Easy Homemade Biscuits Recipe

I’m a firm believer that everyone should have a go-to biscuits recipe in their repertoire. And this, my friends, is mine. These Easy Homemade Biscuits are everything a biscuit should be: light, fluffy, buttery, and flaky. They’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner alongside a hearty soup or stew.

I used to be intimidated by the idea of making biscuits from scratch, but this recipe is so simple, it’s practically foolproof. The key is to use very cold butter and not overwork the dough. Trust me, once you try these homemade biscuits, you’ll never go back to store-bought!

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Biscuits

  • Buttery and Flaky: These biscuits have the perfect texture – they’re light, fluffy, and melt in your mouth.
  • Simple Ingredients: You only need a few basic pantry staples to make these delicious biscuits.
  • Quick and Easy: This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy mornings or a last-minute side dish.
  • Versatile: These biscuits are delicious on their own with butter and jam, but they’re also great for sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, or even as a topping for pot pies.

Ingredients for Homemade Biscuits

I always use the best ingredients I can find for my biscuits:

  • All-Purpose Flour: This is the base of our biscuits.
  • Baking Powder: The key to light and fluffy biscuits.
  • Granulated Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness.
  • Salt: Enhances the flavor of the biscuits.
  • Unsalted Butter: Use very cold butter for the best results. European-style butter is ideal, but not required.
  • Whole Milk: Adds moisture to the dough. Buttermilk or 2% milk will also work.

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

Variations

Want to get creative? Here are a few ideas for variations:

  • Cheesy Biscuits: Add some shredded cheddar cheese to the dough for a savory twist.
  • Herby Biscuits: Mix in some chopped fresh herbs, like chives or rosemary.
  • Sweet Biscuits: Add a bit more sugar and some cinnamon to the dough for a sweeter biscuit.
  • Fruity Biscuits: Fold in some chopped fruit, like blueberries or strawberries.

How to Make Homemade Biscuits

Step 1: Chill and Preheat

I always start by chilling my butter in the freezer for about 10-20 minutes. This helps create those flaky layers. While the butter is chilling, I preheat my oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients

A top-down view of a clear glass bowl filled with flour. The flour has a slightly coarse texture and a pale yellow color.

In a large bowl, I whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.

Step 3: Cut in the Butter

I take my chilled butter and grate it into the flour mixture using a box grater. Then, I use a pastry blender or my fingers to work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 4: Add the Milk

A top-down view of a clear glass bowl filled with flour. A clear cup is pouring a thin stream of buttermilk into a well in the center of the flour. The flour has a slightly coarse texture and a pale yellow color. A wooden spoon rests against the edge of the bowl.

I gradually add the milk to the flour mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon until just combined. I’m careful not to overmix the dough.

Step 5: Work the Dough

hands are folding a sheet of pale yellow biscuit dough in half on a lightly floured surface. The dough appears soft and pliable with a slightly rough texture. The hands are lightly dusted with flour, and the fingers are gently pressing the dough together.

I turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently work it together with my hands. If it’s too sticky, I add a bit more flour. Then, I fold the dough in half, flatten it, rotate it, and fold it again. I repeat this process a few times, but I’m careful not to overwork the dough.

Step 6: Cut the Biscuits

A top-down view of biscuit dough being cut on a floured marble surface. A metal biscuit cutter is pressing down into the pale yellow dough, creating a perfect circle. Three biscuit rounds have already been cut out, and three more are visible in the background, cooking in a black cast iron skillet. The dough appears soft and slightly textured with visible flour.

I use a floured biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits, pressing straight down into the dough without twisting. I place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between them.

Step 7: Bake

I bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes, or until they’re golden brown on top.

Step 8: Brush with Butter (Optional)

Four golden-brown biscuits fresh from the oven, resting on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. A black-handled pastry brush with black bristles is applying a oil to the top of one biscuit. The biscuits have a slightly rough and uneven texture with visible layers and a craggy top.

If I’m feeling extra indulgent, I brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven.

Step 9: Serve

rounded golden-brown homemade biscuits served on a black plate, One biscuit in front of the stack has been broken in half, revealing a soft, fluffy interior with visible layers .

I serve the biscuits warm with butter, jam, honey, or whatever my heart desires!

