Grandma Mercie's Flour Tortilla Recipe (2024)

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Of all the recipes I share, my Grandma Mercie’s flour tortilla recipe is the one I hold closest to my heart. My grandma made the best Mexican food I’ve ever tasted, including homemade flour tortillas. She was a fantastic cook! Wherever she is right now, I’m absolutely certain she’s smiling down at me feeling very honored that I’m about to share her fabulous recipe for homemade flour tortillas (tortillas de harina). Although there are many flour tortilla recipes floating around, Grandma’s recipe is seriously the best!

Grandma Mercie’s Flour Tortilla Recipe Ingredients

What are flour tortillas made of? Here’s what flour tortillas are made of: all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, shortening, and hot water. If you were wondering how to make flour tortillas without lard – this is the recipe for you! As an adult Grandma Mercie never used lard for her tortillas (although if you’d like to use lard when making this recipe that’s perfectly fine). Instead, Grandma used Crisco shortening. If she happened to be out of shortening she simply used Mazola vegetable oil in the same quantity.

How to Make Flour Tortillas

In the recipe card for this post I’ll provide directions on how to make flour tortillas using a stand mixer. But right here I’ll show you how to make flour tortillas by hand just the way Grandma made them. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Blend in the shortening using your clean hands or a fork. Slowly add in the water, and continue mixing with your hands until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

How to Make Homemade Flour Tortillas

On a generously floured board, knead the dough for 5 minutes, adding in a bit more water or flour, as needed, until the dough feels smooth and the texture is nice and velvety. Cover the the dough with a clean dish towel and allow it to sit and rest on the board for 20-30 minutes. Don’t skip this step! The resting period allows the flour in the dough to take a mini vacation and soak in the water which will improve the texture of the well-rested dough. After the gluten has had a chance to rest and relax it’ll be feeling super laid back and more cooperative – the dough will be easier to roll out and your flour tortillas can be rolled out much thinner.

Flour Tortilla Recipe

Uncover the dough and divide it into 18-20 small pieces. Roll each piece into a little ball, just slightly larger than a golf ball. Keep the balls of dough covered with a clean (just very slightly damp) dish towel until they’re rolled out. This will keep them from drying out. Another method for keeping them from drying out is to just lightly spritz the balls with a bit of vegetable oil (but not olive oil as that flavor is way too strong!) before covering them.

How to Make Tortillas

Preheat a cast-iron comal, griddle or large frying pan over medium/low heat. Like Grandma, I have a gas stove and this is the heat setting she used and it’s what I use too. But depending on your stovetop and the type of griddle you’re using, you may need to raise the heat to medium.

How to Roll Out Flour Tortillas

With a wooden rolling pin, roll out your flour tortillas into circles approximately 8 inches in diameter. Grandma was an expert at creating perfectly round flour tortillas. Sadly, mine are not as beautifully shaped as hers. Most times I just use the handmade wooden rolling pin my grandma gave me. Other times, like today, I pull out my authentic Mexican tortilla press. I use it to give me a quick head start at making round flour tortillas.

How to Use a Tortilla Press for Flour Tortilla Recipe

It’s important to note that a tortilla press works best for corn tortillas not flour tortillas. This is because flour contains gluten which makes a rolled out flour tortilla shrink back to a smaller size. However, a tortilla press can be used to start the process of creating a nice small round tortilla that can then be rolled into a larger size with a rolling pin. When using a tortilla press, place the ball of dough between two pieces of waxed paper.

How to Cook Flour Tortillas

Lay your rolled out flour tortilla on the comal. Casually count to 20, then flip it over. Flip the tortilla 3-4 more times, slowly counting to 20 between each flip. While the tortilla on the comal is cooking, start rolling out your next tortilla so that it’s ready to go. Your tortillas will puff up slightly while cooking, and the surface will have some light-brown spots all over. If your tortillas are not cooking fast enough, raise the heat to medium – but no higher than that. I like my flour tortillas cooked until just done so they’re soft and tender. My mother loves her tortillas cooked longer, to the point where they’re even a bit crispy! For every member of our family, our favorite part is enjoying a fresh flour tortilla hot off the comal with a nice pat of salted butter. Mmmm…so good!

Best Kitchen Tools for Grandma Mercie’s Flour Tortilla Recipe

These are the kitchen tools that are perfect for making Grandma’s flour tortilla recipe! In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where I spend 3 months a year, the taco stands and restaurants all use these beautiful hardwood tortilla presses for making their homemade tortillas. I absolutely love mine!

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