How to Make Biscuits From Scratch

Biscuits from scratch are easy to make.

Fresh-baked biscuits with butter and jelly, honey butter, syrup or sausage gravy are a delicious addition to any meal. They are simple to make, require few ingredients and are out of the oven ready to eat in less than half an hour. You will enjoy the ease of this recipe, which yields 10 - 12 biscuits; and your family will appreciate your efforts.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring cup
• Teaspoon
• Bowl
• Fork
• Pie dish
• 2 cups flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Butter or cooking oil
• Paper towel
• Spatula

Instructions

Preparation

1. Set your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Gather your cookware and utensils: measuring cup, teaspoon, mixing bowl, fork and pie dish.

3. Gather the ingredients: unbleached enriched white flour, baking powder, salt and cream.

4. Set out the butter or cooking oil you will use to grease the pie dish. Also set out a clean paper towel, or have one nearby.

Mixing ingredients

1. Measure two 8-ounce cups of flour and pour the flour into the bowl.

2. Add 3 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir the flour mixture with the fork until the mixture appears uniform.

3. Measure 1 cup heavy cream. Form a hole in the center of the flour mixture and pour the cream into the hole. Stir with the fork until the mixture is thick and all flour is moistened.

Forming and Baking

1. Lightly grease the pie dish and your hands with butter or cooking oil. Wipe any excess from your hands with the paper towel.

2. Pull of a piece of biscuit dough about the size of a golf ball. Position this piece between the palms of your hands, lightly pushing and turning it to form a ball. Place the ball near the inner rim of the pie dish and flatten it slightly. Continue this process until all dough has been formed into balls and the dish is filled.

3. Place the filled dish on the oven's center rack. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the biscuits are lightly browned. Remove the dish from the oven and place it on a trivet or pot holder. Turn the biscuits over, using the spatula. Allow them to cool slightly in the dish. Then serve.

Tips & Warnings

• Reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees if you use a pie dish made of oven-safe glass.

• If the mixture seems too dry, add more liquid, a little at a time. If it is too moist, add more flour. This recipe makes biscuits that are moist yet slightly crumbly when baked.

• Space biscuits close to each other for softer biscuits, further apart for more crust.

• For variation, try the following:

• Replace ¼ cup white flour with whole wheat flour

• Substitute ¾ cup milk and ¼ cup cooking oil for heavy cream

• Add well-drained canned corn

• Add blueberries or cheese

• When adding ingredients that contain moisture, you will need to reduce the amount of liquid.

References

• New York Herald Tribune: America's Cook Book; Home Institute; 1943, C. Scribner's Sons

Resources

• Fine Cooking: Biscuits
• Home Ec 101: Biscuit Recipe