20 Must Try Self Rising Flour Recipes! (2024)

Created By:Heather on October 24, 2022 | Updated: March 20, 2024

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If you have a a bag of self rising flour in your pantry, and not sure how to use it up then this post is for you! Self rising flour is a versatile ingredient that you can use in all your baking.

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Awhile back my mom called me up and said she tried making my self rising biscuits but wasn’t sure why they didn’t work out. So I started troubleshooting with my mom as to what could have gone wrong.

Did she overmix the dough? How did she measure the flour? Was the butter cold? Did she use buttermilk or regular milk? I basically went through all my secrets to fluffy biscuits as to where she might have gone wrong.

And then I asked the all important question – what kind of flour did she use? And that’s where I figured out where she went wrong. She said, “I don’t know I just used regular flour, why?” I explained to her that she needed to use self rising flour and what the difference was.

And that’s when I realized she may not be alone in not understanding what self rising flour is and how to use it in her baking. So I figured if you’ve perused the baking aisle in your grocery store you may have come across a bag of flour, labeled “self rising” and wondered just what the heck is and how to use it you might also find this baking tutorial and recipe roundup helpful as well!

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What is self rising flour?

Self rising flour is a flour that already contains baking powder and salt. That means if you’re using it in a recipe you don’t have to add those two extra ingredients, which makes it a very convenient flour to have on hand.

It was invented in the 1800s by Henry Jones and has given rise to popular mixes like Jiffy and Bisquik. Self rising flour, or self raising flour as it sometimes called, is very popular flour used in Southern recipes.

Self rising flour is made from a lower protein, softer flour than all purpose flour so it results in a more tender baked good. Two brands I love using are White Lily and King Arthur.

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What’s the difference between self rising flour and all purpose flour?

Self rising flour and all purpose flour are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. Self rising flour contains baking powder, a leavening agent that helps our baked goods rise, and a little bit of salt for flavor whereas all purpose flour contains just that – flour.

That means you can’t just substitute 1:1 self rising flour for regular white flour and have your recipe work out since it already contains these extra ingredients.

Self rising flour also has a lower protein content, meaning your baked goods will come out softer and more tender than using all purpose flour. Self rising flour has a protein content of 8.5% and all purpose flour has a protein content around 11.7%

Substituting self rising flour for all purpose flour

If you have a bag of self rising flour on hand and not sure how to use it, the good thing is you can also substitute self rising flour for all purpose flour.

According to King Arthur Flour, you can use self rising flour in a recipe that calls for all purpose flour as long as for each cup of flour in the recipe, at least a 1/2 teaspoon up to 1 teaspoon of baking powder is called for.

If your recipe calls for more than 1 teaspoon of baking powder, you can add in the additional baking powder to the recipe. You can then omit the added baking powder and salt in the recipe.

Your results will differ slightly due to the lower protein content, but will definitely work in a pinch!

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How to make homemade self rising flour

Did you know you can make your own self rising flour? Because let’s face it sometimes in baking you just have to make a homemade substitute when you don’t have what you need on hand. I have found myself in this baking pickle all the time.

Whether I need some homemade buttermilk , my own brown sugar, or pumpkin pie spice I have just had to make do and make my own.

You can make your own self rising flour recipe by using regular flour and then use it in any recipe that calls for it. Homemade self rising flour will vary in results compared to store-bought self rising flour, but will still work great!

How long does self rising flour last?

Like your regular bag of flour, an unopened bag of flour should last about 3 months in your pantry or in another cool, dry place. If your house is a bit cooler, it can last up to 6 months.

For a longer shelf life, store your bag of self rising flour in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one year, and for two years in the freezer.

Self rising flour recipes

Self rising flour can be used in any baking recipes that call for baking powder. It’s not recommended to use self rising flour in an yeast bread recipes or sourdough bread recipes.

Self-Rising Biscuits

Learn how to make these easy self-rising flour biscuits! 3 ingredient biscuit recipe…yes you can rock out fluffy homemade biscuits from scratch in minutes.

2 Ingredient Biscuits

These 2 ingredient biscuits are so darn easy and delicious you might find yourself making biscuits all the time! Made with just heavy cream and self-rising flour, this biscuit recipe is mixed up in minutes and are ready to bake in no time. In 30 minutes or less, these biscuits are ready to be devoured.