Easy Flaky Biscuits without Baking Powder

Name: Easy Flaky Biscuits without Baking Powder
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 cups self rising flour (260g - I used White Lily’s Self Rising Flour (see notes for a version with all purpose)); 6 tbsp room temp. shortening or salted butter of choice; ¾ cup dairy-free buttermilk (1 tbsp white vinegar + ¾ cup dairy free milk of choice); ½ tsp salt (optional- if using an unsalted self rising flour or butter); Flaky Sea Salt; Melted Dairy Free Butter

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These super easy, homemade biscuits without baking powder or baking soda are fluffy, buttery, and SO flaky with a crisp bottom crust. They take less than 25 minutes to make, only require 1 bowl, and 4 simple ingredients.

These biscuits are made without adding baking powder because self-rising flour already has it built in. If you don’t have self-rising on hand, there’s a version in the notes using all-purpose flour and baking soda.

flaky vegan biscuits without baking powder. — flaky vegan biscuits without baking powder

Why You’ll Love These Easy Biscuits without Baking Powder

Here are a few reasons we love this recipe and you will too:

Emily’s Recipe Notes:

Fluffy Biscuits with Flaky Layers: Self-rising flour gives these biscuits a wonderfully fluffy texture and shortening or plant-based butter creates ‘buttery’ flaky layers.
Easy Homemade Biscuit Recipe: No baking powder is required for this easy recipe! You only need a 4 ingredients and a couple of steps to make these flaky biscuits from scratch.
Dairy Free & Vegan Friendly: this recipe easily swaps dairy-based butter and buttermilk with a 1:1 ratio for plant butter and dairy free milk, making these easy biscuits vegan friendly!

Why We Love These Fluffy Biscuits: These biscuits are so quick and easy…perfect for breakfast, brunch or dinner. I especially love eating these flaky biscuits for breakfast or brunch with a bit of jam, or serving them with gravy for a filling and cozy dinner (like in my vegan biscuits & gravy recipe!).

Ingredients:

Today we’re using basic ingredients to make the best biscuits without baking powder or baking soda. These biscuits are easily made dairy free and vegan but can be made with regular ingredients as well.

The self-rising flour already contains baking powder, baking soda, and salt, so all we need to add is fat for moisture and acid to help the biscuits rise. Acidic ingredients create the chemical reaction that helps the biscuits rise. Traditionally, acidic ingredients used in biscuits are buttermilk, yogurt, or even sour cream.

This biscuit recipe is adapted from my mom’s non-vegan recipe. A few simple swaps for dairy based butter and milk and we have a vegan version of buttermilk biscuits without baking powder.

What You’ll Need:

Self Rising Flour, like White Lily Self Rising Flour
Crisco Shortening or Dairy Free Butter
Dairy Free Buttermilk (vinegar + plant milk), or regular buttermilk if not dairy free

White Lily Self Rising Flour. — White Lily Self Rising Flour

Substitutions

Self Rising Flour: White Lily Self Rising Flour can be substituted for all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. However, White Lily Flour is made with soft winter wheat which results in fluffy, tender biscuits. If using all-purpose flour, the biscuits will be a bit less tender.

Vegan Butter: the vegan butter in the biscuits can be substituted for shortening (like Crisco). Dairy-free butter can also be substituted with a 1:1 ratio with dairy butter.

Vinegar: I typically use apple cider vinegar in my non-dairy buttermilk, however, white vinegar or lemon juice can be used instead.

The Best Plant-Based Milk for Dairy Free Buttermilk

I’ve found the best non-dairy milk for these easy homemade vegan biscuits are:

Almond Milk
Oat Milk
Soy Milk

Try not to use very flavorful dairy-free milk like coconut milk. It’s best to use one that has a more neutral flavor.

homemade dairy free biscuits with self rising flour. — homemade dairy free biscuits with self rising flour

Helpful Equipment

Large Bowl
Cast Iron Skillet or Baking Sheet
Pastry Cutter or Pastry Blender

Step-by-step Instructions

🎥 *Video Tutorial is Above the Recipe Card Below!*

STEP 1: Put a baking pan / cookie sheet or cast iron skillet with about 1 tbsp of butter in the preheating oven to heat up. (This helps make the crust on the bottom of the biscuits). Remove the preheated, buttered pan from the oven after about 5 minutes.

