• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Good Hearted Woman logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Comfort Food
    • Cooking Basics
    • Condiments
    • German Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Seafood
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Sourdough
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
    • 30-Minute Meals
  • Cozy Living
    • Arts & Crafts
    • For Music Lovers
    • Food Holidays
  • US Travel
    • One Day in...
    • Pacific
    • Rocky Mountains
    • Southwest
    • The South
    • Hikes Near & Far
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cozy Living
  • Road Trips
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cozy Living
    • Road Trips
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits

    May 7, 2021 • Updated: July 7, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits

    Our Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits are soft, buttery, light, and tender – in a word: heavenly. Serve them up with butter, homemade jam, sausage gravy and eggs, or (if you want some real South in your mouth) chocolate gravy!

    Two biscuits on a plate. One sliced open and spread with strawberry jam.
    Jump to:
    • What's the Story Behind this Recipe?
    • Why Buttermilk Works
    • Ten Tips for Light, Tender Biscuits Every Time
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • FAQs & Expert Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits

    What's the Story Behind this Recipe?

    When we were first married, Mr. B wasn't very big on bread at meals, and biscuits in particular were a head-shaker for him. He explained once that almost every biscuit he'd ever eaten was "too hard or too soft, too dry, too bland, too salty, too sweet, too floury, too, too... too biscuity." 

    That is, until I made him these amazing, pillowy buttermilk biscuits - the same light and airy biscuits my mother taught me to make so long ago.

    A few bites into his first homemade buttermilk biscuit, Mr B was nodding enthusiastically, exclaiming, "Weese roar reawwy rood!" Swallowing, he repeated for emphasis, "These are really good!" I think even he was surprised that he liked them.

    That first biscuit-baking night, Mr B and I ate them with fresh strawberry freezer jam for dessert. Then we ate them again with butter, cinnamon, and sugar for a late night snack. We finished them off in the morning with our eggs, and a little more of that fabulous Hood Strawberry Jam.

    Since then, I've baked countless batches, and this biscuit recipe has become like an old friend: light, delicious, and always dependable. 

    This biscuit recipe, like all of the recipes on this blog, has been thoroughly tried-and-tested.

    Why Buttermilk Works

    Did you know that before the invention of baking powder, buttermilk was a necessary staple in the home baker’s kitchen?

    Baking soda needs an acidic ingredient to do its leavening magic (i.e., produce carbon dioxide and make baked goods rise). The acidity in buttermilk makes it a perfect choice!

    We love baking and cooking with buttermilk. Here are a few of our favorite “buttermilk” recipes:

    • Fresh Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
    • Fried Green Tomatoes
    • Nana's Irish Soda Bread
    • Caribbean Chicken Stew
    • Naked Original Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC Copycat Recipe)

    Ten Tips for Light, Tender Biscuits Every Time

    This really is an amazing buttermilk biscuit recipe - the lightest, tenderest buttermilk biscuits ever! And that's your bonus baking tip, because the first thing you need to do is start with a great biscuit recipe!

    1. Keep Everything COLD

    Refrigerate or freeze everything you are using to make your biscuit dough; especially your butter! The colder you can keep things, the more successful your biscuits will be.

    2. Use Fresh Ingredients

    That means everything from butter to baking powder!

    Did you know that baking powder has an expiration date? You can test the freshness of baking powder by mixing a small spoonful of baking powder with ¼ cup of hot water. If it is viable, it will bubble vigorously. No bubbles? Replace it! 

    3. Sift Dry Ingredients

    Sifting the flour and other dry ingredients together will give you a lighter, airier biscuit dough. You can do this is a sifter, or a wire mesh strainer.

    4. Incorporate Fats by Hand

    I am not a fan of pastry cutters. They have just never worked for me. Instead, I prefer to incorporate fats by hand. This allows you to keep the bits of shortening and butter bigger, up to the size of a cooked butter bean.

    One of the leading causes of tough baked goods is that bits of fat in it are too small. (This is why I avoid using a food processor for making dough.) The trick, though, is to do it quickly so as not to warm up the dough ingredients. 

    Shredded Butter on parchment, with other bowls.

    Bonus Butter Tip: I almost always grate the butter I use in baked goods. I makes it easier and quicker to incorporate it into the dry flour mixture without warming everything up.

    To do this, first chill butter in the freezer for about an hour.

    5. Use the Well Technique

    When mixing the buttermilk (or other wet ingredients) into the butter and dough mixture, use a well technique.

    This is done by making a well in the center of the butter-flour mixture and pouring the buttermilk in the center, then stirring with a wooden spoon just enough to combine.

    6. Use a Gentle Hand

    The more you mix the dough, the more gluten strands are formed. Gluten formation in pastry dough results a tough, chewy crust, and is to be avoided whenever possible. Do not, under any circumstances, knead your biscuit dough beyond the initial mixing.

    7. Work on a Cold Surface

    (See Tip #1) Roll dough only as much as needed to cut it. 

    8. Fold the Dough

    Rolling dough out and then folding it before cutting will give you light, beautiful layers. I usually fold it a minimum of two times, and a maximum of three. 

    9. Cut; Don't Twist

    When cutting your biscuits, press the cutter straight down and do not twist. Dip the cutter in flour between each cut to keep it from sticking. 

    10. Be Aware of the Weather

    You may need to add a little more flour on humid days, and a little less on arid days. 

    How to Make this Recipe

    Preheat the oven to 425°F | 220° C.

    Sift flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and sugar into a large bowl. Grate frozen butter and work it into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

    Make a well in the center of the butter-flour mixture and pour the buttermilk into it. Stir just enough to combine.

