Homemade Biscuits Recipe

Easy Homemade Biscuits Recipe: Fluffy Comfort in Every Bite

Those warm homemade biscuits float like clouds of comfort straight from grandmother’s kitchen.

Buttery aromas instantly transport us to cherished memories of slow weekend mornings.

Flaky layers promise golden-edged deliciousness that melts in seconds.

Southern kitchens have perfected this simple art through generations of careful practice.

Every baker can master these tender treasures with just a few basic ingredients.

Crisp edges and soft centers create magic on your plate.

Trust me, these biscuits will become your new weekend breakfast obsession.

Why Homemade Biscuits Make Every Meal Cozier

  • Master the art of creating perfectly layered biscuits with simple techniques like using cold butter and minimal mixing, guaranteeing a light, tender result every single time.
  • Serve these biscuits alongside breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or enjoy them with jam, honey, or as a base for sandwiches- they're a guaranteed hit for all ages and meal types.
  • Create restaurant-quality biscuits using basic pantry ingredients that are affordable and always on hand, making this recipe a smart choice for economical home cooking.

What Goes into Classic Fluffy Homemade Biscuits

Flour Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure and texture for the biscuits, key to achieving that classic light and fluffy quality.
  • Baking Powder: Essential leavening agent that helps biscuits rise and become airy and soft.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.
  • Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness and helps with browning.
Fat Ingredients:
  • Unsalted Butter: Creates signature flaky layers and adds rich, creamy flavor. Use cold butter for best results.
Liquid Ingredients:
  • Milk: Brings the dough together and helps create a tender crumb. Whole milk works best for richness.
Optional Finishing Ingredient:
  • Melted Butter: Provides a golden, shiny top and adds extra buttery flavor when brushed after baking.

How to Make Tender and Golden Homemade Biscuits

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Set your oven to a toasty 450F (232C). This high heat is the secret to creating those dreamy, flaky biscuit layers that melt in your mouth.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients

Grab a large mixing bowl and whisk together:
  • Flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Sugar

These ingredients are your biscuit’s flavor foundation.

Step 3: Work in the Butter

Drop in cold, cubed butter. Grab a pastry cutter or use your fingertips to blend the butter into the flour. You’re looking for a texture like coarse, pebbly sand with tiny butter chunks scattered throughout.

Step 4: Introduce the Milk

Pour in the milk and stir gently. The goal is a slightly sticky dough that just barely holds together. If it feels too dry, splash in a bit more milk, one tablespoon at a time.

Step 5: Knead and Fold

Dust a clean surface with flour and turn out the dough. Fold it over itself a few times- this creates those irresistible layers. Keep it gentle to maintain the biscuits’ light, airy texture.

Step 6: Roll Out the Dough

Flatten the dough with a rolling pin to about 1-inch thick. Think pillowy and substantial, not paper-thin.

Step 7: Cut Biscuit Shapes

Use a biscuit cutter or a drinking glass to punch out perfect rounds. Press straight down- no twisting! Collect the scraps, re-roll, and cut more biscuits.

Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection

Arrange the biscuits close together on a baking sheet. Slide them into the hot oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until they’re beautifully golden and puffed up.

Step 9: Butter Finish

For an extra touch of deliciousness, brush the hot biscuits with melted butter right after they come out of the oven.

Tips for Light, Flaky Homemade Biscuits Every Time

  • Chill Butter Thoroughly: Keep butter ice-cold and cut into tiny cubes to guarantee ultra-flaky, tender biscuits with perfect layered texture.
  • Handle Dough Minimally: Touch the dough as little as possible when mixing and folding to prevent developing tough gluten that makes biscuits dense and chewy.
  • Use Fresh Baking Powder: Ensure your baking powder is less than 6 months old for maximum rising power and lightest possible biscuit structure.
  • Crowd Biscuits Closely: Place cut biscuits touching each other on the baking sheet to help them rise higher and create softer side edges.
  • Choose High-Protein Flour: Opt for soft wheat or southern-style flour for more authentic, tender biscuit results with superior texture and richness.

Keeping Homemade Biscuits Soft and Warm Later On

  • Store leftover biscuits in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days to maintain freshness and prevent staleness.
  • Wrap individual biscuits tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place in a freezer bag for up to 2 months, ensuring they stay protected from freezer burn.
  • Warm refrigerated or frozen biscuits at 350F for 5-7 minutes, wrapped in foil to prevent drying out and preserve their original texture.
  • Quickly reheat room temperature or refrigerated biscuits for 10-15 seconds, but be cautious as microwaving can make them tough and chewy.