TIP: This can also be done on the stovetop if using a cast iron pan.

Making the Dough

STEP 2: In a large mixing bowl, add the self-rising flour and salt (if using unsalted butter or a self rising flour without salt added). Mix well.

STEP 3: Then, add the room temp. vegan butter or shortening and blend with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

self rising flour in a large bowl. — self rising flour and vegan butter in a large bowl

STEP 4: If using dairy free buttermilk- mix the dairy-free milk and vinegar in a measuring cup. Let the mixture curdle for 1-2 minutes. Pour in 1/2 cup of the buttermilk. Mix to combine. If the mixture looks too dry and isn’t coming together, continue adding the remaining buttermilk until the dough comes together nicely. It should be soft and moist, but not sticky or soggy.

TIP: Weather, room temperature and elevation all impact how flour absorbs liquid when baking. If the mixture needs more liquid slowly add the remaining ¼ cup until the dough forms.

biscuit dough on a floured surface. — biscuit dough on a floured surface

Shaping the Biscuits

STEP 5: Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface (or onto parchment paper); knead lightly just until it forms a nice disc to roll. Press it into a rough rectangle and fold the dough 4 or 5 times onto itself. This helps make the flaky layers.

the folded biscuit dough. — the folded biscuit dough

STEP 6: Press the dough into a rectangle (or use a rolling pin), about ¾” thick. Using a biscuit cutter or a circular glass, cut the dough into 6-8 biscuits, about 2-3” in diameter.

shaped biscuit dough. — the shaped dough

STEP 7: Place the biscuits in the preheated skillet or pan (5-6 on outside 1 in the middle). Brush tops with more melted butter and sprinkle lightly with coarse salt.

biscuits in the preheated pan. — biscuits in the preheated pan

STEP 8: Bake at 475° for 10 minutes then decrease the heat to 450° and bake for 5-6 more minutes. They will be light golden brown and should rise to 1 1/2 -2 inches high. Cool on rack or serve warm.

Serving

These homemade easy flaky biscuits are so tasty straight out of the oven. I love to serve them with a smear of plant based butter and strawberry jelly.

You could also top them with breakfast sausage gravy to make Biscuits & Gravy.

Storage

The flaky biscuits are best enjoyed the same day when warm, but they are still very tasty the second day!

Room Temperature: The leftover biscuits can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Freezer: for frozen biscuits, place the cooled biscuits in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for 2-3 months.

flaky homemade biscuits with agave. — flaky homemade biscuits with agave

Helpful Tips For Amazing Biscuits

Below are a few tips for the best, fluffy vegan biscuits without baking powder!

Preheat the Skillet with Butter: placing the biscuit dough in a hot pan helps create a crispy bottom crust on the cooked biscuits!
Fold the Biscuit Dough On Top of Itself: this creates the best flaky layers.
Top with Flaky Salt: for more flavor, sprinkle a little flaky salt on the tops of the biscuits before baking.

these create the best flavor & texture!

baked flaky biscuits using White Lily Flour. — baked flaky biscuits using White Lily Flour

FAQ

What replaces the leavening agent in these biscuits without baking powder?

This recipe uses self rising flour which already contains baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

How do I make dairy free biscuits?

To make dairy free buttermilk biscuits, use vegan butter or shortening to replace dairy-based butter. You can make homemade dairy-free buttermilk by mixing 1 tbsp of vinegar with 3/4 cup of dairy free milk. My favorite vegan butter brands are Country Crock Plant Butter and Earth Balance Buttery Sticks.

Can I make biscuits without self rising flour and without baking powder?

If you don’t have self rising flour or baking powder, you could try making these biscuits with only baking soda. However, they won’t be as fluffy as biscuits with self-rising flour. Simply use 2 cups (260g) of all purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, and ½ tsp salt instead of the self-rising flour.

