These homemade biscuits are light, flaky and absolutely delicious! You can’t beat the perfect buttermilk flavor and fluffy texture. You’ll be making this recipe over store-bought any day!
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Basic Homemade Biscuits
Whenever we make a big Sunday breakfast or brunch, we almost always end up making homemade biscuits. They’re one of those classic breakfast favorites that everyone loves, as well as French toast, buttermilk pancakes and Belgian waffles.
This might be a surprise to some, but homemade biscuits are actually pretty simple to make. And once you’ve tasted how light and flaky these biscuits are, you’ll be making them over store-bought any day! They have the perfect fluffy texture and the buttermilk flavor truly can’t be beat.
I got this recipe from the Magnolia Table cookbook and am loving her new book! I went to their restaurant a few months ago and fell in LOVE with their homemade biscuits, so I couldn’t wait to make them when I got home. As soon as the book arrived in the mail, I opened it up and saw ‘Jo Jo’s Biscuits’ front and center.
Trust me when I say this recipe is incredible and is just as good as I remembered. These homemade biscuits are already a kitchen staple and are definitely now one of my favorite recipes!
How to Make Homemade Biscuits
You only need 6 simple ingredients to make this biscuit recipe: flour, baking powder, baking soda, butter, eggs and buttermilk. I do have to say that the key to making these biscuits incredible is using real buttermilk instead of the milk + vinegar trick. Follow the simple steps below to get started.
Make the dough. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Use a pastry cutter, fork or food processor to cut the butter into the flour until you’re left with pea-sized pieces.
Stir in the beaten egg with a wooden spoon. Then stir in the buttermilk just until the mixture comes together. Refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes.
Cut into biscuits. Place the dough on a floured surface and flour your hands. Press down with your hands and shape into a circle that’s about 1/2 inch thick. Cut into biscuits by using a floured round 2 3/4″ cutter. You will end up with 10 biscuits. Then transfer to a small baking sheet, so that all of the biscuits are touching.
Bake. Whisk together an egg with 1 Tablespoon of buttermilk, then brush the tops of the biscuits with the egg wash mixture. Bake at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
Tips For the Best Homemade Biscuits
- Just like with scones, make sure to use COLD butter (I like to place mine in the freezer for about 30 minutes prior to using).
- Although it seems simple, accurately measuring the flour makes a big difference in texture.
- If you have time, place your bowl with the flour ingredients in the fridge for 30 minutes as well.
- Don’t overwork the dough. You want the ingredients to just barely come together and not be a smooth dough. Stir it just until combined. Then when pressing it out, do it ever so lightly.
- Use real buttermilk instead of making your own with milk and vinegar. Just like my Irish soda bread recipe this key ingredient helps make these soft and fluffy.
- Make sure your oven is preheated and hot before putting the biscuits in.
Ways to Enjoy Them
What’s so great about homemade biscuits is that there are plenty of ways to serve them. Enjoy as a snack, as a meal or even as a dessert!
- Serve warm with butter and honey
- Top with homemade jam or fresh strawberry sauce
- Use them for this homemade biscuits and gravy recipe
- Add scrambled eggs and bacon to make a biscuit breakfast sandwich
- Swap the English muffins for biscuits in my egg Mcmuffin recipe
- Make strawberry shortcake biscuits
- Use them to make chicken pot pie with biscuits
More biscuit recipes to try include drop biscuits and this cheddar bay biscuits recipe!
More Homemade Bread Recipes
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Homemade Biscuit Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour , plus more for counter
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup salted butter, cold , cut into 1/2 inch pieces or grated
- 1 large egg , beaten + 1 for brushing
- ¾ cup buttermilk , plus 1 Tablespoon for brushing
Instructions
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Add the butter and use a pastry cutter, a fork or food processor to cut the butter into the flour until the pieces are about the size of peas.
- Stir in the beaten egg with a wooden spoon. Next stir in the buttermilk. Stir just until it comes together (should be sticky still). Add a little more buttermilk or flour if needed. Cover the bowl and refrigerate 30-60 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a small baking sheet.
- Place the dough onto a floured surface or silicone mat. Flour your hands and press down into a circle (about 1/2 inches thick). Use a floured 2 3/4″ round cutter to cut 10 biscuits. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, so they are all touching.
- Whisk together 1 egg and 1 Tablespoon of buttermilk. Brush onto the tops of the homemade biscuits (you want need to use it all). Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes.
- Serve with butter and honey or jam.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Biscuits + Rolls, Bread
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
There is nothing better than one of the biscuits, fresh from the oven, with a big pat of butter! So yummy!
I am a biscuit girl and these are amazing! So buttery and the buttermilk is a must. Great recipe!
I have a silly question :) I want to make these but do not have the salted butter sticks I do have unsalted tho! Could I use that instead or would that make them taste funny?
Yes, definitely! :)
Why are we using self-rising flour then adding baking powder? Isn’t baking powder and salt already in self-rising flour?
You can use all-purpose flour as well. The self rising flour will just help boost the rise, but I’ve used all-purpose as well.
Biscuits are my weakness! I can’t wait to try these!
I can’t wait to try these – my biscuits could use a little help! :) They look amazing!
Buttermilk biscuits are my favorite! Can’t wait to make a batch of these!
Oooh, these look heavenly!
I love the texture of these biscuits!
Nothing beats homemade, those look fabulous!
Homemade is always better and these are defiantly one to make homemade!
This was really easy to make. I had tried this and really came out well than i actually expected. I haven’t had any idea that my first try would be that perfect. It took me little time to prepare this and the result was awesome too. Actually cookies are my favorite things. I prefer to have them when I work. No matter how sweet it is I can manage to eat it as much as I can. My loves towards cookiesare just incredible I can say.
I’m so glad you enjoyed these! Thanks for your comment and review! :)