🥐 Easy Homemade Biscuits
Soft, Flaky, Buttery Biscuits Made From Scratch
Few things are as comforting as warm, homemade biscuits straight from the oven. With their golden tops, tender layers, and rich buttery flavor, biscuits are a timeless classic. The best part? You don’t need fancy tools or complicated techniques to make them at home. This easy homemade biscuit recipe is designed for beginners while still delivering bakery-quality results.
Whether you serve them with butter and jam, smother them in gravy, or use them for breakfast sandwiches, these biscuits are versatile, satisfying, and incredibly simple to prepare. Made with basic pantry ingredients, they come together quickly and fill your kitchen with an irresistible aroma.
🧺 Ingredients (Makes 8–10 biscuits)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, for slight sweetness)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Fat & Liquid
- ½ cup (115 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- ¾ cup (180 ml) cold milk or buttermilk
Optional Add-Ins
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh herbs (chives, rosemary, or thyme)
- A pinch of garlic powder or black pepper
🍽️ Equipment Needed
- Large mixing bowl
- Pastry cutter or fork
- Rolling pin (optional)
- Biscuit cutter or glass
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. A hot oven is essential for creating flaky layers and helping the biscuits rise quickly.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. This ensures the leavening is evenly distributed, which helps the biscuits rise uniformly.
3. Cut in the Butter
Add the cold butter cubes to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter.
These butter pieces are crucial. As they melt during baking, they create steam pockets that form flaky layers.
4. Add the Milk
Pour in the cold milk or buttermilk. Gently stir with a wooden spoon or spatula just until the dough comes together. Do not overmix. The dough should look slightly shaggy and sticky.
If the dough seems too dry, add one tablespoon of milk at a time until it just holds together.
5. Shape the Dough
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently pat it into a rectangle about 1 inch thick. Fold the dough in half, rotate it, and repeat this process 2–3 times. This simple folding technique helps create layers without kneading.
6. Cut the Biscuits
Pat the dough to about ¾-inch thickness. Using a biscuit cutter or a glass, cut straight down without twisting. Twisting seals the edges and prevents the biscuits from rising properly.
Gather any scraps, gently reshape, and cut again.
7. Bake
Place the biscuits close together on the baking sheet for softer sides or spaced apart for crispier edges.
Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the biscuits have risen beautifully.
8. Finish and Serve
Remove from the oven and brush the tops with melted butter if desired. Serve warm for the best texture and flavor.
🌿 Tips for Perfect Biscuits
- Keep ingredients cold: Cold butter and milk are essential for flaky biscuits.
- Do not overwork the dough: Overmixing leads to tough biscuits.
- Use buttermilk: It adds tenderness and a slight tang.
- Sharp cutter: Clean cuts help the biscuits rise evenly.
🔄 Variations
Cheddar Biscuits
Add shredded cheese to the dry ingredients for savory biscuits.
Herb Biscuits
Mix in chopped fresh herbs for a fragrant twist.
Sweet Biscuits
Increase sugar to 2 tablespoons and add a splash of vanilla.
Dairy-Free Version
Use plant-based butter and almond or oat milk.
🥣 How to Serve Homemade Biscuits
These biscuits are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways:
- With butter, honey, or jam
- Smothered in sausage gravy
- As a breakfast sandwich with eggs and bacon
- Alongside soups, stews, or chili
❄️ Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Store baked biscuits in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Freeze unbaked biscuits and bake directly from frozen, adding 2–3 minutes to baking time.
- Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for best results.
🧡 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy homemade biscuits prove that simple ingredients can create something truly special. They are soft on the inside, flaky on the outside, and endlessly adaptable. Once you master this recipe, you’ll never go back to store-bought biscuits again.