Tender and fluffy with really good taste in a non-guilty zero fat biscuit. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
Editor's Note: Originally Published March 16, 2013. Updated with clarified discussion, options, and updated photos.
Some recipes are for low-fat biscuits, but this one is zero-fat. 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 (skip if you want.)
For some unknown reason, I bought a large container of nonfat yogurt a few weeks ago. 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.
My Rating
A high 4 or low 5. I love biscuits, but I don't usually have the yogurt.
Pro Tips: Recipe Notes on Zero Fat Biscuits
I'm now aware that flour has 1 gram of fat per cup (who would have known). By FDA rules these are still "zero" since they are less than 0.5gm per serving.
I usually do drop biscuits, but I did these as cut biscuits that increased the work a little. That surprised my wife a little, and she wanted to know what was different other than the shape. So really the taste is very good.
So what differences are there?
- 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 zero fat, I will live.
- Third, the outside is a little firmer.
About 176 calories for these LARGE biscuits at six biscuits for this amount. However, I generally do 8 drop biscuits, so they are 132 calories each.
Variations on Zero Fat Biscuits
Healthier Sausage Gravy and Biscuits
Preheat oven to 400 convection or 425 regular.
Combine 2 cups AP flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix well.
Add 1 1/4 cup nonfat yogurt. Fold in until all dry is incorporated.
You can now make drop biscuits if you want. Or spread the dough onto a floured surface and pat down to about 3/4 inch thick. Cut with a floured 2 1/2 inch cutter. Make them the size you want. Cut, combine scraps, cut, combine scraps. Place on a PAM sprayed baking pan. I got 6 cut biscuits. I will usually do 8 drop biscuits.
Bake until golden brown. About 12 minutes.
This recipe also works well as drop biscuits.
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Zero Fat Biscuits
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cup non-fat yogurt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 convection or 425 regular.
- Combine 2 cups AP flour, 1 T baking powder, 1/2 t baking soda, 1/2 t salt. Mix well.
- Add 1 1/4 cup nonfat yogurt. Fold in until all dry is incorporated.
- You can now make drop biscuits if you want. Or spread the dough onto a floured surface and pat down to about 3/4 inch thick.Cut with a floured 2 1/2 inch cutter. Make them the size you want. Cut, combine scraps, cut, combine scraps. Place on a PAM sprayed baking pan.
- Bake until golden brown. About 12 minutes.
- This recipe is fine for drop biscuits.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Originally Published March 16, 2013
Susan
PS. I used Greek non-fat yogurt which radically reduces the carbs!
Susan
These biscuits are amazing!! I didn't think biscuits could possibly be good without fat but they are fabulous and so quick and easy to make. Thanks!
Lunagal
Like many I was looking for a low fat biscuit recipe to reduce my husbands fat intake when he has his beloved biscuits and gravy. Not only did I solve that problem but they are also a good substitute for a traditional English scone. Being a Brit, my Mum’s scones (made with butter of course) were always a favorite of mine and her go to if family or friends turned up unexpectedly for a cuppa. Thank you!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Lunagal,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad it works well for you. I do have a specific low-fat biscuit and gravy recipe that drops the fat in the dish from 34 gm to just 3 by using this recipe, low-fat turkey sausage, and a low-fat gravy method. https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/healthier-sausage-gravy-biscuits/
Thanks so much for the note and rating. Enjoy one of Mum's scones for me.
Dan
Shannon
How is the sodium content so high if there’s only a half teaspoon of salt in the recipe?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Shannon,
Welcome to the blog.
The answer is about a third of the sodium is from the baking soda and some from the yogurt. I did just run this recipe though my new calculator and you will see lower values.
Dan
Joy Wolfe
I found your recipe this afternoon before I started supper. I had ham with greens and pintos and felt like we needed a light biscuit to go with it all! I made mine with plain greek yogurt and added just a little milk to make a sticky dough. Then I dropped the dough on a lightly greased baking sheet and rounded out and smoothed the dough just a little. Mine baked in 10 minutes. I brushed a little melted light butter on the tops when they came out of the oven. They were great! My husband loved them and had no idea they were made with Greek yogurt. Thanks for a great recipe!
DrDan
Hi Joy,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Sammie Ferrell
I didn't have any yogurt so I decided to use same amount sour creme. I would love to know how that changed the nutritional values since I want to use this in my meal planning menus I do for a customer.
DrDan
Hi Sammie,
Welcome to the site.
I had a sour cream version but removed it last year since I felt this one was much better. I felt there was a bit of an odd taste in my version. I do remember that with nonfat sour cream, it was more calories for worse results.
You can enter your version in several online recipe calculators. https://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator is just one available. It will depend on the version of sour cream you use of course.
Hope that helps some.
Dan
Grandi
I was looking for a low fat canned biscuit brand when I stumbled upon this recipe. The comments frequently state fluffy/chewy as opposed to flaky/crumbly, which will be perfect for topping a healhier version of the chicken pot pie I’m planning. Made from scratch is always best! Thanks so much for sharing!
DrDan
Hi Grandi,
Welcome to the blog.
I'm sure this would be fine on a chicken pot pie. I prefer a little flakey but that requires butter.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Rcmarti
Just made the recipe and they came out great! I cut the recipe in half so got only four biscuits (see posted photo) but its good for just two people. I used regular AP flour so they were a little more dense and I did sift the flour, but would like to try using White Lily flour which is the best for making biscuits. I’ll see tomorrow how well they reheat. Thanks Dr Dan for a great fat free biscuit recipe!
