Easy Homemade Biscuits You’ll Love
Discover the secret to soft, flaky Homemade Biscuits with this easy recipe perfect for any meal or snack. These biscuits bring together simple ingredients and a straightforward technique to create a light, buttery delight that satisfies every craving. Whether you’re serving breakfast, a comforting dinner side, or a quick treat, these homemade biscuits will quickly become a beloved staple in your kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and simple: Requires few ingredients and minimal prep time for a hassle-free baking experience.
- Flaky texture: Achieves the perfect balance of softness and layers for melt-in-your-mouth biscuits.
- Versatile: Ideal for breakfast, dinner sides, or snacks paired with sweet or savory toppings.
- Family favorite: A crowd-pleaser that’s easy to double or halve depending on your needs.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe relies on a handful of simple yet essential ingredients that create the perfect biscuit texture and flavor. Each item plays a role in making your biscuits rise beautifully and taste irresistibly buttery and tender.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure and a tender crumb when handled gently.
- Baking powder: The rising agent that creates flakiness and lift.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
- Cold unsalted butter: Cut into the dough to create flakey layers and rich taste.
- Milk or buttermilk: Adds moisture and tang, activating the baking powder for rise.
Variations for Homemade Biscuits
These homemade biscuits are incredibly adaptable, inviting you to tweak ingredients for different flavors or dietary needs. Get creative and make the recipe your own with easy add-ins or substitutions that keep the biscuits soft and delicious.
- Cheddar biscuits: Mix shredded cheddar cheese into the dough for a cheesy twist.
- Herb-infused: Add chopped fresh herbs like rosemary or chives for a fragrant flavor boost.
- Gluten-free: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend designed for baking.
- Dairy-free: Use non-dairy milk and vegan butter for allergy-friendly biscuits.
- Sweet cinnamon sugar: Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top before baking for a morning treat.
How to Make Homemade Biscuits
Step 1: Prepare your ingredients
Chill your butter and measure out the flour, baking powder, and salt. Using cold butter is crucial to achieving those perfect flaky layers.
Step 2: Mix dry ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
Step 3: Cut in the butter
Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to incorporate the cold butter into the flour mixture, breaking it down into pea-sized pieces. This step creates air pockets that result in a flaky texture.
Step 4: Add milk and form dough
Pour in cold milk or buttermilk gradually, stirring gently with a fork until the dough begins to come together but is still slightly sticky.
Step 5: Knead and shape
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and fold it over itself 3 to 4 times gently to build layers without overworking it, then pat it to about a 1-inch thickness.
Step 6: Cut biscuits
Use a round biscuit cutter to cut out your biscuits, making sure not to twist the cutter for best rise. Place them close together on a baking sheet for soft sides or spaced apart for crispier edges.
Step 7: Bake until golden
Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 12 to 15 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and the biscuits have risen beautifully.
Pro Tips for Making Homemade Biscuits
- Keep everything cold: Cold ingredients help create light, flaky layers by preventing butter from melting too soon.
- Handle the dough gently: Overworking can develop gluten and make biscuits tough instead of tender.
- Use a sharp cutter: A clean edge helps biscuits rise evenly without squashing the dough.
- Bake immediately: Letting dough sit before baking can reduce fluffiness, so into the oven as soon as possible.
- Brush tops with butter: Melted butter brushed on warm biscuits adds color and a rich finish.
How to Serve Homemade Biscuits
Garnishes
Top freshly baked biscuits with butter, honey, or your favorite jam to add an extra layer of flavor and a touch of sweetness. For savory servings, try gravy or melted cheese.
Side Dishes
Homemade biscuits pair wonderfully with hearty meals such as fried chicken, creamy soups, or smoky barbecue. They’re also a comforting side for breakfast alongside eggs and bacon.
Creative Ways to Present
Turn biscuits into sandwiches with ham and cheese or layer with fresh fruit and whipped cream for a delightful brunch. They also make the perfect base for mini biscuit sliders or biscuit-based desserts.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover homemade biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days to keep them soft and fresh.
Freezing
Wrap biscuits tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag for up to three months. Freeze either baked or unbaked to bake fresh later.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers in a warm oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes or microwave for 20 seconds to restore their soft, fresh-baked texture.
FAQs
Can I use self-rising flour instead of all-purpose flour?
Yes, but omit the baking powder and salt in this recipe, as self-rising flour already contains those. Adjust accordingly for best results.
What’s the difference between baking powder and baking soda?
Baking powder contains both an acid and a base to activate rise, while baking soda needs an acidic ingredient to work. This recipe uses baking powder for consistent rise.
Can I make these biscuits vegan?
Absolutely! Substitute dairy butter with plant-based butter and use almond or soy milk instead of cow’s milk for a vegan-friendly version that’s still delicious.
Why are my biscuits turning out dense?
Possible reasons include overmixing the dough, using warm butter, or not using enough leavening. Keep ingredients cold and mix gently for light biscuits.
How can I make biscuits fluffier?
Ensure your baking powder is fresh, use cold fats, and cut the butter properly into the flour. Also, avoid twisting the cutter when shaping.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have the recipe and tips for making irresistible Homemade Biscuits, I encourage you to give it a try. There’s nothing quite like biting into a warm, fluffy biscuit made from scratch to brighten any meal and bring comfort to your table. Happy baking!
PrintHomemade Biscuits
Discover the secret to soft, flaky homemade biscuits with this easy, quick recipe requiring few ingredients. Perfectly buttery and tender, these biscuits are a versatile staple great for breakfast, dinner sides, or snacks. They deliver a flaky texture and can be easily customized for various flavors and dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 biscuits 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 3/4 cup cold milk or buttermilk (use non-dairy milk for dairy-free version)
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients: Chill your butter and measure out the flour, baking powder, and salt. Using cold butter is crucial to achieving those perfect flaky layers.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
- Cut in the butter: Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to incorporate the cold butter into the flour mixture, breaking it down into pea-sized pieces. This step creates air pockets that result in a flaky texture.
- Add milk and form dough: Pour in cold milk or buttermilk gradually, stirring gently with a fork until the dough begins to come together but is still slightly sticky.
- Knead and shape: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and fold it over itself 3 to 4 times gently to build layers without overworking it, then pat it to about a 1-inch thickness.
- Cut biscuits: Use a round biscuit cutter to cut out your biscuits, making sure not to twist the cutter for best rise. Place them close together on a baking sheet for soft sides or spaced apart for crispier edges.
- Bake until golden: Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 12 to 15 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and the biscuits have risen beautifully.
Notes
- Keep everything cold: Cold ingredients help create light, flaky layers by preventing butter from melting too soon.
- Handle the dough gently: Overworking can develop gluten and make biscuits tough instead of tender.
- Use a sharp cutter: A clean edge helps biscuits rise evenly without squashing the dough.
- Bake immediately: Letting dough sit before baking can reduce fluffiness, so into the oven as soon as possible.
- Brush tops with butter: Melted butter brushed on warm biscuits adds color and a rich finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 biscuit
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: homemade biscuits, flaky biscuits, buttery biscuits, easy biscuit recipe, quick biscuits, gluten-free biscuits, dairy-free biscuits