Easy Flakey Buttermilk Biscuits
This post really should be called, what in the world is a girl like you making biscuits like this? But seriously my streamlined now square biscuits are golden fluffy pockets of indulgence that I whip up with easy. Something that I made a lot of during the crazy pandemic days, now is something that brings us great joy. I even make extras on Thanksgiving to send home with guests. And on a day, I want folks to feel special I make some for breakfast.
After some iterations, I dispensed with the biscuit cutter routine, the square (sort of) biscuits are easier and waste less dough. They can also be cut smaller.
My Buttermilk Biscuit Story
The one thing that you know about me, is that if I am posting a recipe for something baked it will be nice and easy. And these biscuits do not disappoint. They live up to their reputation. They take maybe 20 minutes to put together and another 15 minutes to bake. Two more biscuit ideas are this cornmeal drop biscuits and these slightly sweet shortcakes for these strawberry shortcakes. Biscuits remind me of comforting times, when my young ones are around. Simple happy family times.
The square biscuits idea is much inspired by this recipe. Easier and quicker if you ask me.
A few tips and tricks
There are a handful of things needed to ensure that the biscuits are light and flakey.
- Do work with cold butter and buttermilk. They help with the flakiness.
- Work with a nice and hot oven, you need that immediate rise.
- Do not overwork the dough, in fact, it will be a little scraggy.
- Lastly, do not add more moisture than needed, as it will feel like your dough is dry, but too much moisture will weigh it down.
- Also, while the conventionality is debatable, I add in an egg to the dough, I like the rise that this adds to the biscuit.
Cheese Optional but not a bad Idea
If you have cheese lovers in your household, adding in half a cup of cheese into the mix is not a bad idea. I have been playing around with a spicy cheesy variation, that I will share with you later.
How to Enjoy Flakey Buttermilk Biscuits
For us this is usually a breakfast thing. Served piping hot, as I make some Indian style scrambled eggs. Simple and indulgent.
An easy and foolproof recipe for making biscuits.
Ingredients
- 2 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 6 tablespoons chilled butter
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 egg
- Butter for greasing the pan
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar in a mixing bowl.
- Grate the butter using the large side of a box grater and quickly work into the dough.
- Beat the egg and buttermilk together and add and beat the mixture working into a rough but well mixed dough.
- Flour a working surface and place the dough onto the surface.
- Using your hands flatten out the dough. Cut into four parts and stack the them over each other. Gently press down the dough with a rolling pin and roll out lightly to about 1 inch in height.
- Using a biscuit cutter, cut the dough into 2.5 to 3 inch biscuits. This will make about 6 biscuits.
- Brush the biscuits with buttermilk.
- Place on the baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes until fragrant, well risen and golden.
- Remove and cool slightly before serving.
Notes
For a Herb and Spice Variation
Mix together 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon parsley, 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon thyme. Add this to the flour while mixing and continue with the recipe as described.