HOW TO MAKE DUMPLINGS
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!
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!

How to make dumplings
Ingredients
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 1/4 cup shortening or lard
- 3/4 cup boiling water
Instructions
- Put self-rising flour in a bowl, cut in shortening with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the boiling water a little at a time until you can shape the mixture into a ball. Roll out to about 1/8 inch thickness on a floured board.
- For flat dumplings cut into strips, then squares. I use a pizza cutter to do this as it is much quicker.
- If you want drop dumplings do not roll out. Just pinch off pieces of the dough the size you want.
- Drop either kind of dumplings, a few at a time, into boiling soup, fruit or broth, cover with top on pot, let cook for a few minutes and add more dumplings.
Notes
