Biscuits are a classic comfort food, perfect for breakfast, dinner, or as a side to any meal. These soft, fluffy, and buttery treats are easy to make with just a few ingredients. Here’s a simple recipe for flaky, delicious biscuits:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, but adds a slight sweetness)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 3/4 cup buttermilk (or regular milk, but buttermilk gives a richer flavor)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter (for brushing on top, optional)
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar (if using).
3. Cut in the Butter:
- Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter, fork, or your hands, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with small pea-sized pieces of butter. This step is key to creating flaky layers in your biscuits.
4. Add Buttermilk:
- Pour in the buttermilk (or regular milk) and stir gently with a spoon or spatula until the dough just begins to come together. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the biscuits tough.
5. Knead the Dough:
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead the dough 2-3 times until it forms a rough ball. Don’t overwork the dough, or the biscuits may become dense.
6. Roll and Cut:
- Pat or roll the dough to about 1-inch thickness. Using a round biscuit cutter (or a glass), cut out the biscuits by pressing straight down without twisting. Gather any leftover dough, reroll it, and cut out the remaining biscuits.
7. Bake the Biscuits:
- Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are close together for soft sides or spaced out for crispier edges. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
8. Brush with Butter (Optional):
- If you like extra richness, brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven.
9. Serve:
- Let the biscuits cool for a few minutes, then serve warm. They are perfect with butter, jam, honey, or gravy.
Tips:
- Cold Butter: The key to flaky biscuits is using cold butter. If your butter starts to soften, place it in the freezer for a few minutes before cutting it into the flour mixture.
- Buttermilk Substitute: If you don’t have buttermilk, you can use regular milk with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice (about 1 tablespoon per cup of milk) to create a similar tang and texture.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the biscuits, cut them out, and freeze them before baking. Just place them on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Bake directly from the freezer, adding a couple of extra minutes to the bake time.
These biscuits are perfect for any meal and are sure to be a hit! Enjoy them fresh out of the oven with your favorite toppings.