DrDan
Welcome to the blog.
This is an interesting recipe for me. It just came together and worked. You can also do this as drop biscuits which is what I usually do since I'M lazy.
If you're a fan of biscuits and gravy, I use it here for a low fat version that drops the fat by 90% https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/healthier-sausage-gravy-biscuits/
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Kate
I baked these tonight and felt compelled to come and leave a comment to say thank you for the recipe! I stumbled across it while looking for a British biscuit recipe (cookies), these are what we’d call scones in the UK but they looked so good I had to try them. I have gallstones and haven’t tasted a real scone in about two years! These were more spongy than crumbly but they taste so good I don’t mind. I added a little low fat cheese and a pinch of rosemary to the recipe and they came out really well, you’d never dream they were made with yogurt. I’m going to try a sweet version with raisins next. Thank you again!
DrDan
Hi Kate,
Welcome to the blog.
You are right, they are a little different texture but still, quite acceptable to me for the low-fat result. My son just had his GB out in Philidelphia. Life is better without stones.
Dan
Ruth Pilon
I gave it a try. Sorry Dr. Dan, I thought they tasted flat, like eating flour and water.
Laurie
I love this recipe! I always use Greek yogurt and I have never had an issue. I do cook them in a lower oven (375) and for 15-20 minutes and they are perfect.
DrDan
Hi Laurie,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad it works well for you. I think the Greek Yogurt is fine if you like a bit of that taste.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
SB
Ive made these SO many times. So easy and always turn out AMAZING!
Brooke Morrison
Just wanted to say thank you for this recipe! My husband is on a reduced-fat diet and has been missing his biscuits and gravy in a bad way. I made these with gravy made from turkey sausage and skim milk and it turned out great! The biscuits were a hit! I will definitely be making these again.
Aish
Hello. I'm planning to make these biscuits soon. Which one gives crispier results? Using yeast or using baking powder? Thanks.
DrDan
Hi Aish,
Biscuits are generally crispier than a yeast roll but then again they are separate things. I have not and would not use yeast in this recipe. The closest thing I have to this in a yeast roll is https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/60-minute-yeast-dinner-rolls/ and that does have some fat.
Emily
Very Good Butterless Biscuits! These slightly differ in texture in comparison to full-fat biscuits, but you still maintain the light/airy puff, and can indulge without guilt! I personally used low-fat, plain yogurt, kept the temperature at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and baked for fourteen minutes opposed to twelve, and they came out perfect! (Just make certain that you don't overmix, I incorporated a dribble of non-fat milk in order to pull the dough together, and avoid overmixing the yogurt into the dough.) Five Stars-- will definitely make again!! :)
Sheri
I made these for dinner and my husband was delighted. Soooo good. I used non-fat Greek yogurt and self rising flour and am very happy with the results. There will be biscuits in our lives again, all kinds of biscuits. Thank you so much.
DrDan
Hi Sheri,
This is a surprising recipe to me.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Sandy
O. M. G. Made these tonight, no changes. They were wonderful!
Had one with dinner and had one made into strawberry shortcake. Amazing!
DrDan
Hi Sandy
Thanks for the note. I'm still amazed this comes out so well. I was going to add a little sugar for the shortcake version, I just haven't got there yet.
Dan
Tammy
I have light sour cream at home. I wonder if I could make this using sour cream.
DrDan
Probably although I never have. Plain yogurt and sour cream are frequently used to substitute for each other.
Dan
DrDan
Hi again Tammy,
I now remember doing sour cream biscuits years ago. They were ok but had a distant taste.
Dan
Boni Watkins
I and my husband love the biscuits made with plain yogurt! They are so Light and fluffy. I will be making them by your recipe all the time! Thank you for sharing!
Penny
My body thanks you for creating a nonfat biscuit!! My cholesterol spiked and my doc has ordered a low fat diet.
The biscuits are just the way I like them... not fluffy and not soggy, a perfect biscuit! I made 1/2 unbleached flour and 1/2 whole white wheat and enjoyed the hearty flavor. The top crust turned brown but not hard and they taste good. I'm sure my family will load them up with butter but that's better than baking in the butter! I baked them on parchment paper cuz I hate spray oil.
4.5/5!! It will be my go to biscuit recipe!
Iris
Just made these - they are light, fluffy and have a wonderful crispy bottom to them. Finally, I can make biscuits. I made them just as the recipe stated. I did use spray coconut oil on the pan. They are very satisfying. Thank you. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes. 5/5
Mr. M
Wow! These are seriously good. Every bit as good as those loaded with fat. Thank you for this amazing recipe! This will be a staple in our household!
DrDan
Hi Di and Mr. M
Thanks for the notes. I discovered to take pictures even with "experiments" like this. It just worked out so well
Dan
Di
Tried this recipe today and the results were amazing!!!! Thank you so much........5 stars
Trish
Have you thought about using a butter extract for that buttery flavor?
DrDan
I thought about it but I don't usually keep it around. A little would be nice.
Thanks for the note.
DrDan
Liz
I only had a single serve cup of ff Greek yogurt and self-rising flour. So I halved the recipe and only added 1 tsp of baking powder to the flour. I had to use 2 TBSP of milk because I was a bit short on the Greek yogurt and the batter was too dry. It made 4 good sized drop biscuits and cooked perfectly in 12 min on a double layer baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. The texture was a bit chewier than old fashioned-very fattening biscuits but they were quite good! Not too dry and light and fluffy. Thanks for the recipe!