Almost zero-fat, these delicious non-guilt biscuits are tender and fluffy. I have for years called these Zero Fat Biscuits but, due to an insignificant amount of fat in the flour, they are now called Almost Zero Low-Fat Biscuits. Just follow these easy step-by-step photo instructions.
Introduction
Some recipes are for low-fat, but this one is as low as they go—under 0.5 grams per serving due to a minimal amount of fat in flour. Using nonfat yogurt to replace the butter and milk, you still get great rise and texture. Plus, just a few ingredients will get you there.
The Story
For some unknown reason, I bought a large container of nonfat yogurt. I think I was going to make a low-fat carrot cake, but I ended up not using the yogurt.
So, time to experiment. I decided biscuits were a great place to start. With a little looking around, I found some guidance but not exactly what I wanted. So I modified my normal drop biscuit recipe with great results.
That surprised my wife with cut instead of drop biscuits. She wanted to know what was different other than the shape. So really the taste is very good and after being told about the yogurt, so was not sure she could taste it.
My Rating
A high 4 or low 5. I love biscuits, but I don't usually have yogurt.
🐄The Yogurt
While I suggest using nonfat plain yogurt, many people want to use Greek yogurt.
Greek yogurt will add a bit more of a "twang" to the taste. But it is also generally a bit dryer. To use Greek yogurt, you may need to add a bit of milk, 1-2 tablespoons, usually depending on the brand.
👨🍳Nutrition
There is a trace (read that as <0.5 gms) of fat per serving. Flour has about 1 gram of fat per cup (who would have known) and a touch from the zero fat yogurt (depending on the brand.)
Total, with my ingredients, is 3 grams of fat in 8 biscuits. Each biscuit has about 0.37 gm per serving. But FDA rules, there is 0.65 gms of fat per 100 gms, so low fat even though less than 0.5 gm per biscuit.
The exact nutrition values depend entirely on the ingredients you choose. Different brands may have different nutritional values, and they may change their product over time.
About 137 calories per biscuit at eight biscuits. However, if you op tor 6 larger biscuits, so they are 184 calories each.
How Are They Different?
- First, the slight yogurt tang. Not very noticeable, except if you know, it has the yogurt. Not a bad thing.
- Second, they are fluffy but not flaky. If you want flaky, you should cut in some butter. I miss the flaky a little, but for almost zero fat, I will live with it.
- Third, the outside is a little firmer.
📖Variations on Low-Fat Biscuits
Healthier Sausage Gravy and Biscuits
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Note: Pictures are from various times cooking, so may not match.
Preheat oven to 400° convection or 425° regular.
Combine 2 cups AP flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt. Mix well.
Add 1 ¼ cup nonfat yogurt. Fold in until all dry is incorporated. If you use Greek yogurt, you may need a tablespoon or so of milk.
The easiest is to do 8 drop biscuits. If you want to cut biscuits, spread the dough on a floured surface about ¾ inches thick. You can cut six 2 ½ inch biscuits or eight 2 inch biscuits.
Place your biscuits on a PAM sprayed baking pan.
Bake until golden brown. About 12-15 minutes.
📖Recipe
Almost Zero Low-Fat Biscuits
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cup non-fat yogurt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° convection or 425° regular.
- Combine 2 cups AP flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt. Mix well.
- Add 1 ¼ cup nonfat yogurt. Fold in until all dry is incorporated. If you use Greek yogurt, you may need a tablespoon or so of milk.
- The easiest is to do 8 drop biscuits. If you want to cut biscuits, spread the dough on a floured surface about ¾ inches thick. You can cut six 2 ½ inch biscuits or eight 2 inch biscuits.
- Place your biscuits on a PAM sprayed baking pan.
- Bake until golden brown. About 12-15 minutes.
My Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Nutrition is discussed in the post. So not quite zero fat but almost.
- Greek yogurt works fine. But will have a stronger yogurt flavor and need a touch of milk. It may vary by brand but 1-2 tablespoons is the probable range.
- Store sealed at room temperature for 2-3 days or frozen for 2-3 months.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Editor's Note: Originally Published March 16, 2013. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Vivian
I was looking for a recipe for lower fat chicken pot pie and the recipes either sacrificed the crust(my favorite part), or we’re still high in calories. I found your almost no fat biscuit recipe and decided to try it for my topping. It worked beautifully. I adjusted for some previous comments by amping up the flavor with more salt, garlic powder and one finely chopped scallion. With the sauce, any dryness in the biscuits was overcome. My husband loved it too. Thanks for this new take on biscuits.
Angela Brumm
Can I used vegan flour ? Which one?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Angela,
Most flour is vegan, although the bleaching agents used in white flour (only used to make it whiter) is questioned by some. I always use unbleached flour anyways because is consider it is total stupid to bleach flour. I assume you have a vegan yogurt.
Dan
Marion
Excellent recipe! I decided to use Nonfat plain Greek yogurt and added water instead of milk. I just added enough water to make the dough come together. I served with some margarine to offset the slight dry taste and the margarine added just enough flavor for the family. I imagine if the calories are not an issue you can add some blueberries or jam. We had them with a low fat chicken recipe that used light mayo.
