Baking Powder Biscuits

SERVES: 12

COOK TIME: 10 Min

These homestyle Baking Powder Biscuits will literally melt in your mouth. Imagine spreading on butter or jam and taking a bite of these luscious homemade biscuits for yourself. Mmm mmm!

What You'll Need

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting biscuits
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

What to Do

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 large baking sheets.
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, the salt, baking powder, and sugar. Sift mixture into a medium bowl (see Note). Add vegetable shortening and, with your fingertips, combine ingredients until mixture has the appearance of fine crumbs.
In a small bowl, combine milk and vanilla; add to flour mixture, stirring until well mixed. Scoop dough by tablespoonfuls and drop onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1/2 inch between biscuits. Dust tops with flour.
Bake biscuits 15 to 18 minutes, until golden. Serve hot.

Note

No, it’s not necessary to sift this mixture, but sifting does give better results. You can serve these plain or with butter at dinner, or maybe with jam at breakfast. And why not serve these with fresh or thawed frozen fruit and whipped cream as a special treat?! WOW!

If you enjoyed this simple biscuit recipe, be sure to check out our collection of 14 Easy Biscuit Recipes and Homemade Roll Recipes.

For tips on how to test for baking soda and baking powder freshness, click here.

Nutritional InformationShow More

Servings Per Recipe: 12

Amount Per Serving % Daily Value *
Calories 181
Calories from Fat 82
Total Fat 9.1g 14 %
Saturated Fat 3.7g 19 %
Trans Fat 0.0g 0 %
Protein 2.8g 6 %

Amount Per Serving % Daily Value *
Cholesterol 6.4mg 2 %
Sodium 366mg 15 %
Total Carbohydrates 22g 7 %
Dietary Fiber 0.6g 2 %
Sugars 5.3g 0 %

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annehubbard 540414 6

Aug 21, 2015

This would be fine as a shortbread with strawberries... For young or inexperienced cooks, this would not be a baking powder biscuit I'd recommend for a breakfast of bacon, eggs and gravy. I can't imagine vanilla and 1/4 cup of sugar in real baking powder biscuits. 1 Tablespoon of sugar max. on biscuits.

Dawn 5077626

Aug 22, 2014

Per other comments, I agree that these sound more like a dessert biscuit. I have made biscuits this way many times since I hate to roll dough. However, why would you use your fingers to cut in the shortening? Use a pastry cutter or a fork until crumbly. I think a tablespoon of bacon grease would add wonderful flavor, don't think I'd use a full 1/2 cup though. I would also eliminate the vanilla and maybe cut sugar to no more than a tablespoon.

troycheryl 2436112

Sep 02, 2013

I just made these biscuits, and we really enjoyed them. The only thing I did different was, did not have vegetable shortening, so I used a 1/2 cup of fresh bacon grease, yes BACON Grease. Ooo my looord they were to die for. My kids just loved them, as well as my boyfriend. Very flakey and melt in your mouth.

kimmilovesmel 0381 198

Jan 07, 2013

I live at a high altitude & I usually have to halve the baking soda or powder. Do I still have to do it in this recipe since the recipe calls for so much?

Test Kitchen Team

Jan 10, 2013

For high altitudes, try the following for each teaspoon of baking powder used, reduce by 1/4 teaspoon. So, in this recipe, 4 teaspoons should be reduced by 1 teaspoon, so that you are only using 3 teaspoons total of baking powder in this recipe. However, we have not tried this in our Test Kitchen, so we can not guarantee the results. Thank you!

dearcat

Sep 06, 2012

This is an excellent recipe for a flavored biscuits, however, DO NOT flour the tops. Brush tops with butter or milk prior to baking. You can delete the vanilla for regular biscuits. I have been baking for more than 60 years and have modified many recipes.

meatandtaters

Aug 26, 2012

I think that this recipe would not be good if you wanted to sop thicknin gravy. I sounds like dessert bread to me. And the flour on top is not necessary. It won't even brown when cooked until burned.

kjac2006 7892194

Jun 25, 2012

I think I want to know if vegetable oil can be used instead of shortening fo biscuits

Test Kitchen Team

Jun 27, 2012

We would not recommend substituting the vegetable shortening with vegetable oil, it will change the texture and consistency. We have not tried the recipe with oil in our Test Kitchen, so we can not guarantee the results. Thank you for your question and enjoy!

comfortsilly 65694 17

Aug 23, 2015

For MANY years back in the 1950s and 1960s, my "scratch" biscuits were eh-so-so! I used Spry or Crisco. Don't recall EVER using butter. AND THEN a friend told me to use LARD!! -) Have made GREAT biscuits ever since! -) TRY LARD WHEN MAKING BISCUITS!! -)

beckyarichardson 2 993942

Jun 16, 2012

What is the reason for dusting the tops with flour. Have never done it before with homemade biscuits?

bapete 7268516

Jun 16, 2012

This recipe, as stated, makes a wonderful base for strawberry shortcake. I tried it! Reminds me of the shortcake my Mother made years ago, in the '40's. So glad to discover this recipe.

larrylike 9779057

Jun 15, 2012

Never heard of vanilla and sugar in baking powder biscuits. I'd loose the vanilla for sure and cut the sugar to maybe a tablesp max.

sandy kk

Jun 15, 2012

I'm from Australia & we don't have Crisco or vegetable shortning. Can you use butter instead? Thanks

whackykaki 5741879

Apr 09, 2012

the secret Momma is the 4 teaspoons of baking powder!! you would not have that much in self-rising so you would need to add more. just a thought.

whackykaki 5741879

Apr 09, 2012

bound to be delicious!!! my grandmother called these Scones and used buttermilk. yummy with good old molasses, double yummy

kburke7537 4557433

Sep 17, 2011

I love these biscuits! They tasted like I had spent alot of time making them; I used to bake bread and am so glad for easy, quick, yummy recipes like these so I no longer have to spend alot of time making bread. I put honey and cinnamon on them and they really did melt in my mouth! Thank you, Mr Food, for another great recipe!

MNHK 2489750

Sep 16, 2011

Thank you for the recipes! Marie

dcote10 3549814

Sep 16, 2011

Please, disregard the comments by onehotmomma. What do you think makes self rising flour rise? YES, BAKING POWDER AND SALT! It's pre-blended in for your convenience at the mill. It's used for people who make biscuits every day, like my southern mother did. I do not like the sugar in this recipe, though. It's more for shortcakes w/strawberries, peaches, and whipped cream. I'm shocked at the sheer amount of sugar in it, too. Mariek, it would not be a nice recipe without the salt and the baking powder. They would not rise. I suggest you stick to yeast breaks and not try to make biscuits on a salt restricted diet. and DO NOT BUY SELF RISING FLOUR!