Can I use cold butter in these biscuits?

Yes, you can use cold butter in this recipe. However, I’ve found room-temperature shortening or dairy-free butter are easier to cut into the flour. If using cold butter, you can actually use a cheese grater to grate it into the flour mixture.

Can I use regular milk to make these biscuits without baking powder?

Dairy-free milk can be subbed 1 for 1 with regular milk. If using regular milk, I recommend adding in vinegar or lemon juice like the recipe highlights below.

More Breakfast & Brunch Recipes:

Did You Make This easy biscuit recipe without baking powder ?

I’d love to know! Leave a star rating and comment below!

flaky homemade biscuits without baking powder.

Easy Flaky Biscuits without Baking Powder

5 from 5 votes

By Emily

Easy homemade biscuits that are fluffy, buttery, and flaky with a crispy bottom crust. Made with just 4 simple ingredients, 1 bowl, and ready in 25 minutes—no extra leaveners needed when using self-rising flour. Prefer all-purpose flour? There’s a baking soda version in the notes.

6 Biscuits

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings Biscuits

6 Biscuits

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups self rising flour, 260g – I used White Lily’s Self Rising Flour (see notes for a version with all purpose)
▢ 6 tbsp room temp. shortening or salted butter of choice, like Country Crock Plant Butter to make these vegan & dairy free
▢ ¾ cup dairy-free buttermilk, 1 tbsp white vinegar + ¾ cup dairy free milk of choice
▢ ½ tsp salt, optional- if using an unsalted self rising flour or butter

Baking

▢ Flaky Sea Salt
▢ Melted Dairy Free Butter

Instructions

For a version without self rising flour, see the notes below.
Preheat the oven to 475° Fahrenheit.
Put a baking pan or a 10 or 12" cast iron skillet with about 1 tbsp of vegan butter in the preheating oven to heat up.
This helps make the crust on the bottom of the biscuits. Remove the preheated, buttered pan from the oven after about 5 minutes.
In a medium mixing bowl combine self rising flour & salt (if using) with a fork. Whisk well.
2 cups self rising flour, ½ tsp salt
Add the room temp. vegan butter or shortening and blend with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
6 tbsp room temp. shortening or salted butter of choice
If using dairy free buttermilk- mix the dairy-free milk and vinegar in a measuring cup. Let the mixture curdle for 1-2 minutes. Pour in 1/2 cup of the buttermilk. Mix to combine.
If the mixture looks too dry and isn't coming together, continue adding the remaining buttermilk until the dough comes together nicely. It should be soft and moist, but not sticky or soggy.
¾ cup dairy-free buttermilk
Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead lightly and press the dough into a rough rectangle. Fold the dough 4 or 5 times onto itself. This helps make the flaky layers.
Press or gently roll the dough into a rectangle, about ¾” thick. Using a biscuit cutter or a circular glass, cut the dough into 6-8 biscuits, about 2-3” in diameter.
Place the biscuits in the preheated skillet or pan (6 on outside 1 in the middle). Brush tops with dairy free butter and sprinkle lightly with coarse salt.
Melted Dairy Free Butter, Flaky Sea Salt
Bake at 475° Fahrenheit for 10 minutes then decrease the heat to 450° Fahrenheit and bake for 5-6 more minutes.They will be light golden brown and should rise to 1 1/2 -2 inches high. Cool on rack or serve warm.

Video

Recipe notes

Can I make biscuits without self rising flour and without baking powder?

If you don’t have self rising flour or baking powder, you could try making these biscuits with only baking soda. However, they won’t be as fluffy as biscuits with self-rising flour.

Use 2 cups (260g) of all purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, and ½ tsp salt instead of the self-rising flour.

Can I use regular milk to make biscuits without baking powder?

Dairy-free milk can be subbed 1 for 1 with regular milk. If using regular milk, I recommend adding in vinegar or lemon juice like the recipe highlights above. You can also swap the dairy free buttermilk to regular dairy buttermilk.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 4gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 736mgFiber: 1g

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Baked Goods

Cuisine American

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