Tips and Tricks

  • Cold Butter: Using very cold butter is key to making light and flaky biscuits.
  • Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the dough can make the biscuits tough.
  • Sharp Cutter: Use a sharp biscuit cutter to prevent the dough from sticking.

How to Serve

rounded golden-brown homemade biscuits served on a black plate, one of the biscuit on side close to the dish is served with jam on top.

These biscuits are delicious in so many ways! Here are a few ideas:

  • Breakfast: Serve them with butter, jam, honey, or your favorite breakfast spread.
  • Brunch: They’re perfect alongside eggs, bacon, or sausage.
  • Dinner: Enjoy them with soup, stew, or chili.

Make Ahead and Storage

  • Make Ahead: You can make the biscuit dough ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
  • Freezing: You can freeze the unbaked biscuits for up to 2 months. Just bake them from frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time.
  • Storing: Store leftover biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

FAQs

1. Can I use a different type of milk?
Yes, you can use buttermilk, 2% milk, or even a non-dairy milk like almond milk or soy milk.

2. Can I make these biscuits without a biscuit cutter?
Yes, you can use a glass or even a knife to cut the biscuits into squares.

3. How can I reheat the biscuits?
You can reheat the biscuits in the oven at a low temperature or in the microwave until warmed through.

There you have it! A simple and delicious recipe for Easy Homemade Biscuits. I hope you enjoy them!

Easy Homemade Biscuits Recipe
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A stack of golden-brown biscuits piled high on a black plate. The biscuits have a slightly rough and uneven texture with visible flaky layers and a craggy top. They are stacked haphazardly, with some leaning against each other. The plate is sitting on a gray napkin.

Easy Homemade Biscuits Recipe

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  • Author: Hannah
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 12 biscuits 1x
  • Category: Bread, Side Dishes
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Easy Homemade Biscuits Recipe will teach you how to make perfect, fluffy, buttery biscuits from scratch. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you’ll have delicious biscuits ready to enjoy in no time!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour (500g)
  • 2 Tablespoons baking powder
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold (unsalted European butter is ideal, but not required)
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk (354ml) – buttermilk or 2% milk will also work

Instructions

  1. Chill Butter: For best results, chill your butter in the freezer for 10-20 minutes before beginning this recipe.
  2. Preheat and Prep: Preheat oven to 425F and line a cookie sheet with nonstick parchment paper. Set aside.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl and mix well. Set aside.
  4. Cut in Butter: Remove your butter from the refrigerator and either cut it into your flour mixture using a pastry cutter or (preferred) use a box grater to shred the butter into small pieces and then add to the flour mixture and stir. Cut the butter or combine the grated butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  5. Add Milk: Add milk and use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir until combined (don’t over-work the dough).
  6. Form Dough: Transfer your biscuit dough to a well-floured surface and use your hands to gently work the dough together. If the dough is too sticky, add flour until it is manageable. Once the dough is cohesive, fold in half over itself and use your hands to gently flatten layers together. Rotate the dough 90 degrees and fold in half again, repeating this step 5-6 times but taking care to not overwork the dough.
  7. Cut Biscuits: Use your hands (do not use a rolling pin) to flatten the dough to 1″ thick and lightly dust a 2 ¾” round biscuit cutter with flour. Making close cuts, press the biscuit cutter straight down into the dough and drop the biscuit onto your prepared baking sheet. Repeat until you have gotten as many biscuits as possible and place less than ½” apart on a baking sheet.
  8. Bake: Bake on 425F for 12 minutes or until tops are beginning to just turn lightly golden brown.
  9. Serve: If desired, brush with melted salted butter immediately after removing from oven. Serve warm and enjoy.

Notes

  • Cold Butter is Key: Use very cold butter for light and flaky biscuits.
  • Don’t Overmix: Avoid overmixing the dough, as this can make the biscuits tough.
  • Folding Technique: The folding technique helps create layers in the biscuits.
  • Biscuit Cutter: A 2 ¾” round biscuit cutter is recommended, but you can use other sizes if you prefer.
  • Re-work Dough: Gently re-work any leftover dough to get out a few more biscuits.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 biscuit
  • Calories: 280kcal
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 400mg
  • Fat: 14g
  • Saturated Fat: 9g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 35g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 35mg

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