Irresistibly Flaky Southern Biscuits: A Recipe to Savor
There’s nothing quite like a homemade biscuit fresh out of the oven. And if you’re looking for a recipe that will give you flaky, buttery bites of Southern comfort, then I’ve got just the thing for you. Introducing my recipe for flaky Southern biscuits.
Biscuits are a staple in southern-style cuisine, and trust me when I say that nothing compares to biting into a warm, freshly baked biscuit with a pat of butter melting on top. But not all biscuits are created equal. The best biscuits are fluffy yet sturdy, with just the right balance of salt and butter. You want them to be crisp and flaky on the outside, with layers of soft, tender crumb on the inside.
I’ve spent years perfecting this recipe so that anyone can make delicious, homemade biscuits that rival those from your favorite Southern diner. All you need are a few simple ingredients and some basic know-how to get started.
So roll up your sleeves, preheat that oven, and get ready to impress your family and friends with flaky and flavorful Southern-style biscuits. Trust me; they’re worth the effort!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Are you a fan of warm, flaky biscuits that melt in your mouth? Do you crave authentic Southern-style cuisine that transports you to the heart of the South? Look no further! This recipe for flaky Southern biscuits is guaranteed to satisfy your cravings and leave you feeling like you’ve been transported to a warm summer afternoon in Mississippi.
The best part about this recipe is how simple it is! With just a few ingredients that are probably already in your pantry, this recipe can be whipped up in no time. Not only is it easy to make, but the end result will have your taste buds dancing with joy. The flaky layers inside these buttery biscuits are truly remarkable and provide the perfect complement to any meal.
If you’re a fan of fluffier, more airy biscuits, this recipe has got you covered. The 2% low-fat milk and baking powder create a consistently fluffy texture that is sure to impress. If you’re looking for something with a little more bite, use buttermilk instead and watch as the tangy flavor evokes memories of traditional Southern-style cooking.
Overall, these flaky Southern biscuits are not only easy to make but also versatile enough to accompany any meal. Whether you’re serving them up with honey butter for breakfast or using them as a base for a savory dinner dish, these biscuits are sure to impress your guests and leave them begging for the recipe. So what are you waiting for? Dust off your apron and start baking those fluffy biscuits today!
Ingredient List
For this southern-style biscuits recipe, you will need simple ingredients that are commonly found in your pantry. You will need all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and 2% low-fat milk for the biscuit dough. Not forgetting, a combination of vegetable shortening and unsalted butter, which is the secret to creating deliciously flaky and buttery biscuits.
Furthermore, if you want to go all out on the traditional southern-style taste, you will need additional ingredients such as buttermilk (which gives the biscuits a tanginess), baking soda, and a little bit of sugar. We also recommend using frozen unsalted butter for optimal results. Don’t worry; we have included substitutes to meet your dietary needs in the next section.
For a quick summary, here are the ingredients for Soft and Flaky Southern-Style Biscuits:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter (frozen)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup 2% low-fat milk
Pro Tip: To make sure that your biscuits are warm and fluffy when they come out of the oven, make sure that all your ingredients are chilled before use.
The Recipe How-To
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
Before starting on your biscuit dough, it is important to gather all the necessary ingredients. You will need 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, ½ teaspoon of salt, 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, and 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter (frozen). Additionally, you will also need 2% low-fat milk as well as vegetable shortening.
Step 2: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 450°F. This will ensure that your biscuits cook properly and evenly.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a mixing bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients – the 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Make sure the ingredients are well-combined before moving on to the next step.
Step 4: Cut in the Butter
Add in the 6 tablespoons of frozen unsalted butter to your flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter to cut in the butter until it is well-distributed throughout the mixture. The goal is to create small butter pieces throughout the dough that will melt during baking and leave behind those flaky layers we all love.
Step 5: Add Milk
Next, pour in ¾ cup of cold milk into your mixture. Stir until everything has come together into a shaggy ball.
Step 6: Knead the Dough
Turn out your dough onto a lightly floured surface. Use your hands to gently knead this dough for about one minute or until everything has come together smoothly.
