Irresistible Southern Biscuits Recipe for Perfect Mornings
Fellow food enthusiasts, gather around! Today, I’ll be sharing the recipe for traditional Southern biscuits that will truly make your heart sing. These biscuits are a staple of every Southern home and just thinking about them makes my mouth water. Fresh from the oven, these fluffy and flaky buttermilk biscuits have a crunchy exterior and a deliciously soft interior that melts in your mouth with every bite.
A true testament to the authentic Southern cuisine, these biscuits take me back to my grandmother’s kitchen, where she would bake them with love every Sunday morning. The aroma itself would fill up the entire house and draw everyone to the kitchen. The tradition of baking these classic Southern biscuits is still alive and well in the South and spreading across America.
But what makes these biscuits so special? Perhaps it’s their simplicity, or maybe the combination of ingredients creates a unique flavor profile that captures the essence of Southern cooking. Whatever it is, there is no denying that homemade Southern biscuits are a beloved comfort food for many.
In this article, I will guide you step-by-step through the recipe so you can create fluffy homemade Southern-style buttermilk biscuits in your own kitchen. Trust me; they’re easy to make – even if you haven’t done much baking before.
So without further ado, let’s embark on this culinary journey together and dive into the recipe for these mouth-watering Southern biscuits that will surely become a staple in your household in no time!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Attention, all food connoisseurs out there! Do you crave a warm and buttery biscuit to accompany your breakfast or dinner? Look no further! I have the perfect recipe that will make your taste buds sing – Traditional Southern Biscuits.
Why will you love this recipe, you ask? Let me count the ways! First, these biscuits are easy homemade delights that require just a few humble ingredients. You don’t need any special flour or fancy techniques to achieve fluffy and flaky southern-style biscuits that burst with flavor.
The secret to making these biscuits even more flavorful is using high-quality ingredients. This recipe calls for 2% low-fat milk, vegetable shortening, butter, and all-purpose flour, among other staple items. When combined together, they create an irresistible aroma that will make everyone’s mouth water.
What difference do these buttermilk biscuits make in your meal? It’s no secret that classic Southern cuisine is synonymous with comfort food, and these biscuits are no exception. They remind us of home-cooked meals and warm hospitality. They pair perfectly with sausage gravy, fried chicken, bacon, eggs – the list goes on.
Another reason you’ll love this recipe is that it yields plenty of biscuits for your family or friends to savor. You can whip up a batch in no time and save some for leftovers to enjoy throughout the week.
In conclusion, this traditional southern biscuit recipe is a surefire way to please anyone’s palate. Its easy preparation process and mouthwatering flavors make it an exceptional dish for any mealtime. Trust me; once you try this recipe, you’ll never go back to store-bought biscuits again!
Ingredient List
To make twelve delicious southern biscuits, you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup 2% low-fat milk
- 1/4 cup butter, cold and unsalted
These ingredients are what set this southern-style buttermilk biscuits recipe apart from others. The combination of flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar make for light and fluffy southern biscuits. Using a mix of vegetable shortening and butter in the dough will help create those flaky layers we all know and love in a classic southern biscuit. Don’t be alarmed by the high-fat content; it’s essential for that sought-after texture! As for the liquid ingredient, we are using 2% low-fat milk to add to the nutrition of the dish while still maintaining the quality of our southern buttermilk biscuits.
Tip: For even lighter and fluffier biscuits, try using buttermilk instead of regular milk.
The Recipe How-To
Now that we have all our ingredients ready, it’s time to dive into the biscuits recipe. Follow these steps to create your own towering stack of sumptuous southern buttermilk biscuits.
Preheat your oven
Ensure your oven is preheated to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) before you start mixing the ingredients.
Combine the dry ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure they are evenly mixed.
Cut in the fats
Using a pastry knife or a fork, cut in both the vegetable shortening and cold unsalted butter until your mixture looks like coarse sand.
Add the liquid ingredients
Pour in 2 cups of buttermilk and mix until you have a soft dough that sticks together when pressed gently.
Roll out and cut the dough
On a floured surface, roll out your biscuit dough to be about ¾ inch thick. Use a biscuit cutter or a cup to cut out round disks from the dough. Gather remaining scraps together, pat down again, and cut additional biscuits.
