Buttermilk Biscuits (Print page)

Tall, golden biscuits with buttery layers. Ready in 30 minutes for any meal.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

→ Fats

06 - ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed

→ Liquids

07 - ¾ cup cold buttermilk, plus extra for brushing

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar until well combined.
03 - Add the cold, cubed butter. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, quickly work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining.
04 - Make a well in the center and pour in the cold buttermilk. Stir gently with a fork until just combined; do not overmix.
05 - Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently pat it into a rectangle about ½ inch thick. Fold the dough in half, then gently pat it out again. Repeat folding and patting 2 more times for extra flaky layers.
06 - Pat the dough to a final thickness of 1 inch. Cut out biscuits with a 2½ inch round cutter, pressing straight down without twisting. Gather scraps and repeat as needed.
07 - Place biscuits close together on the prepared baking sheet. Brush tops lightly with buttermilk.
08 - Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until biscuits are tall and golden brown.
09 - Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before serving warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These biscuits rise taller than bakery versions because the folding technique creates dozens of flaky layers
  • The recipe is forgiving enough for beginners but impressive enough for company breakfasts
02 -
  • Twisting the cutter seals the edges and prevents rising, so press straight down every time
  • Warm butter makes tough biscuits, so keep everything chilled until it hits the oven
03 -
  • Touch the dough as little as possible to keep it tender and prevent toughness
  • Use a sharp cutter and dip it in flour between cuts for clean edges
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