Step 7: Cut Out Your Biscuits
Use a rolling pin to roll out your dough until it is about 1 inch thick. Then, using a biscuit cutter or a round cookie cutter with a sharp edge, cut out your biscuits. Make sure that you don’t twist too much while cutting each biscuit because the twisting can seal the edges and prevent the biscuits from rising.
Step 8: Bake Your Biscuits
Place your biscuits on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake them in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Congratulations! You have just made some beautiful, flaky Southern biscuits.
Substitutions and Variations
There are several substitutions and variations you can try with this recipe to make it your own.
Firstly, vegetable shortening can be replaced with cold butter for a buttery taste. You can also use a mixture of both shortening and butter to get the best of both worlds.
For those who prefer not to use buttermilk, 2% low-fat milk or almond milk works just as well. You can even swap it out for plain greek yogurt or sour cream if you’re feeling adventurous.
If you don’t have all-purpose flour on hand, you can use self-raising flour instead, however, be mindful of the ratio as self-raising flour already contains baking powder and salt.
If you prefer a sweeter biscuit, add an extra tablespoon of sugar to the dough. For a healthier option, swap out granulated sugar for honey or agave nectar.
To make these biscuits gluten-free, you can use gluten-free all-purpose flour instead of regular flour. Just note that the texture may differ slightly.
Finally, you can get creative with toppings and add-ins such as cheese, bacon bits or even jalapenos. Experiment with what flavors work for you!
Follow these variations and you’ll still end up with delicious flaky southern-style biscuits every time.
Serving and Pairing
A piping hot southern-style biscuit is irresistibly buttery, flaky, and tender. These biscuits pair perfectly with a variety of dishes and beverages, adding a touch of southern comfort to any meal.
For breakfast, serve these biscuits alongside classic southern staples such as gravy, scrambled eggs, or bacon. Accompany them with honey or jam to balance the savory taste. Spread some peanut butter on them for a more robust flavor.
For lunch or dinner, include these biscuits in a chicken pot pie or use them as a topping for a hearty casserole. Use it to make egg sandwiches or stuff them with your favorite veggies for a satisfying vegetarian dish.
Moreover, these biscuits are equally good on their own and can be served as appetizers at small gatherings or holiday parties.
Pair these buttermilk biscuits with coffee or iced tea for breakfast or brunch. For lunch and dinner, pair it with soups or stews for an insatiable appetizer or sidekick.
These biscuits can be enjoyed anytime during the day and popularly eaten all year round at different times. So go ahead; get creative with your pairing choices to elevate the flavors that will complement these southern-style biscuits perfectly.
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
The beauty of these flaky Southern biscuits is that they can be made ahead of time, stored in the freezer, and reheated whenever you’re ready to enjoy them. Just follow these simple steps for perfect results every time:
To make ahead: Once you’ve cut out your biscuits, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cover them tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, then transfer the frozen biscuits to a container or resealable plastic bag. You can keep them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To store: If you have leftover biscuits, store them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. They will start to lose their fresh-baked texture after the first day, but reheating them can help bring back some of their flaky goodness.
To reheat: To warm up your biscuits, preheat your oven to 350°F. Once it’s heated, place your biscuits on a baking sheet and heat them in the oven for about 5-10 minutes or until they’re heated through. You can also microwave your biscuits for 20-30 seconds or until they’re warm, but this may affect their texture and make them slightly softer.
Pro tip: If you want to enjoy freshly baked biscuits any time, freeze your biscuit dough rather than pre-baked biscuits. Simply cut out your biscuit rounds, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze them before transferring to a container. When you’re ready to bake them, just place the frozen rounds on a baking sheet and bake for an additional few minutes until golden brown and delicious.
Tips for Perfect Results
When it comes to perfect southern-style biscuits, the devil is in the details. But fear not, with these tips you’ll make flawless and flaky buttermilk biscuits every time.
1. Measure Your Ingredients Accurately
Measuring your ingredients accurately is crucial for consistent results. When measuring flour, spoon it into a measuring cup and level it off with a knife. Using too much flour will result in dense, dry biscuits.
