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!

Updated from October 23, 2014.