Soft Buttermilk Biscuits (Print Version)

Flaky, soft biscuits with a golden crust, ideal for breakfast or alongside savory dishes.

# What You'll 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar until evenly mixed.
03 - Add cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or fingertips, quickly work the butter in until the mixture forms coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining.
04 - Create a well in the center and pour in cold buttermilk. Stir gently with a fork until just combined to avoid overmixing.
05 - Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently pat out to a ½-inch thickness, fold in half, then pat again. Repeat this folding and patting process two more times to create layers.
06 - Pat the dough to a final thickness of 1 inch. Cut biscuits using a 2½-inch round cutter, pressing straight down without twisting. Gather scraps and repeat as necessary.
07 - Place biscuits close together on the prepared sheet. Lightly brush the tops with buttermilk.
08 - Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until biscuits rise tall and turn golden brown.
09 - Allow biscuits to cool briefly before serving warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They come together so quickly you can have hot biscuits on the table faster than deciding what to order for delivery
  • The folding technique creates incredible flaky layers that rival any bakery
  • This recipe is incredibly forgiving, perfect for beginners or experienced bakers wanting a reliable standby
02 -
  • Overworking the dough activates gluten and makes biscuits tough, so handle everything gently and stop as soon as ingredients combine
  • Twisting the cutter seals the layers and prevents rising, so press straight down and pull straight up
  • Room temperature ingredients are your enemy here, keep everything chilled until it hits the hot oven
03 -
  • Grate frozen butter instead of cubing it for an even faster and more evenly distributed incorporation
  • Chill your mixing bowl and pastry cutter in the freezer for 15 minutes before starting, especially in warm kitchens
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