How to Make Self-Rising Flour

Self-rising flour is all-purpose flour with baking powder and salt added in. You'll commonly find it called for in biscuit, scone, and muffin recipes. Don't have self-rising flour on hand? Here's a recipe so you can make it yourself.

By
Lori Rice
Lori Rice
Lori Rice
Lori Rice is a food and beverage writer and photographer. Her work can be found in CiderCraft Magazine, King Arthur Flour’s SIFT Magazine, The Coastal Table, and Plate Magazine, as well as at CraftBeer.com.
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Published October 11, 2021
Lori Rice
Bowls of flour with baking soda and salt

Lori Rice

Self-rising flour is a three-in-one ingredient you sometimes find in scone, muffin, or biscuit recipes, like in these Classic Southern Buttermilk Biscuits. If you don’t have it, no need to worry or run out to the store! If you are prepared to bake, then there is a good chance you have everything required to make your own self-rising flour.

What is Self-Rising Flour?

Self-rising flour is all-purpose flour with a leavening agent (baking powder) and seasoning (salt) already added. The baking powder causes the batter or dough to expand into a beautiful muffin or biscuit, while the salt seasons the flour and the final baked good.

This type of flour is used in all types of baked goods, but you will mostly find it in the ingredients of biscuits, scones, and muffins. Some quick breads such as beer bread using self-rising flour, like this Guinness Bread with Molasses. It’s also used in some cake recipes. It’s basically a convenient shortcut!

You can find self-rising flour in the baking aisle of supermarkets. It’s usually right next to the all-purpose flour. Pillsbury and Gold Medal are common brands, but you can also find self-rising flour from King Arthur Flour and White Lily.

Some gluten-free self-rising flours can also be found at specialty and health food stores.

Bowls of flour baking soda salt self-rising flour recipe

Lori Rice

Self-Rising Flour vs All-Purpose Flour

The two flours are not substitutes for each other. If a recipe calls for all-purpose flour it will likely also have baking powder and salt in the ingredient list. If you use self-rising flour instead, you’ll have extra baking powder and salt in the mix, and the recipe may fail.

Similarly, if a recipe calls for self-rising and you use all-purpose, the recipe won’t have what it needs for expansion and flavor.

How to make self-rising flour bowls with flour baking powder and salt

Lori Rice

How to Make Self-Rising Flour

Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Yield 1 cup

Feel free to double or triple this recipe as needed to make a larger amount of self-rising flour. Store any excess in an airtight container so you have it on hand when needed.


Don’t forget to label it so you don’t mix it up with your regular all-purpose flour!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt or table salt

Method

  1. Combine the ingredients, then whisk:

    Add the flour, baking powder, and sea salt to a bowl, then whisk thoroughly to combine.

  2. Label and store:

    Use the self-rising flour right away or store it in a labeled airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 year.