Delectable Buttermilk Biscuits

Celebrating Buttermilk Biscuits

Buttermilk biscuits are popular creamy snacks similar to scones. They are light and easy to bake and have a great flaky texture which makes them truly delectable! It’s National Buttermilk Biscuit Day today and it is the perfect time of year to celebrate these delicious little treats.

As buttermilk biscuits are a light texture, if you want to make them, you need to ensure that you end up with a light, tender and flaky texture – not a thick and doughy mixture or they won’t taste right!

Tips for making buttermilk biscuits tender and flaky:

• Keep the butter cold before you use it.
• Remember to preheat your oven so that you don’t leave your mixture to sit.
• Mix the dough with a fork – lumps are fine – you don’t want it to be smooth!
• Avoid using self raising flour as this gives the biscuits a strange taste.
• Don’t knead too much.
• Roll the dough out to about ¾ inch.

To make a buttermilk biscuit, you will need:

1 1/4 cup cake flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter, cut into small chunks
3/4 cup buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 500F.

2. Cut butter into 1cm cubes, put them in a bowl and place in fridge. Measure out buttermilk. Dust work surface with flour, using extra flour to keep your hands and cutter dry. Have the cutter and a baking tray to hand.

3. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together until very well blended. Using a pastry blender, cut flour into butter. Alternatively you can use two knives or your fingertips, until mixture goes crumbly. Pour in buttermilk and stir until the mixture forms a dough.

4. Place dough onto floured work surface. Sprinkle flour on your hands then lightly knead dough until it is blended quite well. Push dough out into a circle (about ¾ – 1 inch thick) and push the cutter into flour and cut biscuits (try to avoid twisting the cutter). Without re-rolling the dough, push the scraps together to form another biscuit shape. Place the biscuits on the baking tray so that their sides are touching.

5. Place baking tray in the middle of the oven at 500F and bake for 8-10 minutes until they are golden brown. Take biscuits out when done and place on a wire rack to cool for a few minutes.

Try various twists on buttermilk biscuits

For a different twist on the traditional buttermilk biscuits, you might like to try a pecan version. Either crush pecans up and mix into the dough for an overall nutty taste, or coat the biscuits in syrup and toasted pecans for a sweet and nutty taste.

Find recipes for buttermilk biscuits on Recipebridge.