Easy Homemade Simple Biscuits
These Simple Biscuits, are buttery and flakey and everything a biscuit should be. Fast and easy to make and just in time for dinner! Or perfect even for Breakfast or Snack. Buttermilk biscuits, with their irresistible flakiness and rich, buttery flavor, are a true comfort food classic.
I actually made these Homemade Biscuits for the first time when I just started the blog in 2014. I was making one of our favourite Stews, Lentils and Sausage Stew and decided to serve some Homemade Biscuits also.
I wanted to give my family a little taste of North America! And what’s better than Soup or Stew and these flaky layers of a homemade biscuit? Besides biscuits I love a good scone, between these Glazed cinnamon scones and these Lemon blueberry Scones I can’t decide which I love more!
Recipe Ingredients
- Buttermilk – store bought or homemade
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Sugar
- Salt
- Butter – very cold butter
How to make Buttermilk
Since store bought buttermilk is quite thick you are going to want your homemade substitution as thick as possible, so I combined a little whole cream and milk. I used 2% but whole milk is probably better, and then I mixed in a tablespoon of white vinegar.
Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes and it’s ready to go.
How to make Homemade Biscuits
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda and salt.
Remove the butter from the freezer and grate it into the dry ingredients, and mix to form a crumbly mixture. Add the homemade buttermilk and stir just to combine.
Move the dough to a lightly floured surface and gently knead a to bring it all together do not over-knead.
Pat the dough out into a rectangle with the palm of your hand (never a rolling pin-it’s too hard on the dough).
Fold each end into the middle. Flatten the dough again with the palm of your hand until it’s approximately an inch thick or a little more if you want.
Cut out 5 rounds with a medium round cookie cutter or pastry cutter, place the biscuits on prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden brown.
Recipe Tip
Try not to twist the cutter when cutting the biscuits just press down and pull up, this makes for flakier biscuits.
How to cut in butter
If there is one thing I hate doing is cutting in butter, the easiest way to do it is to place your butter in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes and then grate it into the dry ingredients. Then just grab a fork and stir. I was told about this and a few other tricks when I took a baking class last spring in Toronto.
Recipe FAQs
Salted or Unsalted Butter?
To make these Simple Biscuits and all the other Sweet Recipes I make, I always use salted butter. The reason being I can’t find unsalted in Italy. So to tell the truth I don’t know and I really don’t think there is much of a difference.
If you prefer unsalted then just be sure to add a little extra salt in the recipe.
What is the best temperature for Baking the Biscuits?
I have baked these biscuits at 400F (200C) but I found the perfect temperature to be 425F (215-220 C). They bake to a golden perfection.
Can I add Extras to the Biscuit recipe?
Yes you can add extras, if you want a sweeter Biscuit then add an extra 1-2 tablespoons of sugar. You could also add nuts, chocolate chips or how about some dried fruit? Probably 1/4 cup more or less would be enough. Be sure to add it before you add the buttermilk.
How to Store Homemade Biscuits
Biscuits should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They should be eaten within 1 to 2 days.
Biscuits can also be frozen. Be sure to let them cool completely them freeze in air tight bags or containers. They will last 2-3 months in the freezer.
If you want to really indulge yourself in these Delicious Biscuits, be sure to brush them with a little melted butter once they are baked and still warm. Serve warm or room temperature. Enjoy!
Easy Homemade Biscuits
Ingredients
FOR THE HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK**
- 2 tablespoons whole / whipping cream
- 9 tablespoons milk (2% or whole)
- ½ tablespoon white vinegar
**or ¾ cup store bought buttermilk.
FOR THE BISCUITS
- 1¾ cups all purpose flour (230 grams)
- ½ tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons very cold butter* (131 grams)
*Place the butter in the freezer for at least 15-20 minutes.
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 425F (215C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
FOR THE HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK
- In a small bowl add the cream, milk and vinegar, stir to combine, then let sit 5-10 minutes.
