happens for a couple of reasons. Check to make sure you are using self rising flour and that the flour is fresh. If you replace self rising flour with all-purpose flour without adding baking powder and salt, the biscuits will not rise. If your flour is expired or old, the biscuits may not rise.

Why are my homemade biscuits hard?

This could happen if you didn't measure your flour correctly. Use the scoop and level technique to avoid adding too much flour to the biscuit dough. Scoop the flour into the measuring cup with a spoon, without packing it down. Level off the top of the measuring cup with a knife, making sure not to pack it down.

Can you substitute buttermilk for heavy cream?

Yes, you can substitute buttermilk in this recipe for the heavy cream. Make sure the buttermilk is cold for the fluffiest homemade biscuits.

More recipes

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  • Jerusalem Bagels
  • Homemade English Muffin Sandwich Bread
  • Honey Wheat Sandwich Bread

For more breakfast recipes, check these out.

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Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (13)

Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits

Follow these steps at home to bake flaky, fluffy biscuits using just 2 simple ingredients: self-rising flour and cold heavy cream. There’s no need to add additional ingredients such as melted butter! This is an easy and quick cream biscuit recipe that's ready in about 30 minutes start to finish. Yields a small batch of 6 perfect biscuits. Serve the biscuits warm, fresh out of the oven.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes minutes

Course: Bread, Breakfast, Brunch, Sides, Snacks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 2 ingredient biscuits, biscuits, breakfast, heavy cream, self rising biscuits, self rising flour, self rising flour biscuits

Servings: 6

Calories: 357kcal

Author: Kimberlee Ho

US Customary - Metric

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces self-rising flour
  • 10 ounces heavy cream plus more for brushing biscuits
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

  • Place a piece ofparchment paperonto abaking sheetand set aside.

  • Place flour in a large bowl and whisk in sugar, if using. While stirring with a wooden spoon, drizzle in cream. Stir until a lumpy dough is formed. Do not over mix.

    10 ounces self-rising flour, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 10 ounces heavy cream

  • With a rolling pin, roll the dough into an 12-inch square.

  • Using a bench scraper or sturdy spatula, fold dough like you would a piece of paper you are putting into an envelope – fold the right third of the dough over the center, then fold the left third over so you end up with a 12 x 4 inch rectangle.

  • Next, fold the top third down over the center, then fold the bottom third up so the whole thing is reduced to a square.

  • Press the square down and roll it out again into a 12-inch square.

  • Repeat the folding process once more, then roll the dough into an 8-inch square.

  • Using a 3- to 4-inch biscuit cutter or a glass turned upside down, cut out rounds by pressing cutter straight down. Do not twist cutter back and forth.

  • Transfer biscuits to prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Press together scraps to form additional biscuits.

  • Brush tops of biscuits with cream and bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Allow to cool slightly then serve.

Notes

  • To store, place in an airtight ziptop bag or container. These biscuits keep at room temperature 3-4 days. You can refrigerate up to a week or freeze up to 3 months
  • Unbaked biscuits can be frozen up to 3 months. Be sure to cut out the biscuit dough then freeze, so they'll be ready to bake. Thaw at room temperature then bake
  • To make self rising flour drop biscuits, after you've mixed the dough, scoop dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the tops with cream and bake
  • Recipe adapted from Serious Eats

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 41.6g | Protein: 6.3g | Fat: 18.4g | Saturated Fat: 11.5g | Cholesterol: 56.1mg | Sodium: 14.4mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 5.7g

Did you make this recipe?Tag @kickassbaker on Instagram so I can see!

Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (14)

Filed Under

BreadsBreakfastOne BowlSmall BatchUnder 30 MinutesIntermediate

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    Comments

  1. Paulette

    Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (15)
    2 ingredient recipe for biscuits. Tasty, tender BUT they did not rise. Yes, I used self rising flour (fresh) and heavy cream. Followed recipe for over heat and time of cooking. Did not twist cookie cutter, etc. What the heck did I do wrong?

    Reply

    • Kim

      Hmmm.... it's really hard to say without seeing what you did.. Ive made this recipe numerous times and they've always turned out like the ones pictured. I hope you'll try again someday!

      Reply

  2. Katrina Heffinger (JellyBean Bakery Del Mar)

    Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (16)
    Well, I was out of 'Grands' canned biscuits this morning, but REALLY craving a ham biscuit (lots of Thanksgiving spiral ham left over)... so I headed on over to one of my favorite go-to sites to see if there is a good recipe and as usual, Kim saves the day AGAIN!

    These two (or 3) ingredient biscuits are truly super easy to make and really are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I decided to go with an optional 1 tblsp of sugar and made sure to be gentle with the dough as advised, and then cut them out with the top of canning jar (since I was too lazy to go find a circle cookie cutter at 7 am). They baked up so pretty and fluffy, and I ended up having two immediately (one with ham, one with jam)!

    Five stars for sure *****

    Thanks Kim, love all your recipes so much!

    Reply

    • Kim

      That's such a great review! I'm so so happy these biscuits made your weekend after Thanksgiving breakfast so wonderful. They are certainly a treat and such an easy recipe - I, too, and thankful for this recipe!

      Reply

  3. Stephanie

    Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (17)
    I made these this morning, with the added sugar, and they were great! I read the comment about the biscuits not rising, so before I cut mine out I went to the photo of your cut out biscuits and noticed mine were a bit thinner. So, I refolded the dough a third time and rolled it out to about a 6-6.5” square instead of 8”. I rerolled the scraps and got eight biscuits out of the dough in total. They rose beyond my expectations and looked so professional. Tasted it too! Thanks for the great instructions and photos to follow along.

    Reply

    • Kimberlee Ho

      This is really helpful, Stephanie, thanks for sharing! So glad you loved them 😊

      Reply

Flaky 2-Ingredient Self-Rising Flour Biscuits - Kickass Baker (2024)
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