Who doesn’t love a good batch of cookies? From chocolate chip to sugar cookies, there are all sorts of delicious recipes out there.
They are the perfect snack and can be enjoyed at any time of day.
But what if you don’t have all-purpose flour on hand? Can you use self-rising flour instead?
This is a question many people have. After all, if self rising flour is good for biscuits and quick breads, why not cookies?
In this blog post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about self rising flour and how to use it for cookies.
What Is Self-Rising Flour?
Self-rising flour is a type of flour that contains baking powder and salt.
The baking powder is a leavening agent, which means it helps your baked goods to rise. The salt is there for flavor.
When you use self-rising flour, you don’t need to add these ingredients separately.
Self-rising flour can be used in any recipe that calls for flour, baking powder, and salt.
Just remember that since the ingredients are already combined, you’ll need to use less of each one.
For example, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt, you would only need to use 3/4 cup of self rising flour.
How Is Self-Rising Flour Made?
Self-rising flour is made by adding leavening agents to all-purpose flour.
The most common leavening agent used in self rising flour is baking powder.
To make self rising flour, simply add 1 teaspoon of baking powder per cup of all-purpose flour.
Once the leavening agents are added, whisk everything together until evenly combined.
That’s all there is to it!
Can You Use Self-Rising Flour For Cookies?
Now that you know what self-rising flour is and how it’s made, you’re probably wondering whether you can use it for cookies as well.
The answer is you can use self-rising flour for cookies!
However, there are a few things you should keep in mind if you decide to use self-rising flour instead of plain flour.
First, self rising flour contains baking powder, which is a leavening agent.
This means that it will cause your cookies to rise and be fluffy, rather than flat and dense. If you’re looking for a more traditional cookie, you might want to stick with all-purpose flour.
Second, since self-rising flour already contains salt, you want to cut back on the amount of salt you add to your cookie dough.
Otherwise, your cookies could end up being too salty.
Third, self rising flour is made with all-purpose flour.
This means that it doesn’t have the same amount of gluten as wheat flour. As a result, your cookies might not be as chewy as you’re used to.
If you want a chewier cookie, you might want to use wheat flour or a mix of all-purpose and wheat flour.
How Do You Substitute Self-Rising Flour For All-Purpose Flour In Cookies?
If you want to substitute self-rising flour for all-purpose flour in cookies, use 3/4 cup of self rising flour for every 1 cup of all-purpose flour.
Remember to also cut back on the amount of baking powder and salt you add to your cookie dough. Otherwise, your cookies could end up being too fluffy or too salty.
Which Flour For Cookies Is Best?
Now, you might be wondering which flour is best for cookies.
Well, this totally depends on the type of cookie you’re making!
For example, if you’re making a traditional chocolate chip cookie, you’ll probably want to stick with all-purpose flour. As this will give you a denser, chewier cookie.
But, if you’re making a different type of cookie that’s supposed to be fluffy and light, such as a sugar cookie, self-rising flour might be a better choice.
This is because the leavening agents in self-rising flour will help your cookie to rise and become fluffier.
Ultimately, the best flour for cookies is the one that will give you the texture and flavor you’re looking for.
So, if you’re not sure which flour to use, we recommend experimenting with both all-purpose flour and self rising flour until you find the perfect cookie for your taste!
If you only have one of the two types of flour available, you can still use either of them, just be prepared that the outcome may not exactly be how you originally had in mind.
Do You Need Baking Soda If You Use Self-Rising Flour?
You don’t need baking soda if you use self-rising flour.
The self-rising flour already contains baking powder, which is a leavening agent.
This means that it will cause your baked goods to rise and be fluffy, rather than to stay flat and dense.
If your self-rising flour happens to be out of date, you might want to add a little baking soda to your recipe.
This is because baking soda has a longer shelf life than baking powder.
However, we don’t recommend using more than 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda per cup of self rising flour because of the amount of salt it contains.
Easy Cookie Recipe With Self-Rising Flour
Here is a recipe for Fluffy Chocolate Chip Cookies using self-rising flour:
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups self-rising flour
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup butter (or unsalted butter), softened
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Beat in the egg then stir in the vanilla.
- Add the self-rising flour and stir just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until light golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center.
- Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Be careful not to overmix the dough, which could cause the cookies to spread too much. The self-rising flour helps them rise up to light and fluffy biscuits.
Enjoy your homemade chocolate chip cookies!
Other Questions You May Have
Can I substitute self-rising flour cup for cup in cookie recipes?
While self-rising flour can work in some cookies, you may need to make adjustments to get the best results. Self-rising flour already contains baking powder and salt, so using it cup for cup in a recipe written for all-purpose or whole wheat flour could result in cookies that are too dense or salty.
It’s generally best to substitute 3/4 cup self-rising flour for 1 cup of regular flour and omit any additional salt called for in the recipe. Be sure to check expiration dates on bags of self-rising flour, as the leavening ingredients can lose effectiveness over time.
What about brown sugar cookies?
Many southern recipes that call for brown sugar result in softer, fluffier cookies. The acidic ingredients in brown sugar can cause a chemical reaction with additional baking powder in self-rising flour, resulting in a different texture. For these types of cookies, it’s best to use regular flour and add the leavening and salt separately.
Will self-rising flour work for peanut butter cookies?
Peanut butter cookies tend to be chewier and don’t require as much rise as fluffier biscuits or cakes. The key ingredient in peanut butter cookies is peanut butter, not flour. Using 3/4 cup self-rising flour in place of 1 cup all-purpose flour is a great alternative for these types of cookies.
What about refrigerated cookie dough?
If making dough ahead to bake cookies later, the leavening agents in self-rising flour may cause dough made with it to become too airy while stored in the refrigerator or freezer. For making dough in advance, it’s best to use regular flour and add the leavening separately.
Can self-rising flour be used at room temperature?
Self-rising flour can be used straight from the pantry at room temperature. No need to let it come to room temperature like butter in most recipes.
How should I store cookie dough made with self-rising flour?
For easy recipes like chocolate chip cookies, dough made with self-rising flour can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for a month.
What’s the best way to measure self-rising flour?
When substituting in a recipe calling for 1 cup of flour, use a measuring cup to spoon 3/4 cup of self-rising flour into the cup without packing it down.
Can I use my own self-rising flour recipe?
You can make your own by mixing 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt into 1 cup of all-purpose flour. Be sure to use it within a few months.
Do biscuit recipes work with self-rising flour?
Many biscuit recipes are designed with self-rising flour in mind since it results in a fluffy texture. Just check the recipe and omit any salt.
Should butter be cold when using self-rising flour?
For tender biscuits and scones, the butter or shortening should be very cold so it doesn’t blend in too much with self-rising flour when cut in.
What baking sheet works best?
A light-colored baking sheet will allow you to easily monitor cookie doneness. A silpat or parchment paper will prevent over-browning on the bottom.
In Conclusion
So, can you use self-rising flour for cookies?
You definitely can!
Just keep in mind that self rising flour contains baking powder and salt, so you might want to cut back on the amount of these ingredients you add to your cookie dough.
Otherwise, your cookies could end up being too fluffy or too salty.
We hope this blog post has helped you to understand everything there is to know about baking with self-rising flour!
Now that you know what it is and how to use it, go ahead and start baking some delicious cookies.