    Turn the dough onto a floured surface and pat it down. Roll the dough ½ inch thick and fold in half. Roll it out again to ½ inch thick.

    Using a round biscuit cutter or the top of a drink glass, cut biscuits out.

    Transfer the biscuits to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops of the biscuits with additional buttermilk.

    Bake in preheated oven for 14-15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

    Two biscuits on a plate, with three strawberries on the side. One biscuit is sliced open and spread with strawberry jam.

    FAQs & Expert Tips

    4 Easy Buttermilk Substitutes

    Lemon Juice & Milk (Preferred)

    For the ¾ cup of buttermilk substitute needed for this biscuit recipe, add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to a scant ¾ cup of milk. Fresh lemon juice is preferred, but bottled juice will work as well.

    Vinegar & Milk

    For the ¾ cup of buttermilk substitute needed for this biscuit recipe, add 2 teaspoons of vinegar to a scant ¾ cup of milk. Plain vinegar is preferred, but apple cider vinegar will work as well.

    Plain Yogurt & Milk (or water)

    For the ¾ cup of buttermilk substitute needed for this biscuit recipe, add enough milk or water to ⅔ cup of plain yogurt to thin it to a buttermilk consistency. We recommend using Greek yogurt.

    You may have a little extra when you are done thinning the yogurt. Measure out ¾ cup for the recipe and discard any remainder.

    Sour Cream & Milk (or water)

    For the ¾ cup of buttermilk substitute needed for this biscuit recipe, add enough milk or water to ⅔ cup of plain yogurt to thin it to a buttermilk consistency.

    You may have a little extra when you are done thinning the yogurt. Measure out ¾ cup for the recipe and discard any remainder.

    Related Recipes

    • Cinnamon Roll Wreath (Danish Pastry Ring)
    • Orange Tea Ring (Danish Wreath)
    • German Dark Rye Bread
    • Bread Pudding Muffins

    For more recipes and cozy living tips, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for all of the latest updates.

    Two biscuits on a plate. One sliced open and spread with strawberry jam.

    Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits

    Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits are soft, buttery, light, and tender – in a word: heavenly.
    Serve them up with butter, homemade jam, sausage gravy and eggs, or (if you want some real South in your mouth) chocolate gravy!
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Bread
    Cuisine: Comfort Food
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time:15 minutes
    Cook Time:15 minutes
    Total Time:30 minutes
    Servings: 12 biscuits
    Calories: 145kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 Heavy Baking Sheet
    • 1 biscuit cutter

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or ½ teaspoon if you use salted butter
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 7 tablespoons butter chilled in freezer
    • ¾ cup buttermilk plus a little extra for brushing on the tops

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425°F | 220° C.
    • Sift flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and sugar into a large bowl.
      Grate frozen butter and work it into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
    • Make a well in the center of the butter-flour mixture and pour the buttermilk into it. Stir just enough to combine.
    • Turn the dough onto a floured surface and pat it down.
      Roll the dough ½ inch thick and fold in half.
      Roll it out again to ½ inch thick.
      Using a round biscuit cutter or the top of a drink glass, cut biscuits out.
    • Transfer the biscuits to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
      Brush the tops of the biscuits with additional buttermilk.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 14-15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

    Notes

    Baking powder has an expiration date. Test the freshness of your baking powder by mixing a small spoonful with ¼ cup of hot water. If it is viable, it will bubble vigorously. No bubbles? Replace it!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1biscuit | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 385mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 229IU | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

    Originally published May 29, 2016. Content has been updated with new images, recipe instructions, and other content to improve reader experience.

    More Bread

    • Spiced Banana Bread with Crystallized Ginger
    • Mom's Classic Banana Bread
    • Pumpkin Spice Sourdough Scones
    • Kaylen's Bread (Easy Sourdough Bread Recipe)
    280 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Deborah says

      June 02, 2014 at 7:48 am

      Fresh biscuits and homemade strawberry jam!!!!!!!!! Can it get any better?

      Reply
    2. Pech says

      May 30, 2014 at 8:30 am

      Yum! I really want some biscuits now! Warm biscuits so that the butter melts immediately please!

      Reply
    3. dina says

      May 30, 2014 at 7:01 am

      they look delicious!

      Reply
    4. Marlynn @UrbanBlissLife says

      May 29, 2014 at 2:00 pm

      Yes! I love buttermilk biscuits and often make them for breakfast, but thank you for the reminder that they are great any time of day. Great idea to have them with strawberry jam for dessert. Yum!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Adorable middle-aged couple in forest setting. (i.e., Me & Mr B)

    Join me & Mr B for the best in home cooking and cozy living - from the beautiful Pacific Northwest and beyond.

    More about us →

    Follow Us

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    fresh recipes

    • Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries
    • Classic Hot Buttered Rum
    • Cinnamon Roll Wreath (Danish Pastry Ring)
    • Orange Tea Ring (Danish Wreath)
    • Team Colors 7 Layer Dip
    • Orange Spiced Cranberry Sauce

    game day eats

    • Team Colors 7 Layer Dip
    • Crispy Sauerkraut Fritters (Easy Air Fryer Recipe)
    • 20 Best Game Day Food Ideas
    • Sweet & Spicy Grilled Buffalo Wings
    • Cool Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip
    • Roasted Garlic Spinach Artichoke Dip

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Statement
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    Follow

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Meet Me & Mr B

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 The Good Hearted Woman. All rights reserved.

    280 shares
    280 shares
    We Value Your Privacy
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}