Editor’s Note: Since this post, I have found what I believe to be the best buttermilk biscuit and wrote about it here and included a video tutorial. These are awesome, when you’re looking for flakey. Go to the buttermilk biscuit for fluffy. Since writing this post, I’ve become somewhat of a biscuit expert, even teaching biscuits and showing people how to make the very best biscuits for their family.
The saddest thing in the history of my husband’s family is the lost art of Southern cooking. The memories of Meemaw and her wood burning stove that turned out biscuits seven days a week is so legendary that no one has dared attempt to compete with her, until now. I never met her. I never ate a single biscuit from the farmhouse, but I’ve heard enough about them to miss them, to yearn for them, and to feel a bit cheated that she got so busy as the boss of her own kitchen, she never took the time to pass her craft down.
It has taken me nearly 13 years of hearing about her around the kitchen table of my husband’s family. I, too, have had biscuit intimidation. It wasn’t until I was able to master pie crust that I realized I could master anything with flour and with a bit of grit and determination, I have been biscuit making.
I got this recipe from Maryann Byrd on line and as far as flakey biscuits go, this is great. It was even featured on the Huffington Post. However, I want to make sure you know that over these past few years since I first wrote this post, I perfected the fluffy biscuits. In face, I’ve become somewhat of a biscuit expert, even teaching biscuit making.
I made these biscuits with an assembly line of two four-year old boys. One stirred the bowl. I rolled. One cut and handed over to the other one who made sure the biscuits were properly touching in the pan (kissing), and then promptly brushed on the melted butter. We all helped to eat them.
I did not have self-rising flour. If you start out with regular flour, you can make your own self rising flour, as I did.
How to Make Self Rising Flour for this Recipe
- 2 cups White Lily all purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
I use a wooden salad bowl that I only use for my biscuit making. The dough will be wet, unlike a pie dough.
Press the biscuit cutter up and down. Do not twist. You don’t want to seal the biscuit.
Brush with melted butter before baking. Have the biscuits “kiss” which means they should touch. It helps them rise.
- 1 stick butter or ½ cup butter divided in half
- 2 cups self rising flour, plus extra flour for rolling
- pinch baking powder
- 1 cup whole butter milk
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Preheat oven to 425.
- Cut ¼ cup butter in small pieces. Freeze.
- Separately cut 2 tablespoons butter and keep cold.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter to brush on top.
- If using all purpose flour see notes. If using self-rising flour, add in 1 teaspoon sugar and a pinch of baking powder. Cut butter into flour and add ¾ cup of the buttermilk. You will want a sticky dough, but may not need the full cup of buttermilk.
- Form into a ball of dough and with some extra flour on your hands, knead dough 6-8 times.
- Roll out to ⅜ inch and fold in half. Roll again, and continue this for about five folds. During the middle fold (after 3 folds, add in some cold butter cubes,
- Cut into biscuits. Dip biscuit cutter into flour. Do not twist biscuit cutter, but use an up and down even pressure.
- Arrange biscuits on baking sheet, stone or cast iron pan, touching. This helps them rise.
- Brush with melted butter and bake for 18 minutes.
Jan Hargraves says
November 1, 2018 at 11:13 amI just tried the recipe!
Best homade biscuits I have ever made!!
Thank you for a real keepet
Angela Roberts says
November 2, 2018 at 11:02 pmThank you so much.
Angela
Janice says
January 27, 2014 at 5:21 pmHi there
When you bake biscuits on a cast iron pan, do you preheat the cast iron pan in the oven or do you place them on a cold cast iron pan?
Thanks
Catherine says
November 3, 2013 at 11:13 amJust made them…just as you described…flaky and buttery. This recipe is a keeper. Thank you! Catherine
angela says
November 3, 2013 at 12:15 pmCatherine,
So glad the biscuit recipe worked for you. Biscuits are tricky and I tried to make it easy for folks.
THanks,
Lisa says
January 21, 2013 at 12:21 pmI don’t see the link for the youtube video. When I click where it says youtube video I get a dead link. Biscuits are beautiful.
Jane says
December 27, 2012 at 5:23 pmI made these tonight. They tasted good and were flaky but didn’t rise much. I followed the directions for make your own self rising flour. Not sure what went wrong.
angela says
December 30, 2012 at 9:37 amJane,
Did you use a lot of layers? I’m thinking maybe that’s what needs to happen, and were they touching. That helps them rise. I’ve made these several times, but next time, I’m going to pay extra attention to this. Angela
Bren @ Flanboyant Eats™ says
March 15, 2012 at 1:44 pmThese are some easy peasy looking biscuits. Love how you have the baby helping you! That makes them taste so much better.
Esi says
March 5, 2012 at 5:20 pmThis looks like a great biscuit recipe. Love all those layers.
bellini says
March 4, 2012 at 8:40 pmI would never turn down a good biscuit Angela. My one and only experience with biscuits and gravy was not a positive one by I know that if prepared the right way and not in a restaurant microwave they could be nothing short of perfect.
Hotly Spiced says
March 3, 2012 at 3:46 pmWhat perfect looking biscuits. I would love to go to the South and experience Southern cooking – it seems to me it’s great family cooking and wonderful comfort food.
Teresa, Food on Fifth says
March 3, 2012 at 5:50 amAngela, these biscuits look amazing. The flakiness is perfecto! I make various types of biscuit recipes all the time for photo shoots and will add this recipe to my list of beautiful biscuits. Yum.
Lora says
March 1, 2012 at 10:37 pmThese look amazing. I must try this recipe.
5 Star Foodie says
March 1, 2012 at 9:53 pmThese look just perfect!!!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
March 1, 2012 at 2:20 amThey are so wonderfully flaky! A good light and flaky biscuit is such an art.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
February 29, 2012 at 4:30 pmLook at that lovely rise! And I can imagine that you would have felt quite anxious about making this recipe after hearing all about Meemaw’s biscuits but good for you for making them-I bet she would be proud 😀
angela says
February 29, 2012 at 6:22 pmOh, just the thought of Meemaw trying one of my biscuits makes me blush and tremble.
Angie @ Sweet Natured Treats says
February 29, 2012 at 3:59 pmThese are beautiful!
angela says
February 29, 2012 at 6:21 pmAngie, Now all these biscuits need are that great sausage you served us on Sunday.
Rosa says
February 29, 2012 at 1:02 pmThey look soooo flaky and delicious! Perfect biscuits.
Cheers,
Rosa
amy @ fearless homemaker says
February 29, 2012 at 12:54 pmthese look awesome, angela! a perfectly-made biscuit can be a hard thing to produce but it looks like you mastered it. i’m impressed!
angela says
February 29, 2012 at 6:20 pmAmy, thank you. Only because I’ve practiced and practiced, so I feel a tiny bit confident.