Bake
On an ungreased baking sheet, place the disks or biscuits closely together and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Once your biscuits are ready, remove them from the oven and serve them piping hot with butter, honey, jam or gravy.
Congratulations! You’ve done it – you’ve created perfect southern biscuits!
Substitutions and Variations
One of the great things about making biscuits is that they’re very forgiving, and small tweaks or substitutions can lead to a range of different results. Here are some ideas for how to vary this recipe:
– Flour: You can use other types of flour if you’d like to experiment with different textures and flavors. Whole wheat flour will lead to a heartier, nuttier biscuit, while pastry flour will result in something lighter and more tender. If you’re looking for gluten-free options, try using almond flour or a gluten-free baking mix.
– Fat: I recommend using a combination of vegetable shortening and butter for the best flavor and texture, but you can also use all butter if you prefer. Or, if you’re looking for a healthier option, try using coconut oil instead.
– Milk: The recipe calls for 2% low-fat milk, but you could swap in any type of milk or non-dairy alternative. For a richer biscuit, try using whole milk or even heavy cream.
– Add-ins: This recipe is delicious as-is, but you can add other ingredients to make it even more special. Try stirring in shredded cheese, chopped herbs like rosemary or thyme, diced cooked bacon or ham, or even a handful of blueberries for a sweet twist.
– Shape: While classic Southern biscuits are round and tall, there’s no reason you can’t have fun with the shape. Try cutting them into squares or triangles instead of circles, or using cookie cutters to make heart-shaped biscuits.
Whatever variations you choose to try, just remember to keep the basic proportions of the recipe intact so that your biscuits turn out light and fluffy every time. Happy baking!
Serving and Pairing
Serving biscuits warm and fresh out of the oven is the best way to experience their light and fluffy texture. They’re perfect on their own with a dollop of butter or smothered in gravy, but they’re also great paired with your favorite breakfast foods like eggs, bacon or sausage. For a lunchtime treat, try making a classic southern-style biscuit sandwich with crispy fried chicken or country ham, cheese and a spread of honey mustard.
Biscuits also pair well with fruit preserves, honey or even chocolate spread for an indulgent dessert. If you’re looking to add some extra crunch, make some traditional Southern fried chicken and serve it with a side of these easy homemade biscuits for an unforgettable meal.
For drinks, you can’t go wrong with serving biscuits alongside a cup of hot coffee or cold glass of iced tea. The sweetness of the tea adds just the right balance to the buttery goodness of the biscuits. Wine lovers may also appreciate pairing these biscuits with a glass of medium-bodied Chardonnay.
Whatever you choose to serve them with, these traditional southern biscuits are sure to be a hit for any meal or occasion!
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
When it comes to southern biscuits, they’re best enjoyed fresh and warm. However, if you need to prepare them for a later time, there are ways to make-ahead, store and reheat.
Make-ahead: The secret to making-ahead southern biscuits is to freeze them before baking. To do this, follow the recipe instructions up until placing them in the oven. Instead of baking them, wrap the tray tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place them in the freezer. When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven and place the frozen biscuits on a tray lined with parchment paper. Bake as usual, adding an extra 5-7 minutes to the baking time.
Storing: If you must store your southern biscuits, place them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Store them either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If storing at room temperature, they will last up to 2 days. If storing in the refrigerator, they’ll last around 4-5 days.
Reheating: To reheat your stored southern biscuits or leftover southern biscuits, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the biscuits on a baking sheet and brush generously with melted butter. Heat them for 8 to 10 minutes or until heated through.
Remember that reheated southern biscuits won’t be quite as good as fresh ones. They may lose some of their flakiness and texture when reheated but they’ll still be tasty!
Tips for Perfect Results
Now that you have all the ingredients ready, let’s talk about some tips for perfect biscuits. Making the perfect southern-style biscuits requires a bit of finesse, but with these tips, your biscuits will come out perfectly fluffy and flaky every time.
The first tip is to use cold butter and vegetable shortening. Cold ingredients ensure that the fat remains solid when mixed with the flour, resulting in flakier layers. I recommend cutting the butter and shortening into small pieces and refrigerating them for at least 30 minutes before use.
