Easy Gluten Free Biscuits: A Step-by-Step Guide -

Eating gluten free doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite comfort foods. Light, fluffy biscuits can easily be made gluten free with simple ingredient swaps. This guide will walk you through the steps for making easy gluten free biscuits from scratch.

Biscuits are a classic comfort food that is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Many traditional biscuit recipes call for ingredients like all-purpose flour, which contains gluten. However, with a few simple substitutions, biscuits can easily be made gluten free.

Gluten free biscuits have a light, fluffy texture and tasty flavor just like regular biscuits. The secret is using a gluten free flour blend and a binding agent to mimic the characteristics of gluten. With the right ingredients and techniques, you can whip up tender gluten free biscuits that are hard to distinguish from traditional versions.

Making gluten free biscuits at home allows you to control the ingredients. You can avoid preservatives, additives, and other questionable items found in store-bought gluten free baked goods. Homemade biscuits also provide a fresh-from-the-oven taste and texture.

This step-by-step guide will outline everything you need to know to make easy, flaky gluten free biscuits from scratch.

Easy Gluten Free Biscuits

Here are some of the top benefits of making your own gluten free biscuits:

Avoid allergenic ingredients – Wheat, barley and rye flours contain gluten and trigger reactions in those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Making your own biscuits allows you to control the ingredients and avoid gluten.
Increase nutrition – Gluten free biscuits can be made with nutritious whole grain flours like rice, sorghum, millet, and buckwheat. You can boost nutrition by adding extras like flax or chia seeds.
Save money – Homemade biscuits cost a fraction of the price of store-bought gluten free versions. Making them yourself keeps more money in your wallet.
Customize flavors – Since you control the ingredients, you can add different herbs, cheeses, spices, or other mix-ins to create flavored biscuits. Get creative with the flavors!
Enjoy fresh-baked taste – Nothing beats the taste and texture of fresh homemade biscuits straight from the oven. You can’t find this quality in store-bought brands.

Now that you know the benefits, let’s get into the steps of making easy gluten free biscuits.

Ingredients Needed

Gluten free biscuits only require a handful of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

Gluten free flour – An all-purpose blend works best. Choose one with xanthan gum or guar gum added. These help replicate the binding abilities of gluten.
Leavening – Baking powder and/or baking soda. This gives the biscuits a fluffy rise.
Salt – For flavor enhancement.
Fat – Like butter, olive oil, or coconut oil. Adds richness and flakiness.
Milk or dairy – Such as milk, yogurt, or buttermilk. Provides moisture and tenderness.
Flavorings (optional) – Such as garlic powder, herbs, or cheese. Take the flavor profile in whatever direction you want.

That covers the core ingredients! Now let’s go over the steps.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple instructions for baking easy, delicious gluten free biscuits:

1. Preheat oven and prepare a baking sheet

Preheat your oven to 425°F.
Grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper. This prevents sticking.

2. Whisk together dry ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, baking powder, salt, and any herbs or seasonings you want to add for flavor.

3. Cut in cold butter

Using a pastry cutter or two forks, cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

4. Make a well and add milk

Make a well in the center and pour in the milk.

5. Mix until just combined

Stir together with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. Do not overmix.

6. Turn out the dough and gently knead

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Give a few gentle kneads to bring it together.

7. Roll out to 3/4 inch thickness

Use a rolling pin to shape dough into a 3/4 inch thick rectangle.

8. Cut out biscuits and transfer them to the baking sheet

Use a round biscuit cutter to cut out biscuits. Place them on the prepared baking sheet. Gather scraps and re-roll to cut additional biscuits.

9. Optional: Brush tops with milk or melted butter

For an extra crisp top, brush the biscuit tops with a little milk or melted butter.

10. Bake for 12-15 minutes

Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown on top.

11. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving

Let cool for 5 minutes before serving warm. Enjoy!

Follow these steps precisely and you’ll have light, fluffy gluten free biscuits in no time. The full ingredient list with measurements is included in the recipe below.

Gluten Free Biscuit Recipe

Now that you know the steps, here is the complete recipe with ingredient amounts:

Gluten Free Biscuits

Makes 8-10 biscuits

Ingredients:

2 cups gluten free all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1⁄4 tsp sea salt
1⁄4 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
3⁄4 cup milk or buttermilk
1 tbsp honey (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cut in butter with a pastry cutter or fork until crumbly.
Make a well and add milk and honey. Stir to form a shaggy dough.
Turn out onto the floured surface and knead gently 3-4 times.
Roll to 3⁄4 inch thickness and cut out biscuits with a cutter.
Arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake 12-15 minutes until lightly browned.
Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Follow these measurements precisely for tender gluten free biscuits every time. Play around with different flour blends or mix-in ingredients to customize the flavor.

Common Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about making gluten free biscuits:

What can I use instead of butter?

For dairy-free biscuits, replace butter with coconut oil or olive oil. The oil will provide the fat needed for flakiness.

Do I need xanthan gum?

Xanthan or guar gum gives structure and rise. If your flour blend doesn’t contain it, add 1/2 tsp with the dry ingredients.

Can I use all-purpose flour?

No, biscuits made with regular all-purpose flour contain gluten. Stick to gluten free flour blends only.

Why do my biscuits spread too much?

If your biscuits spread out rather than rising tall, the dough is likely too wet. Next time, reduce the milk by a tablespoon or two.

How do I make drop biscuits?

For drop-style biscuits, increase the milk by ~2 tbsp. Scoop the batter onto the baking sheet with a spoon rather than rolling and cutting.

Can I freeze leftover biscuits?

Yes, allow fully cooled biscuits to freeze in an airtight container or bag for 2-3 months. Reheat frozen biscuits in the oven or toaster oven.

Final Thoughts

Whipping up gluten free biscuits is easy with the right blend of ingredients and a few simple techniques. Properly measuring ingredients and not overmixing the dough prevents dense or crumbly biscuits. With practice, you can master the art of tender, melt-in-your-mouth gluten free biscuits.

For more gluten free baking guides and recipes, check out the rest of the articles on my site. Thanks for reading and happy baking!