These Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas are made with just five ingredients and take about 30 minutes from start to finish. And don’t worry about rolling them into perfect circles, mine certainly aren’t 😂
Step by step photos
These visual instructions help you see the process. You can also find the full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions at the end of the post.
- Add the flour, salt and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the oil to the flour mixture.
- Use your fingertips or a dough whisk to rub the oil into the flour until evenly combined.
- Pour in the hot water.
- Mix with a fork or dough whisk to combine, then use your hands to form a soft dough.
- Divide the dough into 9 pieces (about 55 g each). Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten slightly with your palm.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball thinly to about 20 cm (8 inches) across.
- Heat a dry frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Place one tortilla in the hot pan and cook until bubbles form and light brown spots appear underneath, about 15–20 seconds. Flip and cook the second side for another 15–20 seconds. Flip once more for a few seconds if needed.
- Transfer the cooked tortilla to a plate and immediately cover with parchment paper to help keep it soft. Continue with the remaining tortillas, stacking and covering them as you go.
Storing and reheating leftovers
- Room temperature: Let the tortillas cool completely before placing them in an airtight container or resealable bag. for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: for up to 5 days. Warm the tortillas for a few seconds in the microwave or in a warm pan to make them soft and flexible again.
- Freeze: For longer storage, place the completely cooled tortillas in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. There’s no need to put parchment paper between them. As long as the tortillas are completely cool before going into the bag, you won’t have condensation making them stick together. Thaw at room temperature, then warm before eating.
Tips for soft homemade flour tortillas
Use hot water. It should be hot to the touch, but it doesn’t need to be boiling. The hot water makes the dough soft and easier to roll.
There’s no need to rest the dough. I roll mine straight after mixing and shaping it. But if you find the dough springing back while rolling, cover it and let it rest for about 10 minutes. It should then be easier to roll out.
Roll them thin. Aim for about 20 cm (8 inches) across, but don’t worry about getting perfect circles. Mine certainly aren’t.
Choose the right pan. A non-stick frying pan or well-seasoned cast iron skillet works well, and you don’t need to add any oil. If you’re using a pan that tends to stick, lightly spray or rub it with a little oil.
Watch them while they cook. The 15–20 seconds is a guide since pans and stovetops vary. When bubbles form and light brown spots appear underneath, flip the tortilla. Cooking them for too long can make them dry and stiff.
Keep them covered. Stack the tortillas on a plate as you cook them and cover with parchment paper to help keep them soft. Paper towels or a kitchen towel work too.
They will firm up once they cool. Warm them for a few seconds in the microwave or in a warm pan and they’ll soften up again.
Flour tortillas with or without baking powder
I use ¼ teaspoon baking powder for a slightly lighter, softer tortilla. You can leave it out for a slightly chewier texture.
The tortillas will still bubble and puff as they cook without baking powder, so this recipe works with or without it.
Recipe
Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas
Watch how to make the recipe
- 2 ½ cups (300 g) all purpose flour (plain flour)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ level teaspoon baking powder (see notes below)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
- ½ cup + 2 teaspoons (130 ml) hot water
- Add the flour, salt and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the oil to the flour mixture. Use your fingertips or a dough whisk to rub the oil into the flour until evenly combined.
- Pour in the hot water. Mix with a fork or dough whisk to combine, then use your hands to form a soft dough.
- Divide the dough into 9 pieces (about 55 g each). Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten slightly with your palm.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball thinly to about 20 cm (8 inches) across.
- Heat a dry frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Place one tortilla in the hot pan and cook until bubbles form and light brown spots appear underneath, about 15–20 seconds. Flip and cook the second side for another 15–20 seconds. Flip once more for a few seconds if needed.
- Transfer the cooked tortilla to a plate and immediately cover with parchment paper to help keep it soft. Continue with the remaining tortillas, stacking and covering them as you go.
- Baking powder: I use ¼ teaspoon for a slightly lighter, softer tortilla. You can leave it out for a slightly chewier texture. The tortillas will still bubble and puff as they cook without baking powder.
- Resting the dough: There’s no need to rest the dough before rolling. If it springs back while rolling, cover it and let it rest for about 10 minutes.
- Pan: A non-stick frying pan or well-seasoned cast iron skillet works well without oil. If your pan tends to stick, lightly spray or rub it with a little oil.
- Cooking time: The 15–20 seconds is a guide. Flip when bubbles form and light brown spots appear underneath. Cooking the tortillas for too long can make them dry and stiff.
- Keeping them soft: Keep the tortillas covered with parchment paper as you cook them. Paper towels work too.
- Reheating: The tortillas will firm up as they cool. Warm them for a few seconds in the microwave or in a warm pan and they’ll soften up again.
Try my homemade corn tortillas too
Homemade Corn Tortillas
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Louise - Cooking with kids says
I love Mexican food too but I've never made tortilla. These look much nicer than shop bought ones, though, and easy to make too! Thanks for sharing
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Louise, oh and they do taste so good too, I really hope that you get a chance to try out this recipe 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
My husband asked me just the other day why I don't make tortillas, since we eat a ton of them and I make all of our bread! I didn't have an answer for him....but now I do!! Definitely pinning this recipe - they look great Ashika!! PS - You've got to make it to Mexico one day 🙂
The Gardening Foodie says
Haha that is great, so perfect timing for this recipe, it is so delicious and easy to make your own.
Thank you for pinning...and visiting Mexico one day is definitely on my wish list:)
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Very soft and fresh! I haven't made flour wraps in a while...time to start a batch!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Angie...hope you get a chance to make these soon as well 🙂
2pots2cook says
Definitely worth of trying. Thank you so much !
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you and you are welcome, I am so happy that you like the recipe too 🙂
Emma - Bake Then Eat says
I’d love to visit Mexico it looks so exciting and the food....... oh la la 😀 these tortillas look great!
The Gardening Foodie says
Oh so true, such a beautiful country 🙂
Thank you Emma...have a great weekend 🙂
Neha says
Oh wow! I haven't thought of making tortillas at home before. Wonderful recipe. I can't wait to see the filling you have got for these!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Neha...I really do hope that you get a chance to try these out, they are delicious 🙂
puja says
OMG super amazing recipe! I love it!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Puja...I am so glad that you love the recipe too 🙂
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
The stack of tortillas look so delicious and soft, I can eat them as is. If it isn't almost midnight, I'd want to go make a batch right now!
The Gardening Foodie says
Haha...it is never too late to make these deliciousness. Thank you Thao, these are so yummy 🙂
neil@neilshealthymeals.com says
Another excellent quick and easy recipe Ashika. Thanks! Recipes like this are perfect for Lynne and I and our busy lives. Plus, we both love Mexican food too, and we'd so much rather make everything from scratch, including Tortilla's rather than get shop bought ones. 🙂
The Gardening Foodie says
Awww Thank you and you are welcome Neil. These are so easy and quick to make and they really do taste so much better than shop bought 🙂
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
Ooooh I think I could eat a stack of these just plain!! Nothing on them needed! These are making me hungry for carbs hehehehe. Definitely need to make these!!
Maria Doss says
Though homemade tortillas are a bit of work when compared to picking up a packet from the grocery store, these look 100x better Ashika. I can't get over how soft they are:)