Certainly made the dinner special!
Nicole
Hi, I was wanting to use this biscuit recipe for a chicken and biscuits recipe where you drop canned biscuit dough into hot/boiling broth. Would this dough hold up for something like that? I would use fat free greek yogurt for this recipe.I really like your recipe because they're low calorie and low fat. Thank you!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Nicole,
Welcome to the blog.
The answer is probably but I have never done it.
You know already to use small size, drop it is gently and don/t stir. If you try it, please report back.
Dan
Jen
I only had vanilla Greek yogurt and sour cream in the fridge. I used 1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt and 1 cup sour cream. They were very good.
Christine
Hello,
I am allergic to dairy and was wondering if I could use coconut alternative yogurt instead?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Christine,
Welcome to the blog.
The answer is I don't know but I'm 90% sure it will work. If you give it a try, please report back.
Dan
Laura in Colorado
I really love this recipe, and have been using it for a couple years. Biscuits are a high fat food, and this has been an excellent low fat substitute for me, time and again. I don't have to eat fat free, I just find I feel better when I eat lower fat foods. One of these biscuits combined with a low fat turkey sausage patty makes an excellent sub for a sausage biscuit without leaving me feeling like I ate a brick. Thanks!
Pam
I made these tonight and only had vanilla yogurt on hand. It worked out ok, but will be glad to try it with plain. Grateful to have this recipe to lower my numbers. Breads are my weakness!
Rebekah
I have been making these with white whole wheat flour and I add a little sugar. They are excellent - though not really “biscuits”....I love them!
Mary Richardson
Made for the first time with Greek yogurt fat free
and whole wheat flour. Made 9 big biscuits. A little tough cuz I overworked. Kept adding more yogurt to get it to come together and a little milk. I will try again.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Mary,
Welcome to the blog.
Whole wheat flour will always take more liquid and the yogurt won't quit do it. Start with about a tablespoon of milk and adjust from there. Also, with the whole wheat, they will be a lot more dense—more than I would want.
Dan
kye
Just made these (drop style) this eve to have with my homemade veggie soup. They were very delicious and a keeper recipe! Light and fluffy inside and a great crunch outside. The only thing I had to do different was to use the low fat plain yogurt I had on hand (Kroger brand), so mine aren't zero fat. One of these will be delightful tomorrow morning heated up a bit with a drizzle of honey to go with a hot cup of coffee!
Thanks so much for sharing the recipe Dr Dan!
Cathy
Made these with Greek yogurt and added 2T of milk- turned out great! I patted the dough out to 3/4 inch and cut the rectangle into 8 biscuits. I’ll make these again and again- thank you!
Yasir
I wasn’t expecting much, but pleasantly surprised that the biscuits tasted good! I used whole wheat flour and it worked out just fine.
Rita
Love, love, love these biscuits!!!! I prepared exactly your recipe and found the drop method worked best and got the best end result! Thank you so much!
Coach
Hi, what is the flour “adjustment” for using Greek yogurt? If less or more flour, how much?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Coach,
Welcome to the blog.
The main difference between Greek and regular yogurt will be the thickness due to the extra filtering of the Greek version which will concentrate more protein and will have a bit less fluid. So Greek is thicker and less moist. But there is some variability by brand.
So when using Greek yogurt, a bit less flour would be the general rule. If it gets too dry, you will have little rocks. You can add a bit more yogurt or a touch of milk if needed.
Dan
Denise Gooch
All due respect, all people have different tastes. The biscuits tasted like baked flour with no taste and we're hard to swallow.
I followed the recipe. Is there anything that can be added to give them some flavor?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Denise,
Welcome to the blog.
A touch more salt will enhanse flavor usually. Garlic is a favorite at our house (about 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder). Other things that will add fat along with taste are cheese and butter.
Dan
Molly
Sorry, but these are terrible! Too sour, chewy, dry... Not like regular biscuits and a really bad substitute. Thank you for offering a healthier option but next time I'll skip the trouble with making biscuits if the usual version isn't a smart choice.
Quinn
Hello, could we substitute oat flour instead of white flour? or will they not come out with the flaky biscuit texture?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Quinn,
Welcome to the blog.
I have never used oat flour for anything so no idea. But this is not "flaky" biscuit anyway.
Dan
Claudia
Mine were extremely bland. Will make again but this time will add a bit of garlic salt ( instead of salt ) or a few tablespoons of monk fruit to make them sweet
JJ
Hi there I did two batches side by side as I am not a big yogurt or Greek yogurt fan and I can taste it in just about any recipe... one was to a T recipe batch 2 I used one cup of cottage cheese(blended)and a quarter cup of applesauce. both were good but I much prefer batch to as it didn't have the Tang of yogurt I'm just throwing it out there for an option still fat free cuz used fat free cottage cheese it just has a mellower taste 🤣🤣🤣