Home » The Easiest Biscuit Recipe | Best for Beginners

The Easiest Biscuit Recipe | Best for Beginners

When I first started my baking journey, all I really wanted to learn to do was biscuits. Now, looking back, I realize that the biscuits were the gateway baked good to a much bigger journey! I wanted an easy biscuit recipe that made fluffy biscuits with flaky layers.

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Biscuits seem so simple, yet, they can be surprisingly difficult to master. Today, I am going to be sharing this easy homemade biscuit recipe.

I mastered this recipe years and years ago, and, it’s the only biscuit recipe I use except when making sourdough biscuits (which is an adaptation from this very recipe). These really are the best biscuits and a great recipe for beginners.

It’s hard for me to imagine a life without biscuits. Since my childhood, biscuits have been a major part of my memories on the weekends. Both my parents make great biscuits, so, I had to figure them out for myself, if I was going to be able to keep having them, ha ha!

This recipe turns out great every single time! Once you have these smothered in sausage gravy, you will be hooked!

I remember trying to make biscuits and failing over and over. I just couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. Finally, I realized I was trying too hard! Biscuit dough doesn’t like to be fussed with too much. I needs to be brought together quickly and in the oven.

This recipe is so simple, yet, so delicious! It’s one of those recipes you will find yourself making over and over again. It uses simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.

For this recipe you will need

Unbleached All Purpose Flour

You can use freshly milled flour. I do often. I use freshly milled soft white wheat for a tender biscuit.

You can also use self-rising flour and leave out the baking powder.

Cold Butter

I prefer to grate my cold butter and then cut it into the dough using a pastry cutter. You can do this with your hands, however you don’t want to warm up the butter so a fork or pastry cutter works best.

Cold butter makes flaky biscuits. So, forego room temperature butter.

Baking Powder

Baking powder is the leavening agent for the biscuits.

Salt

I use Redmond’s Real Salt for all of my baking. A good quality sea salt will work well.

Milk/Buttermilk

You can use whole milk, skim milk, milk substitute, or buttermilk. The recipe is very forgiving.

Full ingredient measurements in recipe card below.

Step by Step Instructions for making these Easy Biscuits

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large bowl, add your flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well to combine.

Grate the cold butter using a box grater into the dry ingredients.

Use a pastry cutter or pastry blender to mix the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs and you can see small pieces of the butter throughout.

You could also cut the butter in using a food processor.

In a measuring cup measure the milk.

Add the milk/buttermilk and mix with wooden spoon or fork just until combined and a soft dough forms. Do not over mix as this will lead to a tough biscuit.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Turn the dough a few times. Roll it out to 1/4-1/2 inch thick using a rolling pin. Cut biscuits out with a round biscuit cutter or mason jar lid.

Place biscuits on greased baking sheet or parchment paper lined baking sheet. I prefer to use a cast iron skillet. I like to put it in the hot oven to preheat before adding the biscuits making for a nice bottom crust.

Brush tops with olive oil or melted butter.

Bake for 12-15 minutes.

After 10-12 minutes check the biscuits, if they feel firm, they are done. All ovens are different.

If the tops aren’t brown enough, you can set the broiler until golden brown. Be sure to set a timer! They will burn quickly under the broiler.

Serving Suggestions

These biscuits are best piping hot with butter and jam or with gravy and sausage! It’s hard to stop eating them once you start, though! You’ve been forewarned ha ha!

Serve hot biscuits with an egg as a breakfast sandwich.

Open up while hot and slather with honey butter for the best treat!

This is the best biscuit recipe to whip up on a weekend for a big breakfast. The come together quickly and are sure to please the family!

Storage Tips

Store your biscuits, once they cool, in a bread bag or airtight container. They will last for up to 3 days.

You can also freeze the cooled biscuits in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

To reheat the biscuits, set your oven to 300 degrees F, place the biscuits in while the oven preheats. Once it’s preheated, they will be good and hot!

I hope you will give this simple recipe a try! There is nothing quite like a hot biscuit on a Sunday morning!

Easiest Biscuit Recipe

These biscuits were the first baked bread product I mastered, and, I still make them to this day!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Course Side Dish

Equipment

  • 1 mixing bowl
  • 1 Baking Sheet
  • 1 pastry cutter

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 stick cold butter grated
  • 1 cup milk/buttermilk

Instructions
 

  • Add flour, baking powder, and salt to a large mixing bowl.
  • Grate the butter into the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter to incorporate until the mixture becomes crumbly.
  • Add milk/buttermilk.
  • Mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
  • Turn dough onto floured surface. Turn a few times. Roll out until 1/4-1/2 inch thick.
  • Cut biscuits out with biscuit cutter or mason jar lid.
  • Place on prepared baking sheet. Brush with olive oil or melted butter.
  • Bake in a 400 DEGREE F oven for 12-15 minutes.
  • Check after 10-12 minutes. If the biscuits feel firm, they are done.
  • ***If tops are not brown enough, put under broiler for just a few minutes***

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One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    I made the easy biscuits and we loved them. I don’t always have buttermilk on hand so thank you for letting us know how to improvise. Thanks Mary for all the work you put into this and your simple instructions.

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