Secondly, it’s essential to handle the dough gently. Overworking the dough can lead to denser biscuits. Mix the ingredients just until they are combined, and don’t knead or roll out the dough too much.
The third tip is to use a light touch when cutting out the biscuits. Pressing too hard can seal the edges of the biscuit together, preventing it from rising correctly in the oven. Use a sharp biscuit cutter and press straight down without twisting.
Next, let’s talk about baking temperature. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) for classic southern-style biscuits. A hot oven will create steam quickly, resulting in those beautiful flaky layers we all love.
Another crucial tip is to avoid overcrowding the baking sheet when placing your biscuits. Leave enough room between each biscuit for air to circulate and allow them to rise correctly.
Lastly, don’t forget about the resting time before baking. Letting the unbaked biscuits rest on a baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before putting them in the oven allows them to relax and rise properly.
Incorporating these tips into your biscuit making routine will make all difference in creating fluffy, buttery southern-style biscuits with perfect layers every time!
FAQ
Before we conclude this article, I will answer some frequently asked questions about this classic Southern Biscuits Recipe. These questions are common for novice and seasoned bakers alike, and I hope to provide insight to make your experience more enjoyable. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the FAQ section.
What makes Southern biscuits different?
Southern-style biscuits have a reputation for being better than those from other regions, and this could be attributed to their peculiar ingredient: soft wheat flour. This type of wheat is known to grow abundantly in temperate zones with high moisture levels like the mid-Atlantic region, giving southern cooks easy access to this special flour for generations.
What’s the difference between Southern biscuits and regular biscuits?
In Southern-style cooking, biscuits are made with a generous amount of butter and buttermilk, resulting in a fluffy and flaky texture.
What is the difference between northern and southern biscuits?
When it comes to cooking in the South, lard or shortening are the popular choices for fats rather than butter, which is preferred in the Northern states. Biscuits hold an important place in Southern cuisine, and they are often made with a special type of flour called White Lily, not commonly found in the North. Southerners take pride in their biscuits, considering them a source of sustenance and a part of their culinary heritage.
What is the secret to the best biscuit?
When it comes to making delicious biscuits, there’s a key ingredient you don’t want to mess around with: cold butter. This means butter that has been chilled to the point where it’s almost too hard to work with. If your butter starts to soften too soon, your dough will be ruined before you even get a chance to bake it. To prevent this, I recommend cutting your butter into small chunks and keeping it in the fridge until you’re ready to add it to the dough.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, this traditional Southern biscuits recipe is a must-try for anyone who loves flaky and fluffy buttermilk biscuits. With its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, you can easily whip up a batch of these biscuits in no time. Whether you enjoy them with gravy or as a side to your favorite Southern dish, these biscuits are sure to satisfy your taste buds.
Don’t settle for store-bought or frozen biscuits when you can make easy homemade biscuits that are just as good, if not better! The secret to making these biscuits even more special is using 2% low-fat milk instead of buttermilk, which gives them the perfect texture and flavor.
So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and try this classic Southern biscuit recipe today and impress your family and friends with this true taste of the South. Trust me, they won’t be disappointed. As Paula Deen famously says, “life’s too short to eat bad food”, so why not indulge in some delicious flaky layers of goodness with these homemade Southern-style biscuits?
Traditional Southern Biscuits Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons butter, cold
- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, cold
- 1 cup 2% low-fat milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
- Add 1 tablespoon of the cold butter and the cold shortening and work it into the dry ingredients, using your hands, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk. The dough will be sticky.
- Dust your work surface with some flour.
- Turn the dough onto the floured surface. Gently fold each side toward the center. Pick up the dough and dust the work surface with additional flour.
- Return the dough to the floured surface and fold each side towards the center again. Turn the dough over and press it out to 1-inch thickness.
- Cut the biscuits, straight down, do not twist the cutter, with a 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter.
- Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and add to a 10-inch round cake pan. Place the biscuits in the pan, turning once (to coat both sides with butter), about 1/4-inch apart. Let the biscuits rest for 15 minutes before baking.
- Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
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