This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
3 Ingredient biscuits- Easy American-style biscuits that are extra fluffy and flaky! Made without butter or buttermilk, they take just 15 minutes to make!
3 Ingredient Biscuits
I love myself an American-style biscuit. My favorite recipes include cheese drop biscuits and keto biscuits. My current obsession is these three ingredient biscuits.
There is truly nothing more comforting than a buttery and flaky American-style biscuit. Not to be mistaken with what Australians and British folk refer to as cookies, biscuits are like their versions of scones, except more flavorful and fluffy (as opposed to dense and tender).
Now, traditional biscuits tend to use buttermilk or cold butter, but not these ones! This 3 ingredient biscuit recipe is a little bit different. It needs just 3 ingredients to make and has no butter or buttermilk in them! They also don’t need all purpose flour and rely on the self rising variety!
The texture is extra flaky and buttery, and needs just 15 minutes to make! They are mild flavored and perfect with some melted butter or drizzled with honey.
I had some friends over for coffee the other day and served them these biscuits with some fresh cream and jam and they LOVED how buttery they were…without any actual butter!
How do you make 3 ingredient biscuits?
The Ingredients
- Self rising flour– Essentially, this kind of flour is just plain flour with baking powder and salt added to it. While it can easily be found at the supermarket, you can just as easily make your own!
- Heavy cream– The secret ingredient that replaces any cold butter or buttermilk. Double cream, thickened cream, or heavy whipping cream will also work. Save a little extra cream to brush on the tops of the biscuits.
- Salt– Just a pinch to balance out the ingredients. While the self rising flour does have some salt in them, it isn’t enough to compensate for the whole recipe.
The Instructions
Start by combining the flour, heavy cream, and salt into a mixing bowl. Gently mix until fully combined. Using your hands, knead the dough several times until smooth. Next, transfer the biscuit dough onto a lightly floured surface. Using a biscuit cutter (or an egg ring), cut biscuits from the dough.
Now, place the biscuits onto a lined baking sheet. Bake the biscuits for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown. If desired, brush with extra heavy cream and serve with your favorite jam, nut butter, or spreads.
Tips to make the best recipe
- Bake them at high heat. The 250C/500F temperature isn’t a joke- This ensures they rise rapidly while remaining flaky and fluffy in the middle.
- Do not overmix or over-knead the dough, as this can impact how fluffy they turn out to be. 2-3 times is more than enough.
- Brush the freshly baked biscuits with some heavy cream or melted butter, for the gorgeous golden crumb.
Flavor and dietary variations
The beauty of these cream biscuits is just how versatile they are. You can make them suitable for a few diets and add some ingredients to them to change up the flavors!
- Make them vegan. Replace the heavy cream with vegan heavy cream. I’ve had success using Elmea plant based double cream and Nakula thickened cream. With that said, coconut cream will NOT work for this though.
- Make them gluten free. Use a gluten free self rising flour, like the Dove’s Farm brand.
- Add mix-ins. Spices (paprika, Italian seasonings, red pepper flakes), fresh herbs (chopped basil or parsley), garlic, onion, or even shredded cheese.
- Make them sweet. Fold through blueberries, add a lemon glaze or some chocolate chips.
Storing and freezing heavy cream biscuits
- To store: Biscuits are best enjoyed within 3 days of baking them. They will keep well, covered. If you want to keep them a little longer, feel free to store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To freeze: Place leftover biscuits in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw them to room temperature before reheating.
- Reheating: Microwave biscuits for 30 seconds or place them in the preheated oven and heat for 5-6 minutes until warm.
More 3 ingredient recipes you’ll enjoy
3 Ingredient Biscuits
Ingredients
- 2 cups self rising flour * See notes
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream plus more for brushing ** See notes
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250C/500F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well, until combined. Using your hands, gently knead several times until smooth.
- Lightly flour a kitchen surface and transfer the dough on top. Flatten the dough until around half an inch in thickness. Using a biscuit cutter, cut out biscuits and place them on the lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with extra heavy cream.
- Bake the biscuits for 10-12 minutes, until they puff up and begin to go golden on top. Remove them from the oven and if desired, brush with more heavy cream.
Recipe was easy to follow and it came out great 👍
Hello Arman,
I am interested in knowing the “Keto” status of these 3 ingredient biscuits and in particular, the self rising four ingredient. If this flour is not Keto, how can I create a keto version of these biscuits?
Thank you Arman
Not sure- only tried these as written. You could make my keto biscuits instead
I made your biscuits the first time with kefir made with heavy cream. came perfectly. .Now the time this time I only have 1 cup of kefir available, so adding 1 cup of half n half plus b cup of cocunt oil. Wish me luck. Lol. I’m doing it no23
Ÿ
haha good luck, Donna!
Best and easiest biscuit ever!!!!!
Like your healthy and vegan recipe. I am very used to metric. Can you provide your recipes in grams please?
We don’t use metric for many of our recipes but you can use google conversions if you need 🙂
Perfect biscuits every time. I’m in my late 60s and have struggled making biscuits my whole life. I married a man that his mother made biscuits every morning, tough act to follow. This is the recipe that has made me the queen biscuit baker. I want to add a pic but don’t know how.
Hi Michelle again… Made then for a fifth time and the biscuits came out perfect again..I suggest to everyone to put then touching in the own so they get that great rise and tender inside.. Yummy 🙂
I have to say that these are the best biscuits i have ever had…My husband asks for these all the time..It only took me 55 years to find a super great recipe..Thanks so much..oh i’m going to try a supper version adding garlic powder and cheddar cheese and see how it comes out…
No butter? This is a great recipe, but normally I add a stick of butter to mine. That’s the only difference from what I make to your recipe.
Best Biscuit Recipe you will ever find!
It is super important that you mix the dry ingredients well before adding the heavy Cream. After adding Cream, mix well clear down to bottom of bowl as quickly as possible without spilling dough BEFORE kneeding for NO MORE than 45 seconds. DO NOT OVER KNEED! Sprinkle work surface area with a little self rising flour then “quickly” roll to said thickness and make your biscuits. The Key is to work as quickly as possible and again, don’t over work dough.
Where does it give you the measurements for the ingredients?
The recipe card.
I made these with coconut milk because that’s all I had on hand. Baked in a cast iron skillet for 11 min and decided they need more color. I left them in until they were golden brown and they came out perfect! Recipe is bookmarked!!
Love that, Nina!
I think this is dope considering my mom used to make these for me and then had a heartattack and I never got the recipe from her thank u very much this has brought me totears
I’m so sorry for your loss, Claudinee.
Self rising flour was available at the local stores years back and worked well for homers.
You can make meat filled pies if your in the mood for an empanada and a simple salad. I can do a homey for a stretch.
Came out great first time!!! Thank you,!
Fabulous, thanks Andrea!
Can i add sugar, if I want
Yes, of course!
Can’t wait to try this recipe. So easy. Thank you