30 · Breakfast
Baking Powder Biscuits
A long-time favorite of my Pops; tender, layered biscuits made by cutting shortening into flour, then gently kneading and rolling the sticky dough before cutting and baking. A buttermilk variation reduces baking powder, adds baking soda and substitutes buttermilk for milk for tangier flavor and slightly different hydration.
By Mitchell Kimbrough·November 4, 2025
Time
30
Serves
8
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients
- Biscuits
- ·1/2 cup shortening
- ·1 cup whole wheat flour
- ·1 cup all-purpose flour
- ·1 tablespoon sugar
- ·3 teaspoons baking powder
- ·1 teaspoon salt
- ·3/4 cup milk
- Buttermilk variation (optional)
- ·Reduce baking powder to 2 teaspoons
- ·Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- ·Substitute buttermilk for the milk (about 1 cup may be needed)
Preparation
- Step 1
Heat oven to 450°F.
- Step 2
Cut shortening into whole wheat and all-purpose flours, baking powder, sugar, and salt with a pastry blender until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
- Step 3
Stir in milk (or buttermilk for variation) until dough leaves the side of the bowl; dough will be sticky.
- Step 4
Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead gently about 10 times to create layers (this helps make the biscuits light and fluffy).
- Step 5