Best Foods and Drinks with Homemade Biscuits

  • Savor Buttery Biscuit Companions
  • Spread homemade honey butter on warm biscuits for a sweet and creamy indulgence that melts perfectly into the flaky layers.
  • Serve biscuits alongside strawberry jam and a hot Earl Grey tea, creating a classic British-inspired breakfast or afternoon treat.
  • Top biscuits with rich, creamy sausage gravy for a hearty Southern-style breakfast that celebrates comfort food at its finest.
  • Spread herbed goat cheese or sharp cheddar on warm biscuits for a tangy, savory twist that elevates the simple biscuit.

Fun Twists on the Traditional Homemade Biscuit

  • Herb-Infused Biscuits: Add chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, or chives to the dry ingredients for an aromatic herbal flavor that elevates the classic biscuit.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, adding xanthan gum to help bind the ingredients and maintain the biscuits' texture.
  • Whole Wheat Healthy Swap: Replace half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for added nutrition and a slightly nuttier flavor profile.
  • Cheese Lover's Variation: Mix in grated cheddar, parmesan, or crumbled blue cheese into the dry ingredients for a savory and rich biscuit experience.
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Homemade Biscuits Recipe

Homemade Biscuits Recipe


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4.9 from 18 reviews

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Buttery homemade biscuits promise golden, flaky perfection with simple Southern charm. Crisp edges and tender centers invite warm memories of grandma’s kitchen, welcoming hungry souls with irresistible comfort.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Dry Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (480 milliliters) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) sugar
  • ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) salt

Dairy Ingredients:

  • ½ cup (1 stick or 113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • ¾ cup (180 milliliters) cold milk (or buttermilk for extra flavor)

Instructions

  1. Prepare your kitchen workspace and gather essential equipment like a mixing bowl, pastry cutter, rolling pin, and baking sheet.
  2. Calibrate the oven temperature precisely to 450F (232C), ensuring an optimal environment for creating golden, flaky biscuits.
  3. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl, whisking thoroughly to distribute ingredients evenly.
  4. Extract cold butter from refrigerator and cube into small, uniform pieces to facilitate even integration with dry ingredients.
  5. Incorporate butter into flour mixture using a pastry cutter or fingertips, breaking down butter until the texture resembles coarse, sandy crumbs with tiny butter fragments.
  6. Create a well in the center of the mixture and slowly introduce milk, stirring minimally to prevent gluten development and maintain a tender texture.
  7. Transfer dough onto a lightly floured surface, using gentle folding techniques to develop delicate layers without overworking the mixture.
  8. Roll out dough to approximately one-inch thickness, ensuring consistent depth for uniform baking.
  9. Utilize a sharp biscuit cutter or clean-edged glass to stamp out precise circular shapes, pressing directly downward to preserve dough structure.
  10. Arrange biscuits closely on baking sheet, allowing edges to barely touch for maximum rising potential.
  11. Position baking sheet in preheated oven and monitor for 10-12 minutes until surfaces transform into a rich, golden-brown hue.
  12. Optional: Enhance visual appeal and flavor by brushing warm biscuits with melted butter immediately after removing from oven.

Notes

  • Chill butter thoroughly before cutting to ensure maximum flakiness and prevent dough from becoming greasy during mixing.
  • Use buttermilk instead of regular milk for extra tanginess and more tender texture, creating lighter and more delicate biscuits.
  • Handle dough minimally to prevent gluten development, which can make biscuits tough and dense instead of light and fluffy.
  • For gluten-free variations, substitute all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend containing xanthan gum for better binding and texture.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 200
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Dave Mitchell

Dave Mitchell

Founder & Chief Recipe Developer

Expertise

  • Grilling Techniques and Innovations​
  • Recipe Development and Testing
  • Culinary Education and Workshops​
  • Food Photography and Styling

Education

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
Focus: Comprehensive training in culinary techniques, kitchen management, and menu planning, with a special emphasis on grilling and outdoor cooking. ​


Dave Mitchell is the heart behind Daves Grill, a cook, writer, and lover of all things grilled. He studied Culinary Arts at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and spent years cooking, testing, and sharing recipes that actually work.

Dave started Daves Grill to keep things simple: one great recipe at a time. His food is bold, easy to follow, and made for real people with regular kitchens. From juicy steaks to quick sides, Dave’s recipes bring the heat without the hassle.

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