If you’re craving something classic, comforting, and utterly irresistible, this Butter Biscuits Recipe is exactly what you need. Golden on the outside with a tender, flaky crumb inside, these biscuits are the perfect canvas for anything from a pat of creamy butter to a generous smear of your favorite jam. Whether you’re making a hearty breakfast, a cozy dinner side, or an anytime snack, these biscuits deliver that timeless, buttery goodness that makes every bite feel like a warm hug.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Butter Biscuits Recipe lies in its simplicity and the harmony of basic ingredients working together to create pure magic. Each one plays a key role in delivering the flaky texture, rich flavor, and inviting color of these biscuits.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation of the biscuits, providing structure and the perfect crumb.
- Baking powder: This leavening agent helps the biscuits rise to tender, fluffy perfection.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness for a well-rounded taste.
- Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness that complements the buttery richness without overpowering.
- Unsalted butter (cold and cubed): The star ingredient that creates flaky layers and delivers that indulgent buttery flavor.
- Milk (or buttermilk): Brings the dough together and adds moisture for soft, tender biscuits; buttermilk gives an extra tang and depth.
How to Make Butter Biscuits Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Baking Sheet
Start by preheating your oven to a toasty 425°F (220°C). Get your baking sheet ready by lining it with parchment paper or giving it a light grease. This simple preparation ensures your biscuits will bake evenly and release effortlessly once done.
Step 2: Whisk Together Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar until everything is evenly combined. This step ensures your biscuits rise beautifully and have that perfect balance of flavor in every bite.
Step 3: Incorporate the Butter
Drop in your cold, cubed unsalted butter. Using a pastry cutter, fork, or even your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture until it looks like coarse crumbs with bits about the size of peas. This technique is key because those little chunks of butter melt as the biscuits bake, creating those irresistible flaky layers.
Step 4: Add the Milk
Pour the milk into your butter-flour mixture, stirring gently just until the dough comes together. Aim for a slightly sticky dough that holds but isn’t overly wet—it should still feel soft and manageable.
Step 5: Knead and Fold for Flaky Layers
Turn your dough onto a floured surface and knead gently a few times to bring it together. Pat the dough into a rectangle about 1 inch thick. Fold it over onto itself a few times; this folding technique is where the magic happens, creating layers that rise into those flake-worthy biscuits you love.
Step 6: Cut Out Your Biscuits
Using a biscuit cutter about 2 inches in diameter, cut out circles of dough and place them on your prepared baking sheet. Gather any scraps, gently press them back together, and repeat to make the most of your batch.
Step 7: Bake Until Golden and Puffy
Pop your biscuits into the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the tops turn a gorgeous golden brown and the biscuits have puffed up beautifully. Let the enticing aroma guide you—they’re ready when they look and smell just right.
Step 8: Cool and Serve
After removing from the oven, let your biscuits cool slightly on a wire rack. This keeps their bottoms from steaming and going soggy. Serve warm, slathered with butter, honey, or your favorite jam for a truly satisfying treat.
How to Serve Butter Biscuits Recipe
Garnishes
Butter biscuits are a blank canvas begging for creative toppings. Try a pat of rich honey butter or a spoonful of tangy homemade jam. For a savory touch, sprinkle some fresh herbs or a pinch of flaky sea salt on warm biscuits fresh from the oven.
Side Dishes
These biscuits pair beautifully with so many dishes—think creamy chicken gravy, hearty soups, or smoky barbecue. They also shine alongside scrambled eggs and crispy bacon for a breakfast that feels like a celebration in every bite.
Creative Ways to Present
For a festive touch, serve these biscuits stacked with layers of smoked ham and sharp cheddar for mini biscuit sandwiches. Alternatively, slice them in half and fill with fried chicken or a scoop of pimento cheese for a Southern-style delight that’s sure to wow your guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftover biscuits (though they rarely last long), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days to keep them soft and tender.
Freezing
Butter biscuits freeze beautifully. Wrap each biscuit individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to indulge, simply thaw at room temperature or warm directly from frozen.
Reheating
To revive frozen or leftover biscuits, pop them into a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 5 to 10 minutes. This reheating method keeps their exterior crisp and interior soft, like they just came out of the oven.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes, but reduce or omit the additional salt in the recipe to prevent the biscuits from becoming too salty. Unsalted butter gives you more control over the final flavor.
What’s the difference between using milk and buttermilk?
Buttermilk adds a slight tang and extra tenderness to the biscuits, making them richer and more flavorful, while milk yields a more neutral taste that’s still delicious.
How do I achieve flaky layers in my biscuits?
The key is to keep the butter cold and fold the dough a few times before cutting. Those layers of butter create steam as they bake, which lifts the dough and produces flakiness.
Can I make these biscuits dairy-free?
Absolutely! Substitute the butter with a vegan butter alternative and use almond or oat milk instead of dairy milk to keep them tender and tasty.
Why do my biscuits sometimes turn out dense?
Overworking the dough or using butter that’s too warm can lead to dense biscuits. Handle the dough gently and keep ingredients cold to ensure light and fluffy results.
Final Thoughts
This Butter Biscuits Recipe is a true kitchen classic that brings joy with every buttery, flaky bite. Whether you’re serving them at the breakfast table or alongside your favorite dinner, these biscuits never fail to comfort and delight. Give this recipe a try—it’s a simple pleasure that tastes like home in the best way possible.
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Butter Biscuits Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 biscuits
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These classic Butter Biscuits are flaky, tender, and buttery, perfect as a side for breakfast or dinner. Made with simple ingredients like flour, butter, baking powder, and milk, these biscuits bake up golden and fluffy with a slightly crisp exterior and soft interior. The technique of folding the dough adds layers for extra flakiness, making these biscuits irresistibly delicious.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 3/4 cup milk (or buttermilk for a richer flavor)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar until evenly mixed to ensure consistent flavor and leavening.
- Cut in the Butter: Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry mixture. Use a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingers to gently incorporate the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter, which helps create flaky texture.
- Add the Milk: Pour in the milk and stir gently until just combined. The dough should be slightly sticky but still manageable; avoid overmixing to keep the biscuits tender.
- Form the Biscuits: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it lightly a few times to bring it together. Pat the dough into a 1-inch thick rectangle, then fold it over onto itself a few times to create flaky layers, pressing it back to 1-inch thickness.
- Cut Out Biscuits: Using a 2-inch round biscuit cutter, cut out biscuits and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Gently re-roll and cut any leftover dough to maximize yield.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until the tops are golden brown and biscuits have risen, indicating they are fully cooked and fluffy.
- Serve: Remove biscuits from the oven and let them cool slightly on a wire rack. Serve warm with butter, jam, or gravy for a comforting treat.
Notes
- Using cold butter is key to achieving flaky biscuits as it creates steam during baking, forming layers.
- Buttermilk can be substituted for milk for a richer flavor and slightly tangier taste.
- Do not overwork the dough to keep biscuits tender and light.
- Biscuit cutter should be pressed straight down without twisting to help the biscuits rise evenly.
- Serve fresh for best texture; biscuits can be reheated in a warm oven if needed.
