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A close up photo of the biscuits fresh out of the oven Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
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5 from 1 vote

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

These Southern Buttermilk Biscuits are fluffy and flaky with a crispy upper and lower crust.  The instructions are given for beginners.  You will find that these are similar to a Hardee's or Bojangles biscuit or maybe like your grandma made!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time33 minutes
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: southern buttermilk biscuits, homemade biscuits
Servings: 24 biscuits
Calories: 152kcal
Cost: $6

Ingredients

  • 4 Cups Self Rising Flour White Lily Soft Winter Wheat plus extra for dusting the bread board and for kneading.
  • 1 Tbs Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Granulated white sugar
  • 1 Tsp Kosher salt divided
  • Cups Crisco Shortening
  • 2 Cups Very Cold Buttermilk
  • Cup Evaporated Milk
  • 2 Tbs unsalted sweet cream butter - melted

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and a ½ tsp salt together with a whisk.
  • Drop the Crisco into the flour mixture and use a dough cutter to cut the crisco in. Rock the cutter and make chopping motions until the crisco is in small pieces and the flour has a wet clumpy appearance throughout (see photo). Do NOT use your hands to mix the crisco in.
  • Keep the buttermilk in the fridge until ready to use. Add the buttermilk all at once and mix together with a rubber spatula until it just comes together.
  • Place ½ a stick of butter (4 Tbs) in a rimmed half sheet pan (jelly roll pan) and allow it to melt in the oven as the oven comes to temp. Do not allow the butter to burn. The butter should be melted and bubbly (but not black) by then end of the next 3 steps.
  • Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and sprinkle the surface with a small amount of flour. Knead the dough by folding it over on itself about 6-8 times. The dough should feel soft and smooth.
  • Using your hands press the dough down into a flat circle that is 1” thick (no need to use a rolling pin).
  • Cut the biscuits using a biscuit cutting and cut in a straight motion down towards the counter. DO NOT twist the cutter. Remove the hot buttered pan from the oven. Sprinkle half of the remaining salt onto the hot buttered pan.
  • Gently lay the cut biscuits onto the hot pan into the butter. The biscuits may touch one another. Put the biscuits in the pan quickly so as to return the pan to the oven as quickly as possible. Brush the tops of the biscuits with evaporated milk using a pastry brush. Return the pan to the hot oven. Shut the oven door and DO NOT open it again for at least 10 minutes.
  • Bake biscuits for 18-25 minutes. The biscuits are done when they are golden brown and risen.
  • On removing the biscuits from the oven, brush with hot melted butter and sprinkle with the remainder of the salt. This recipe will yield 18-24 biscuits.

Video

Notes

  • The idea behind the fluffiest biscuits possible is to handle the dough as little as possible.  
  • Keep the ingredients cold (especially the shortening) until time to use it.  This allows flaky biscuits to happen! 
  • You will need a little extra flour on hand for dusting your board to keep things from sticking. 

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 71IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg