There could be several reasons why your homemade biscuit dough doesn't rise as much as store-bought ones when baking them in the oven. Let's explore some common factors that may affect the rise of your biscuits:
Leavening agent: Biscuits typically rise due to the presence of leavening agents like baking powder or baking soda. If your biscuits are not rising properly, it's possible that your leavening agent is not fresh or has lost its potency. Check the expiration date and consider using a new batch of baking powder or baking soda.
Overworking the dough: Biscuit dough should be handled gently and not overworked. Overmixing the dough can develop too much gluten, resulting in a tough texture and reduced rise. Mix the ingredients until they are just combined to avoid this issue.
Incorrect measurements: Baking is a precise science, and even small deviations from a recipe can impact the final product. Ensure that you are measuring all the ingredients accurately, especially the flour, which can significantly affect the dough's consistency.
Ingredient temperature: Using cold ingredients (such as butter and milk) is crucial for achieving a flaky texture in biscuits. Cold fats create small pockets of steam during baking, which contributes to the rise. Make sure your ingredients are appropriately chilled.
Baking temperature: Preheating your oven is essential to ensure that the biscuits start rising as soon as they are placed in the oven. An insufficiently preheated oven might hinder the rise.
Baking time: Biscuits need to be baked for the right amount of time to allow them to rise fully. Overbaking can cause them to dry out and prevent them from rising as well.
Dough thickness: The thickness of the dough can affect how high the biscuits rise. Make sure to roll or pat the dough to the correct thickness specified in the recipe.
Baking sheet and placement: The type of baking sheet you use can influence how your biscuits rise. A heavy, dark-colored baking sheet may cause the bottoms to brown faster, limiting the rise. Also, ensure you place the biscuits on the baking sheet with enough space between them to allow for even heat distribution.
Altitude and humidity: High altitude and very humid environments can impact the rising process. You may need to adjust the recipe slightly to accommodate for these factors.
By paying attention to these factors and making adjustments where necessary, you should be able to improve the rise of your homemade biscuit dough and achieve light, fluffy biscuits. Keep in mind that it might take some practice to get it just right, so don't be discouraged if your first attempts don't turn out perfectly.