How to Make Buttermilk Biscuits

How to Make Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits

Do I Have to Use Buttermilk in These Buttermilk Biscuits?

• To create the best flavor AND texture, yes. I highly recommend using real buttermilk.
• I’ve done extensive side-by-side testing on buttermilk vs. buttermilk substitutes, including powdered buttermilk, and vs. regular milk.
• You can read about my science of baking & buttermilk experiments here: Buttermilk 101.
• At the end of the day, I find nothing quite compares to the tangy taste and thick texture of the real thing.
• If you can’t use real buttermilk, you can use this substitute: 1 scant cup whole milk + 2 teaspoons distilled vinegar or lemon juice.
• If you’re using this substitute then I’d recommend adding some other flavor additions to the dough, such as shredded cheese, diced jalapeno, garlic powder, green onion, or everything bagel seasoning.

How to Make TENDER Buttermilk Biscuits

• This all comes down to be super gentle with the dough.
• I usually make biscuits by hand with a pastry cutter because you’re less likely to overwork the dough and it’s still super quick and easy.
• I’ve also included instructions for using a food processor in the recipe below, if you prefer.
• I like my biscuits to be slightly crunchy on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside, which is what this recipe produces.
• However, if you like very tender biscuits, try using a southern-style flour such as White Lilly, which has a lower percentage of protein. If you can’t find that, you can create a ratio of All-purpose flour combined with pastry flour to get a similar result.
• Whichever flour you use, make sure to MEASURE CORRECTLY. Too much flour will result in dense, dry, and tough biscuits.

Butter or Shortening for Biscuits?

I’ve also done side-by-side testing with biscuits made with butter vs. shortening and found I really prefer the taste and texture of 100% butter. However, biscuits made with shortening create a more traditional Southern-style texture. If you want, use half shortening and half butter.

How to Make TALL Buttermilk Biscuits

• Tall biscuits require tall dough: 1-inch in height to be exact. You could even pat the Buttermilk Biscuits dough out to 1 1/4-inches for mile-high biscuits – but note you’ll end up with fewer biscuits.
• Use a metal biscuit cutter: You want to create sharp edges when you shape the biscuit dough so nothing prevents the biscuits from rising. A round cookie cutter also works. 
• Do NOT twist the biscuit cutter as you shape the dough. 
• Lamination: The most important step in creating tall biscuits is to do a quick “lamination” of the dough. Basically, you pat the dough out into a rectangle, then fold it up into thirds (like you’re folding a letter to put in an envelope), then repeat that process.
• This trick applies to scones too.
• This step ensures your biscuits will bake up tall, with distinct layers of flaky goodness.
• This step is optional. If you don’t want to spend the time or energy on it, the biscuits will still come out great. 
• Take a look at the picture below to see what a difference laminating your dough makes, and then check out my How to Make Tall Scones & Biscuits article for even more tricks!

Baking Buttermilk Biscuits

• A great trick to further ensure tall & flaky Buttermilk Biscuits is to pop the tray of unbaked shaped biscuits in the freezer while your oven preheats.
• This keeps the butter extra cold.
• When the biscuits hit the heat of the oven, the steam from the water in the butter creates those tall flaky layers.
• It’s the same idea as pie dough.
• I prefer my biscuits to develop a golden crust, but I also know some people prefer their biscuits to be super pale and tender all the way through.
• Adjust the baking time for your unique oven and preferences.
• Whatever you do, just make sure your oven is fully preheated and hot enough. This is what helps the biscuits rise tall.
• Play it safe by waiting at least 10 minutes after your oven tells you it’s preheated.
• Learn more about ovens, and why preheating for longer than the preheat beep is important, here. 

How to Laminate Biscuit Dough

1. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and dust the dough with flour. I like to use a powdered sugar shaker to dust the perfect amount of flour without using too much. Gently pat the dough out into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle using your hands. You don’t need to use a rolling pin if you don’t want to!

2. Fold the dough into thirds like a letter. Don’t worry if it’s not absolutely perfect. You want to be quick and gentle with the dough and only use as much flour as necessary to prevent it from sticking. Adding too much flour will create dense and tough biscuits. A bench scraper makes easy work of moving the dough without having it stick.

3. Repeat this process two more times, rotating the dough 90 degrees before each fold. By the time you’re done, you will have created layers of butter similar to a croissant, so the biscuit bakes up perfectly tall and SO flaky!

How to Make Buttermilk Biscuits Ahead of Time

Since Buttermilk Biscuits are best served the day they’re baked, use these instructions for making them ahead of time. You can do this with the whole batch, or whatever you don’t want to eat in a day.

1. Place the unbaked shaped Buttermilk Biscuits dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid.
2. Remove to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months.
3. Bake as directed, adding an additional 5 minutes to the baking time, or until golden brown.