Southern-style biscuits are a beloved comfort food, and there's nothing quite like the warm, flaky goodness of a homemade biscuit straight from the oven. This is a recipe I use all year round, but I use it more frequently during the cooler months. Whether you enjoy them with sausage gravy, butter, or jam, a perfect biscuit is a true classic. But the best part? You don’t need to be a professional baker to make these delicious, tender biscuits.
Over the years I have enjoyed some wonderful biscuits made by talented family members. I am not an expert biscuit maker, but I do not have to be an expert to make this recipe. In this post, we'll share an easy Southern-style homemade biscuit recipe that will have you baking like a pro in no time!
What Makes This Easy Southern-style Homemade Biscuit Recipe Special?
Southern biscuits are different from regular biscuits in the best way. They're typically flaky, light, and buttery, with a crisp exterior and a soft, tender inside. This is one flaky biscuit recipe you do not want to miss. The key to perfect Southern biscuits is in the technique and ingredients.
It is important to follow the recipe as closely as possible. In the kitchen, I tend to modify most recipes according to what I have on hand. If you want to get the best results each time, follow this recipe exactly.
Baking homemade bread products does not allow for much substitution. I try to follow the recipe closely for the best results with most baking recipes, especially with bread recipes.
Cold butter, a light hand when mixing, and a quick baking time in a hot oven are essential to achieving that perfect flaky texture. Plus, these biscuits are made without yeast, so they don’t require any rising time—just mix, roll, and bake! You have to love quick homemade bread recipes.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Easy Southern Biscuits:
To make these from-scratch buttermilk biscuits, you’ll need the following ingredients, which are all pantry staples. This is important to me from a time saving standpoint and is helpful to the grocery budget.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour – This is the base of your biscuit dough.
- 1 tablespoon baking powder – This helps the biscuits rise and become light and fluffy.
- 1 teaspoon salt – A little salt enhances the flavor of the biscuits.
- ¼ cup cold unsalted butter – This is the key to creating the flaky layers.
- ¾ cup buttermilk – The tangy buttermilk adds richness and helps activate the baking powder, making the biscuits rise.
- 1 tablespoon butter (for brushing) – This butter is used to brush on top of the biscuits before baking. This allows for a golden, buttery finishing touch to the tops of your biscuits.
How to Make Easy Homemade Biscuits:
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
First, preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). A hot oven is essential for getting the biscuits to rise properly and get the golden exterior color we are looking for. Do not forget this preheating step.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. You can use a whisk for this step. This will ensure that the dry ingredients are evenly distributed, which helps the biscuits rise evenly.
Step 3: Cut in the Cold Butter
Next, take cold butter (it’s important that the butter is chilled) and cut it into small pieces. I put my butter in the freezer for a few minutes before we start the recipe or alternatively I do not take the butter out of the fridge until I am ready to use it. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter. The little bits of butter are what create the flaky layers in your biscuits, so don’t overwork the dough.
Step 4: Add Buttermilk
The next step requires you to make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the cold buttermilk. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon or spatula until it just comes together. Be careful not to overmix—the dough should be slightly shaggy and sticky, not smooth. Remember the sticky dough is fine. Overmixing can result in tough biscuits. Overcome the urge to keep mixing until smoothe.
Step 5: Roll Out the Dough
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and gently pat it down into a rectangle or circle about 1-inch thick. Use your hands to gently pat it down—don’t roll it out with a rolling pin, as this can also make the biscuits dense.
Step 6: Cut the Biscuits
Using a round biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass (about 2 ½ inches in diameter), cut out biscuits from the dough. Press the cutter straight down—do not twist, as twisting can seal the edges of the biscuits and prevent them from rising fully. Most of the time I use my metal biscuit cutter, but I have been known to use the rim of a glass if the biscuit cutter is not nearby. After you cut out your biscuits, you can gently gather the scraps and pat out the dough once more and follow the preceding steps. Try to do this quickly and remember to not over-handle the dough.
Step 7: Bake the Biscuits
Place the cut biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet or into your iron skillet. To get the best results make sure they are close together (this helps them rise higher). I often use my cast iron skillet for these biscuits. Brush the tops with a little melted butter to ensure they bake up golden brown. At our house we love butter and this step helps the biscuits develop the golden color on top.
Bake the biscuits for 10-12 minutes, or until they are puffed up and golden brown on top. Do not overbake. The smell as they bake will be irresistible! Few smells can compare to the aroma of baking bread. My husband will smell this smell outside and come into the kitchen looking for the fresh bread! This is why these biscuits do not last long at our house.
Step 8: Serve and Enjoy!
Remove the biscuits from the oven and brush them with a bit more butter for that extra golden, buttery finish. Serve warm with your favorite toppings—jam, jelly, honey, butter, or sausage gravy are a few of our family favorites. These biscuits travel well. I have sent them with my husband to eat in the car if he is in a hurry. These biscuits are perfect for breakfast, dinner, or any time in between!
Pro Tips for Easy Southern-Style Homemade Biscuits:
- Use cold butter: This is essential for creating those flaky layers every single time. You can even chill the flour before mixing for extra coldness.
- Don’t overwork the dough: Mix just until the ingredients come together. Overworking the dough will result in dense biscuits.
- Use buttermilk: Buttermilk gives Southern biscuits their signature flavor and helps with the rise. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute with milk mixed with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice.
- Bake immediately: These biscuits are best when baked right after mixing the dough. Letting them sit too long can affect their rise.
- Stack them close together: When placed next to each other on the baking sheet, the biscuits rise higher and stay soft on the sides.
Why These Biscuits Are So Easy
This Southern-style homemade biscuit recipe is the best biscuit recipe. It is quick, simple, and perfect for beginners. The best part? You don’t need fancy equipment or advanced baking skills to make these delicious biscuits. By following these easy steps, you'll create biscuits that rival those of any experienced baker. One of the best parts is how easy these are to get on the table quickly. I often serve them with meals, but sometimes I bake them for a snack for my family.
These are best served warm fresh from the oven, but if you bake ahead as I do during the holidays, they can be warmed up before serving and taste almost as good as fresh from the oven. There is something about fresh bread or biscuits in this case that just makes you happy!
A Few Last Thoughts
Whether you’re new to baking or a seasoned pro, this easy Southern-style homemade biscuit recipe is a must-try. With just a few simple ingredients and a little patience, you can enjoy the buttery, flaky, fluffy biscuits that are a staple of Southern cooking. We have served them alongside many different meals. Serve them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and watch them disappear from the table in no time!
Enjoy the warmth and comfort of homemade Southern biscuits. This is one of my favorite recipes because it turns out delicious every time. It's easy to make yet a delight to your taste buds. Happy baking!
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