There are lots of recipes for dumplings. You can try the flat or drop method but they all taste pretty much alike. It is really just a matter of preference. True Southern dumplings are flat but many people in the South will argue this point and like the drop ones better. I say just do your thing. I make them both ways depending on how I want my recipe to look. The recipe below can be used either way. You might also like our recipe for cream cheese ranch chicken.
This is a basic recipe and works for me every time. You can use milk instead of water and some people even sweeten with a little sugar if adding dumplings to fruit. I always use this recipe for my family. This makes around 35 dumplings depending on size you make yours.
Many people will comment they use canned biscuits or tortillas. I am sure that works too, but we believe homemade dumplings are always better!
For dumplings made with wheat flour, all purpose or plain flour will suffice. If your recipe calls for leavening, you’ll need to add baking powder and salt. Alternatively, you can use self-rising flour which has the leavening included. For a lot of dumplings, plain flour is all that is required with no baking powder.
Tips for How to Make Dumplings:
- Do not over work your dough. This will lead to tough dumplings.
- Do not over cook your dumplings, they cook quickly and if you over cook them they will be hard.
- Stirring the dumplings can make them break apart, its best to use a wooden spoon to push them under the liquid.
Here is our recipe for Homemade Chicken and Dumplings!
I always use plain flour to make dumplings, so you may not need baking powder at all! But yes for other applications, plain flour (less than 500g) + about 1 tsp baking powder does the job.
quantities – um, look at a cake recipe that uses baking powder? Probably about a teaspoon to a pound (400g)?
mine come out rather dense – however Im sure you have made your dumplings by now so that advice is a bit late, sorry!!
I realised when I came to make them that there are quantities given on the tub of baking powder! 
As tb says, its 3tsp per 8oz. They fluffed up beautifully and were delicious. Well, you learn something new every day! Might as well not bother buying self-raising anymore – I always end up with baking powder sitting in my cupboard for years and I might as well use it. Thanks for your help everyone. 🙂
Saviours! Thank you very much. I cant eat stew without dumplings! cerys, when you make them with plain flour do they still puff up a bit when cooked? Are they fluffy or a bit more dense?
How To Make Basic Dumpling Dough | Dough Recipe | Episode 152
FAQ
What kind of flour is best for dumplings?
Can you use unbleached flour for dumplings?
How much baking powder do I add to plain flour?
Can you use 00 flour for dumplings?
Can you use plain flour for dumplings?
Typically, you can use plain white flour to make dumplings because plain white flour usually refers to all-purpose flour. Moreover, most dumpling recipes call for all-purpose flour because all-purpose flour has medium gluten levels, so plain flour will likely be ideal. Can You Use Bread Flour For Dumplings?
What is the best substitute for rice flour?
Refined flours like rice flour lack natural fibers, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. Refined flours can cause spikes in insulin that lead to drops in blood sugar(hypoglycaemia), even in otherwise healthy individuals. Hypoglycaemia causes fatigue, foggy thinking, shakiness, irregular heartbeat, and cravings for sweet foods. Individuals who have unregulated blood sugar levels can experience extended elevations in both insulin and blood sugar levels, leaving them susceptible to increased inflammation and increased risk for several chronic diseases. Rice flour substitutes include brown rice flour, coconut flour, buckwheat flour, and almond flour. Finely ground nuts can be added to the flour for additional flavour and protein.
What is dumpling flour?
Dumpling flour refers to any type of flour that is used to make dumpling dough. Different types of flour may be used to make dumpling dough, but some common types of dumpling flour are all-purpose flour and bread flour. Generally, dumpling flour has to be somewhat high in gluten to create an elastic dough.
What is the best flour for Chinese dumplings?
It is hard to determine the best flour for Chinese dumplings because there is a wide array of Chinese dumpling recipes. However, most Chinese dumpling recipes will go well with wheat flour that has a medium gluten level, which is 10-11% because the dough will be easy to handle.