How to Prepare Self-Rising Flour
Have a recipe that calls for self-rising flour but can’t find it at the store? No problem! Learn how to make self-rising flour with all-purpose flour and two more simple ingredients.

A well-stocked pantry, fridge, and baking cabinet can make all the difference in your culinary adventures. However, there are inevitably times when you may need to improvise and create homemade versions of specific ingredients.
There have been countless occasions when I’ve had to whip up buttermilk substitutes or batches of pumpkin pie spice in the midst of a baking project.
Today, I’m sharing another useful baking tip: how to make self-rising flour at home!
Perhaps you only realized you were out of self-rising flour halfway through preparing your Beer Bread, or it simply isn’t available at your local store. In any case, this method will enable you to mix up as much self-rising flour as you need.
What is self-rising flour?
Self-rising flour is simply all-purpose flour that has baking powder and salt added to it. When recipes call for self-rising flour, they typically omit any additional baking powder or salt in the ingredient list, making it a convenient 3-in-1 ingredient.
Usually, self-rising flour is composed of slightly lower-protein flour than all-purpose flour, which produces baked goods that are generally more tender.

What is self-rising flour used for?
Due to its lower protein content, self-rising flour is ideal for recipes that benefit from lighter, more tender textures, such as small-batch cheddar biscuits.
This flour is often used in pancake batter, quick breads, and cake mixes. However, it should not be utilized in yeast bread recipes, and caution should be taken when substituting it for all-purpose flour, as you will need to adjust the recipe for the added leavening and salt.

How to substitute all-purpose flour for self-rising flour
If your recipe calls for self-rising flour but all you have is all-purpose flour, you can create a self-rising substitute using three simple ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
For every cup of all-purpose flour, mix in 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Whisk these together until well combined, and use it as you would self-rising flour in your recipe.
For example, if a recipe requires 2 cups of self-rising flour, mix together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 3 teaspoons of baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt. You can also scale this recipe up to create a larger batch.
Storage tips
If you decide to make a larger batch of self-rising flour, store it in an airtight container, label it, and keep it in a cool, dry place along with your other baking ingredients. Just note that the baking powder’s effectiveness decreases over time, so aim to use your homemade blend within a year for the best results.
The recipe card below includes instructions for making 1 cup of self-rising flour, as well as a 4-cup batch. Use this substitute in any recipe that calls for self-rising flour and save yourself an extra trip to the store!
