Easy Drop Biscuits

Recipe by PJ Hamel
149 Reviews 4.6 out of 5 stars

These are truly the easiest biscuits you'll ever make. Just mix equal parts (by weight) of self-rising flour and heavy cream, drop the dough onto a baking sheet, and bake until golden brown. The result? Ultra-tender, rich biscuits with zero fuss — a beloved recipe once known as “Never-Fail Biscuits.” They're a perfect blank canvas for your favorite spread (or just a smear of butter). Or, take them to the next level by adding the mix-ins of your choice: cheese cubes, chopped herbs, berries, crumbled bacon, chocolate chips, or anything else you love. Check the “tips” below for our favorite variations of these easy drop biscuits!

Prep
5 mins
Bake
10 mins
Total
15 mins
Yield
12 biscuits
Easy Drop Biscuits - select to zoom
Easy Drop Biscuits - select to zoom
Easy Drop Biscuits - select to zoom
Easy Drop Biscuits - select to zoom

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F with a rack in the top third.

  2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and cream until smooth and cohesive.

  3. For standard-sized biscuits, scoop 1-ounce balls of dough onto an ungreased or parchment-lined baking sheet; a tablespoon cookie scoop works well here. Leave a couple of inches between them. Not into scooping? Pat the dough 3/4" thick and cut biscuits with a cutter instead, if desired.

    For larger biscuits, simply scoop the dough into 1 1/2-ounce balls, to make eight biscuits; or 2-ounce balls, to make six biscuits.

  4. Brush the tops of the biscuits with cream, milk, or water; this will help them rise.

  5. Bake the biscuits for 10 minutes, until they're light golden brown on top. Bake larger biscuits a minute or so longer, or until they're baked all the way through; break one open to make sure.

  6. Remove the biscuits from the oven, and serve warm, or at room temperature. Store leftover Easy Drop Biscuits, well-wrapped, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Want to make these Easy Drop Biscuits gluten-free? Substitute Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour for the all-purpose flour; and stir 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder and a rounded1/4 teaspoon table salt into the flour before adding the cream. 

  • Join King Arthur baking instructor, Libby Treadway and her son as they bake Easy Drop Biscuits together from start to finish. Watch Baking Never-Fail Biscuits With Kids now.

  • This recipe can easily be scaled up (or down). Simply use equal amounts of flour and heavy cream, by weight; each biscuit uses about 1 ounce of dough. So if you use, say, 4 ounces of flour and 4 ounces of cream, you'll make 8 biscuits. Or 12 ounces (3 cups) of flour, 12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) of cream — 24 biscuits.

  • To make Easy Drop Biscuits now to serve later, place shaped/unbaked biscuits close together on a small baking sheet; place the pan in the freezer, and freeze until solid. Transfer the biscuits to an airtight container (plastic bag, etc.) When you're ready to serve, there's no need to thaw the biscuits; remove them from the freezer and bake as directed above, adding a few minutes to the baking time.

  • These biscuits are a blank palette, just waiting for you to stir your favorite additions into the dough.

    • To make Self-Rising Cream Shortcakes: Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla.
    • To make Easy Drop Biscuits with Herbs: Add 3 tablespoons fresh herbs.
    • To make Easy Bacon-Cheddar-Chive Biscuits: Add 1/2 cup chopped cooked bacon, 3/4 cup chopped sharp cheese, and 3 teaspoons snipped chives.
    • To make Easy Pumpkin Pie Spice Biscuits: Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice.
    • To make Easy Sausage and Apple Breakfast Biscuits: Add 3/4 cup each cooked, crumbled sausage and peeled, cored, diced apple; plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon.

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