I was pretty spoiled to grow up with freshly made tortillas. I will always remember my grandmother in the kitchen, making homemade tortillas. She would roll out these little tortilla circles, by hand. Every single tortilla would be perfectly round.
I’m not a rolling professional and my tortillas are not all the same size or perfectly round. They do taste good and are better than any store bought tortilla. It may take a few attempts to get the rolling technique down.
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Make Your Own Whole Wheat Tortillas
- Yield: 12 tortillas 1x
Description
There is nothing like a warm, fresh tortilla. Try making them at home and don’t worry if they aren’t all perfect circles when you begin.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup hot water
Instructions
Bread Machine Method
- Place all the ingredients in the bread machine pan. Set on dough cycle and let the machine mix and knead the dough. You don’t want to run the whole dough cycle. Stop the machine once a smooth dough has been formed. Allow the dough to rest for 5 minutes.
By Hand
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder and salt. Add the oil and hot water and start mixing with a wooden spoon. A dough will start to come together. Use your hands and really mix together and start to knead the dough. Knead the dough for 5 minutes, until a nice and smooth texture has been formed. Allow to rest 5 minutes.
- Shape into twelve pieces and roll into balls. Flour the counter and place a dough ball on floured surface. Gently press down to flatten the dough ball. Use the rolling pin to start from the middle of the dough. Gently start to roll out and then turn the dough a 1/4 of a turn. You want to keep turning the tortilla after each time you use the rolling pin. Keep even pressure while rolling the dough out. Continue to roll and turn, roll and turn, until you have rolled out a thin tortilla. If the dough starts to stick, add more flour underneath. You don’t want the dough to stick to the counter.
- Preheat pan to a medium heat. Place on heated cooking surface and cook for about a minute or until it gets bubbled and lightly golden. Flip over and continue to cook for 30 seconds. Place cooked tortillas in a clean kitchen towel and wrap. Can store the cooked tortillas in a plastic baggie.
Notes
Since these are fresh and made without preservatives, they will stay fresh for a few days. You could turn them into tortilla chips, if they start to harden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of flour should I use for these tortillas?
You should use whole wheat flour to make the tortillas, as it gives them a hearty texture and flavor. 
How do I achieve a good rolling technique for the tortillas?
It may take a few attempts to master the rolling technique; try to apply even pressure and rotate the dough as you roll to help form a more circular shape.
What is the best way to store leftover tortillas?
You can store leftover tortillas in an airtight container or wrap them in foil, and keep them in the refrigerator for up to a week.
What if you don’t have a bread machine?