Baking Powder Biscuits
Baking Powder Biscuits — An easy vintage recipe for light, fluffy homemade biscuits. Perfect with butter, jam, honey, or alongside soups and stews.
Baking Powder Biscuits
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- 8 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 heaping teaspoons shortening
- 2 cups milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Grease a cookie sheet.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture is crumbly.
- Add the milk and stir just until a soft dough forms.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead gently a few times.
- Roll out to about ½-inch thickness. Cut with a biscuit cutter.
- Place biscuits on the greased cookie sheet.
- Bake 12–14 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
Yield: About 12 biscuits
FAQ
Why are my biscuits tough?
Over-mixing or over-kneading develops too much gluten. Mix just until combined and knead only a few times.
How do I get biscuits to rise higher?
Use fresh baking powder, keep the dough soft (don’t add too much extra flour), and cut straight down with the cutter — do not twist.
Can I substitute butter for shortening?
Yes. Butter adds richer flavor, while shortening tends to make the biscuits slightly lighter and more tender.