Homemade Flaky Biscuit Recipe

This Flaky Biscuit recipe can be made with just a handful of simple ingredients and a few easy steps. Each soft and buttery biscuit is perfect for enjoying with jam or gravy for breakfast or a number of other uses.

Baking powder biscuits are a no-fail way to make sure you have the most fluffy biscuits to use for sandwiches, pot pie, shortcake, and more. If you’re looking for more biscuit recipes, you may also love these savory Cheddar Cheese Biscuits.

Homemade Flaky Biscuit Video Tutorial

The Best Flakey Biscuit Recipe

Once you make this flaky baking powder biscuits recipe, you may never go back to the canned version again!  At the very least, you will realize how simple it is to make your own.  In fact, you probably have all of the ingredients that you need to make them right at this very minute.  

We’ve provided you with step-by-step instructions, as well as tips and tricks, on how to make these biscuits perfectly soft, tender and delicious every single time.  While they taste yummy on their own for breakfast, this is also a great flaky biscuits recipe to use for biscuits and gravy, as the topping for pot pie or even as a replacement for regular dinner rolls.

Butter vs. Shortening in Biscuits

We prefer butter over shortening because we’ve found it helps give them a little extra boost, thanks to the water content in butter.  It also adds an undeniably delicious flavor that you just can’t compete with.

This Fluffy Biscuit Recipe without shortening is made using room temperature butter instead of cold butter, which produces light, soft and tender biscuits, instead of flaky layers.  If you prefer yours a little flakier, you can substitute cold butter.  Just freeze your butter, then grate it using a box grater directly into the bowl with the dry ingredients.

Key Ingredients You Will Need

• Flour – we use all-purpose flour for these biscuits.
• Baking Powder – this helps to keep the biscuits soft and rise a bit in the oven. 
• Butter – you can use either salted or unsalted butter, however you may need to reduce the salt in the recipe slightly if you go with salted.
• Milk – we suggest using whole milk for this recipe, or even substituting heavy cream or buttermilk.

How to Make Flaky Homemade Biscuits

1. Combine the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Blend in the butter. Add room temperature butter and use a fork or pastry blender to mix.  The mixture should resemble coarse crumbs.
3. Add the wet ingredients and mix. Make a well in the center of the butter and flour mixture, then add milk all at once and mix just until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl (dough will be sticky and a little lumpy).  Let the dough rest for 2-3 minutes.
4. Roll and cut the biscuits. On a floured surface, lightly knead dough by hand until smooth (about 30 seconds), then roll dough out with a rolling pin until the dough is even and about 3/4″ thick. Cut dough with a 3-4″ round biscuit cutter or the bottom of a cup/jar (you can also cut into squares using a sharp knife) and place about ½” – 1” apart on a lightly greased baking dish.
5. Bake. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 12-14 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
6. Serve. Remove from the oven, then brush the tops with melted butter.  Serve warm, and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• When cutting your biscuit dough recipe, do not twist the cutter!  Cutting straight up and down will help the biscuits rise straight up, rather than lopsided. 
• Another way to achieve flaky layers is by folding the dough in half and rolling it back down to about 1 ½” thick.  Repeat up to 4 times before rolling out to the final thickness of ¾”.  
• It’s a good idea to keep the milk cold, particularly if you are using room temperature butter.  It helps keep everything nice and cool even while you are working the biscuit dough with your warm hands.
• For even more golden brown biscuits, you can brush them with a little milk just before baking.
• If you have the time, it doesn’t hurt to chill your biscuit dough once it is rolled out and just before cutting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ways to Enjoy Homemade Biscuits

• Biscuits and Gravy: A classic Southern breakfast dish, top your warm biscuits with a rich and creamy sausage gravy.
• Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich: Use your homemade biscuits as the bun for a crispy fried chicken sandwich, topped with pickles, lettuce, and your favorite sauce.
• Strawberry Shortcake: Add and a little sugar to your dough and use the biscuits for an easy dessert. Cut your biscuits in half and layer with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a delicious and easy dessert.
• Buttermilk Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich: Fill your biscuits with scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheese for a hearty breakfast sandwich.
• Biscuit-Topped Chicken Pot Pie: Use your biscuits as the crust for a comforting and delicious chicken pot pie.
• Biscuit-Topped Beef Stew: Use your biscuits as a topping for a hearty and comforting beef stew.
• Spreads– Or just enjoy your homemade biscuits with Homemade Strawberry Jam, Honey Cinnamon Butter or Garlic Butter!

More Bread Recipes We Love

• Cinnamon Twist Bread
• Homemade Crescent Rolls
• Easy Homemade Cornbread
• Homemade Soft Pretzels
• Homemade White Bread
• Best Brunch Recipes
• Blueberry Breakfast Cake
• Banana Muffins
• More Bread Recipes
• More Breakfast Recipes

These homemade flakey biscuit recipe, Baking Powder Biscuits are soft, fluffy, and made with real butter.  Using only 5 simple ingredients, they are a cinch to make and quick to throw together.  This homemade biscuit recipe is perfect for breakfast, alongside your favorite gravy, or made into a great sandwich.