These Homemade Cream of Tartar Biscuits are simple, fluffy, and the perfect thing to spread butter and your favorite jam on straight from the warm oven. Simple and delicious!

This recipe is such a classic, but if you need a biscuit with a little more to offer, try making some delicious Cheddar Herb Biscuits or make the Fast and Easy Biscuits that only require four simple ingredients.

Overhead view of finished biscuits in white baking dish with parchment paper beside a cloth napkin and small bowl of butter.

There is nothing like a good homemade biscuit. Wouldn't you agree?

The soft fresh bread comes steamy fresh out of a warm oven. A golden brown flaky top brushed with salty melted butter. The warm soft center that's light and fluffy. With a brown crispy bottom that provides an extra layer of crunch as well as the base of so much goodness.

Biscuits are amazing!

Actually, I believe that any bread straight out of the oven is amazing, but especially biscuits because they seem to require so much work that you don’t see them around as often. At least in my house anyway.

Now don’t get me wrong. Frozen biscuits have their purpose and can be just as delicious and ready in minutes, but sometimes, you have to take a chance and just make them homemade yourself.

For those times, if you need a recipe that requires minimal ingredients and is easy to make, then be sure to give this one a try.

Let's get started!

What Does Cream of Tartar Do To Biscuits?

Close up view of baked biscuits in white baking dish beside a cloth napkin on black surface.

Cream of tartar is a great leavening agent to make perfect biscuits. It's a dry white acidic powder, a component of baking powder that provides the acidic ingredient that causes a chemical reaction that releases gas and allows the dough to expand while baking.

This magical process helps to make the baked goods light, airy, and fluffy. It also helps create flaky layers with a tender texture. It's a shelf-stable ingredient that can usually be found at the grocery store in the aisle with either the baking ingredients or spices.

When using this ingredient, it's important to check the date on the package to make sure that it has not expired. Expired cream or tartar may impact the outcome of the recipe.

Ingredients You'll Need for Homemade Biscuits

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make biscuits in separate bowls.

All-Purpose Flour - For this particular recipe, you'll use plain all-purpose flour. Self-rising flour is not necessary to make these biscuits.
Baking Powder - Be sure to check the date on the package to make sure that it has not expired. This ingredient will help to give the biscuits the rise they need to be light and fluffy.
Granulated Sugar - Just a small amount to add a bit of sweet flavor to the biscuits. Don't worry it will not make them sweet.
Cream of Tartar- You will also want to check the expiration date on this spice to make sure that it's still good. This secret ingredient will add some much needed acid to this biscuit recipe. It can usually be found at your local grocery store in the spice aisle.
Salt - A small amount to balance out the flavor. I prefer to use kosher salt when baking.
Butter - Make sure it is cold, cold, cold butter. It can be unsalted butter or salted butter, whichever you prefer.
Egg - A single large egg is all that is needed for this recipe. It is perfectly acceptable to grab it cold straight from the refrigerator.
Regular Milk - Use full-fat whole milk and make sure it is cold. Do not substitute this ingredient and do not use skim milk as an alternative, it will change the whole recipe.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

How to Make Easy Cream of Tartar Biscuits

Begin the biscuit recipe by preheating the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, cream of tartar, and salt. Set these dry ingredients aside.

Overhead view of large glass bowl with dry ingredients in it by a whisk.

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk until combined.

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White bowl with egg and milk combined in it.

Using a food processor, fork, or pastry cutter, process or cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles a coarse meal and the butter is about the size of a pea.

Flour mixture and butter combined in glass mixing bowl on black surface.

Next, add the milk and egg mixture into the flour mixture using a wooden spoon to stir just enough until it comes together to form a loose dough ball.

Roll the dough into a loose ball and lightly flour a clean work surface by sprinkling a little flour (all-purpose flour) onto the dry floured surface.

Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough and cut the biscuit shapes using a floured biscuit cutter. Place the cut biscuits onto the lined baking sheet and place them into the oven to bake, until golden brown.

Unbaked biscuits in white baking dish lined with parchment paper.

Once finished, carefully remove the biscuits from the hot oven. Immediately brush the tops of each biscuit with some additional butter if you prefer. Serve warm and enjoy!

Overhead view of baked biscuits in parchment lined baking dish on black tile surface.

Best Recipe Tips & Tricks

Make sure the egg, milk, and butter are cold to make the best biscuits.
Cut the butter into small cubes or use a boxed grater to shred the butter into the flour mixture. This process will create more even-sized butter pieces.
Do not overwork the biscuit dough, it will make the biscuits tough. Stop mixing once the dough comes together and sticks to itself.
If the dough is too sticky or too wet, try adding a little more flour. Only add a small amount at a time.

Overhead view of biscuits in parchment lined baking dish topped with butter and chopped parsley.

Equipment

To make this easy biscuit recipe, you will need a baking sheet, a mixing bowl, and a wooden large spoon. You will also need a food processor, pastry cutter, or even a large fork.

Storage

Store any leftover fluffy biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Close up side view of two biscuits stacked on top of each other on white plate.

Want More Biscuit Recipes? Try These:

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to enjoy this recipe for Easy Homemade Biscuits? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Close up view of biscuits in parchment lined baking dish by a cloth napkin.

Cream of Tartar Biscuits

LaKita Anderson

These Homemade Cream of Tartar Biscuits are simple, fluffy, and the perfect thing to spread butter and your favorite jam on straight from the warm oven.

5 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 243 kcal

Equipment

1 baking sheet or baking dish
1 pastry cutter or large fork
1 large mixing bowl
1 large spoon

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra)
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
¾ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 cup whole milk
¾ cup butter, cold and cut into small pieces

Instructions

Begin the biscuit recipe by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the 3 cups all-purpose flour, 4 teaspoons baking powder, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar, and ½ teaspoon salt. Set these dry ingredients aside. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the 1 large egg and 1 cup milk until combined.
Using a food processor, fork, or pastry cutter, process or cut the ¾ cup cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles a coarse meal and the butter is about the size of a pea.
Next, add the milk and egg mixture into the flour mixture using a wooden spoon to stir just enough until it comes together to form a loose dough ball.
Roll the dough into a loose ball and lightly flour a clean work surface by sprinkling a little flour (all-purpose flour) onto the dry floured surface.
Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough and cut the biscuit shapes using a floured biscuit cutter. Place the cut biscuits onto the lined baking sheet and place them into the oven to bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.
Once finished, carefully remove the biscuits from the hot oven. Immediately brush the tops of each biscuit with some additional butter if you prefer. Serve warm and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Make sure the egg, milk, and butter are cold to make the best biscuits.
Cut the butter into small cubes or use a boxed grater to shred the butter into the flour mixture. This process will create more even-sized butter pieces.
Do not overwork the biscuit dough, it will make the biscuits tough. Stop mixing once the dough comes together and sticks to itself.
If the dough is too sticky or too wet, try adding a little more flour. Only add a small amount at a time.
If the dough is too dry and crumbly, add a little more milk. Just a little at a time until it sticks together to form a ball of dough.

Calories: 243kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 5gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 204mgPotassium: 239mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 411IUCalcium: 93mgIron: 2mg

The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.

Easy Homemade Cream of Tartar Biscuits

What Does Cream of Tartar Do To Biscuits?

Ingredients You'll Need for Homemade Biscuits