FOR THE BISCUITS
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt. Grate the frozen / very cold butter into the dry ingredients and mix with a fork. Add the buttermilk and stir just until combined. Move to a lightly floured flat surface and gently knead to bring the dough together, approximately 10-12 times (do not over-knead).
- Gently flatten the dough with the palm of your hand into a rectangle shape, fold one end into the middle then fold the other end over the first end (like an envelope). Again gently flatten the dough with the palm of your hand to about 1 inch thick, then cut out 5 circles with a 2½ (6 cm) round cookie cutter. Place biscuits on prepared cookie sheet and bake for approximately 12-15 minutes. Brush the warm biscuits with melted butter if desired. Serve warm or room temperature. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Updated from October 23, 2014.
I’ve never left a comment before but these biscuits are TOO good not to thank you for the recipe. I’ve made them twice this week and my husband and I both agree that this is the BEST biscuit recipe I’ve ever tried! The first time was as an accompaniment for dinner and then again for strawberry shortcake. Heaven! I’m embarrassed to say that we ate all five of the biscuits each time! They are just as good the next day warmed up in the oven.
Hi June, thanks so much, great idea for using them for strawberry shortcake. Take care.
Delicious. Doubled the recipe and frozen butter is Key. Thank you
Made these biscuits for the first time. So easy and so good. I will definitely make again!!!
This is a great recipe! My family loved them!
I made these this morning for the third time! Best recipe, It’s definitely my go to biscuit recipe now. I love them!
I tried it with 3/4 cup whole wheat and 1 cup all purpose flours (what I had in these crazy times) and they turned out delicious!
I highly recommend these biscuits!
Hi Krista, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed them. I know what you mean, use what you have. Take care.
If you purchase the buttermilk at the store should it be cultured or regular?
Thank you!
Hi Courtney, regular buttermilk would be the best. Hope you enjoy them.
Can these be made a day ahead of time or even frozen?
Hi Tina, they shouldn’t be made ahead of time because of the baking powder and soda, once these ingredients are added it really should be baked. What you could do is mix the dry ingredients ahead of time (keep refrigerated) and add the remaining ingredients when you are ready to bake. Or prepare the dough, cut them out and freeze immediately on a cookie sheet, then place in a freezer bag or container and bake when needed. Although they may not rise as much. Hope that helps.
Oh my! Best biscuits ever. So flaky and tender. I made these for biscuits and sausage gravy. Was almost too good to cover with the gravy. Sooo good with butter and jam. I think I’m in love! 🥰
Hi Irene, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed them.
I think the amount in grams. Of butter is wrong. Half cup butter= 1 stick= 113 gr.
Each tablespoon of butter is equal to 14 gram
So the total should be 141 butter.
HiPhoebe, I have weighed butter a lot of times and for me 1/2 cup is about 113 grams (I have seen it from 105-113) 141 is much too much. Take care.
The recipe says 75g butter, but 1/2c + 2T (which is around 141g). Which is correct?
Hi Jessica, sorry about that, I corrected the grams, the cup and tablespoons is correct. Thanks
I’m in Italy too!! What kind of flour did you use? There are so many different types here
Hi Christa, I use Manitoba flour and sometimes farine per dolci for cakes. All the best to you.
Perfect every time!!
Thanks Barb.
We need to be able to email these recipes to ourselves
Not everyone uses Facebook or Twitter for safety reasons
And Pinterest is very low value
Hi M, I added email to the recipes. 🙂
Have made this recipe twice now; and a double batch the second by request to boot. My husband absolutely loves it for tea time both eaten savory and or with a bit of butter and jam. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe with us.
Hi Jill, thanks so much glad everyone loved them. Have a great weekend.
Best biscuits I ever ate
Thanks Sue, glad you enjoyed them.
Delicious. Thank you for the awesome game changing tip to freeze butter and use a grater.
Thank you! Love the recipe. 💜
Hi Cindy, thanks so much, haha that’s what I thought about grating the butter. Have a great weekend.