2. Use Cold Butter
Cold butter is essential for biscuit dough because as heat hits the pockets of fat, they will steam and create flaky layers in your biscuits. Make sure to use cold unsalted butter grated or cut into small cubes that can be incorporated into the dough easily.
3. Don’t Overwork Your Dough
This might be the biggest mistake you can do when making biscuits: overworking the dough. Overworking results in a tough texture and will affect the rise of your dough, so it’s essential to mix your dough just enough to combine everything.
4. Keep Your Ingredients Chilled
During baking, the fat in the biscuits should remain as cold as possible until hitting the oven heat. That’s why keeping your ingredients cold is critical for successful biscuit baking, so chill all your ingredients before starting work.
5. Be Gentle When Rolling Dough
Biscuits aren’t like pizza dough; you don’t need to stretch them out as far as they can go. Instead, roll out to about 1/2 inch thick gently with a rolling pin, don’t push down hard and avoid twisting or tearing the biscuit shape that can result in half-baked biscuits.
6. Get High-Quality Flour
Try using all-purpose flour labeled “southern style.” It has less protein compared to bread flour, which assists in creating fluffy and tender biscuits.
Perfecting homemade southern-style buttermilk biscuits requires patience and practice. With these helpful tips, you’ll be well on your way to making flaky, fluffy biscuits that taste like they were baked in a true southern kitchen.
FAQ
Now that you know how to make these delicious flaky southern biscuits, let’s talk about some common questions and concerns that may arise during the process. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with this FAQ section. Let’s dive in and answer your queries!
What makes Southern biscuits different?
Southern-style biscuits are renowned for their unique flavor and texture. One of the key ingredients in making these biscuits is soft wheat flour, which is abundant in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States due to its temperate and moist climate. This has allowed southern cooks to perfect the recipe using this type of flour to create the perfect biscuit.
How do you create the flaky texture of biscuits?
To achieve the perfect airy and flaky texture for your biscuits, it’s important to use super cold butter. Cubing the butter can be a challenge but fret not, you can always grate it with a box grater as an alternative. As the biscuits bake, the butter melts and creates steam, which is what gives them their fluffy texture.
When making country biscuits What is the technique to make sure they are flaky?
If you desire to achieve ultimate flakiness in your biscuits, it is important to utilize butter that is chilled. It is also a great approach to chill all of your ingredients including the flour and milk, as well as the bowl you plan to mix everything in. The reason behind this is that butter which is colder will cause fat blobs to remain separated from the flour, and this is how flaky biscuits are created.
What is the secret to fluffy biscuits?
If you want to make your biscuits as fluffy as possible, you need to make sure your butter is cold. Using warm butter can cause it to be soaked up by the flour, which will ruin the texture. The same goes for pie crusts, as cold butter won’t mix in fully with the flour, leaving little lumps throughout the dough.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, making flaky southern biscuits is easy and rewarding with this recipe. With the right ingredients, technique, and a little patience, you can create biscuits that are fluffy, buttery, and layered. Whether it’s for a special occasion or a weeknight meal, these homemade buttermilk biscuits are sure to satisfy your cravings and impress your friends and family.
So go ahead and try out this recipe for yourself. Experiment with different variations and substitutions to fit your taste preferences. Serve them with gravy, honey, or your favorite jam for a delightful breakfast or as a side accompaniment to your favorite southern-style dishes.
I hope my tips and recommendations have been helpful in guiding you through this recipe. Remember to follow the instructions closely, don’t overwork the dough, and use cold ingredients for the best results. And most importantly, enjoy the process of making these delicious biscuits – nothing beats the taste of homemade!
In the world of southern cooking, biscuits rank high up there among the best comfort foods. Mastering the art of making perfect southern buttermilk biscuits is not just an accomplishment; it’s a legacy that has been passed down from generation to generation. So go forth and carry on that tradition with these excellent flaky southern biscuit recipe!
Flaky Southern Biscuits Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chilled vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup cold 2% low-fat milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. With pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.
- Stir in milk until dough holds together. Knead gently about 1 minute. Roll dough 1/2 inch thick.
- With 2 1/2- to 3-inch biscuit cutter, cut dough. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.