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Old Fashioned Biscuits

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Old Fashioned Biscuits are a must have comfort food everyone loves. They are easy to make and are perfect for any time of day!

 

Main image of old fashioned biscuits

 

Delicious biscuits are served with honey, butter, or jam, but there is nothing quite like a biscuit smothered in sausage gravy.

And these biscuits are perfect for that!

They’re versatile and can be served with a variety of toppings, from butter and jam to sausage gravy.

Old fashioned buttermilk biscuits are easy to make with basic pantry staples.

They’re comforting and nostalgic, reminding many people of their childhoods or time spent with family.

This buttermilk biscuit recipe is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a side dish for dinner.

Plus they’re customizable – you can add herbs, cheese, or other flavors to the dough to make them your own.

 

flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, cream of tartar and cold butter in a bowl

 

What Ingredients Are in Old Fashioned Biscuits?

Homemade biscuits have simple ingredients that are easy to find at the grocery store. Here’s what you need:

  • All-purpose flour: Provides structure and texture to the biscuits.
  • Sugar: Adds sweetness and a slight caramelized flavor to the biscuits.
  • Salt: Enhances the flavor of the biscuits.
  • Baking powder: Acts as a leavening agent and helps the biscuits rise.
  • Cream of tartar: Helps the biscuits rise and stabilizes the egg whites.
  • Butter: Provides richness and flavor as well as makes yummy flaky layers.
  • Egg: Adds structure and richness to the biscuits.
  • Milk or buttermilk: Provides moisture and tanginess for the best biscuits.

Pro Tips:

  • Keep the butter and milk or buttermilk cold to get the flakiest biscuits.
  • Baking soda is not a good substitute for baking powder so don’t try that.
  • Don’t forget your prepared cookie sheet by using parchment paper to make your clean up easier.

 

butter and flour mixture combined into pea sized crumbles.

 

How to Make Old Fashioned Biscuits

Getting tender biscuits is easy! Flaky biscuits? No problem! 

Follow this great recipe to see how! And for more detailed instructions, see below.

  1. Combine: Mix dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, cream of tartar) in a bowl.
  2. Mix: Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Add: Add wet ingredients (egg, milk/buttermilk) and mix until just combined.
  4. Shape: Roll dough mixture and cut into biscuits.
  5. Bake: Bake until golden brown.

Pro Tips:

  • Use a pastry blender or fork to cut the butter into the flour mixture. This helps the butter to not melt and evenly distributes it throughout the dough.
  • Don’t overmix the dough. Mix the ingredients together until just combined to avoid tough biscuits.
  • Use a sharp-edged biscuit cutter or cookie cutter to cut biscuit dough This will help them rise evenly and create a nice, clean edge.
  • An optional step is adding butter to the tops of the biscuits right when they come out of the oven! Yum!

 

powdered biscuit mixture added to buttermilk

 

How Long Do Old Fashioned Biscuits Last?

The fluffy biscuits are best eaten fresh out of the oven, but they can be stored for a few days in an airtight container at room temperature. 

They will start to dry out after a day or two, but you can refresh them by reheating them in the oven or microwave.

How to Reheat Biscuits

To reheat old-fashioned biscuits, preheat your oven to 350°F. 

Place the biscuits on a baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes or until they are heated through.

Alternatively, you can microwave the biscuits for 10-15 seconds on high power.

 

dough mixed and ready to roll out

 

Can You Make Biscuits Without Buttermilk?

Yes, you can make these warm flaky old fashioned biscuits without buttermilk. 

You can use regular milk instead of cold buttermilk.

Or make a buttermilk substitute by mixing 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup of milk. 

Let the mixture sit for a few minutes until it thickens and curdles before using it in the recipe.

 

Biscuit dough rolled out and cut into rounds

 

What to Make with Old Fashioned Biscuits

One classic dish to make with old fashioned biscuits is this sausage gravy recipe

To make the gravy, follow this recipe for Homemade Sausage Gravy. 

Serve the gravy over warm biscuits for a hearty breakfast or brunch.

Other dishes you can make with old-fashioned biscuits include:

And don’t forget you can serve your perfect biscuit with plenty of butter and different flavors of jam!

 

Baked biscuits on cookie sheet

 

Can You Freeze Old Fashioned Biscuits?

Yes, you can easily freeze these amazing biscuits!

To do so, let the biscuits cool completely to room temperature, then place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag.

Freeze for up to 2-3 months. 

To reheat, let the biscuits thaw at room temperature, then bake in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes, or until warm.

How to Store Old Fashioned Biscuits

Leftover biscuits should be stored in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. 

To prevent them from becoming stale or soggy, avoid storing them in the refrigerator or in a humid environment.

 

plate piled high with buttermilk biscuits

 

Can Dogs Eat Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits?

When you make biscuits the old fashioned way generally safe for dogs to eat, it’s best to avoid feeding them to your pet on a regular basis. 

Biscuits can be high in fat and calories, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems in dogs. 

If you do give your dog a biscuit, make sure it’s plain and free from any added sugar or seasonings. 

Also, be sure to consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your dog’s diet.

 

3 biscuits stacked up on each other.

 

Homemade Soup to Serve with Biscuits…

Now you know everything you need to know to make perfect old fashioned biscuits that will transport you back to a simpler time. Enjoy!

 

Yield: 10 Biscuits

Old Fashioned Biscuits

3 biscuits stacked up on each other.

Old Fashioned Biscuits are a must have comfort food everyone loves. They are easy to make and are perfect for any time of day!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425*F
  2. Prepare baking sheet with liner or non-stick foil and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder & cream of tartar. Mix well.
  4. Toss in cold cubed butter. I like to take my stick of butter (3/4 cup) and cut it length wise, then turn it on it's side and cut it lengthwise again. You'll have 4 long pieces now. Then slice it and crumble butter into flour mixture.
  5. Using a pasty blender or forks, mix butter into flour. Don't over due it. You want to still see chunks of butter so don't mix it so well that you don't see them.
  6. In a small bowl, combine milk and egg - mix well.
  7. Add milk mixture into butter mixture and mix well.
  8. Spread additional flour onto a counter. Put biscuit mixture onto flour surface. Sprinkle biscuit dough with flour and roll out until 3/4 - 1 inch thick. You should see chunks of butter still in dough.
  9. Using the rim of a glass, cut out biscuits and transfer to a prepared cookie sheet.
  10. Bake in oven for 10 - 15 minutes or until golden color.
  11. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 304Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 476mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 6gProtein: 6g
Originally Posted: December 28, 2015

Photo & Text Updated: October 27, 2023

 

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Paul

Sunday 27th of March 2022

Made these a few times now. Great recipe. They rise high and have a great texture. I also like the sweetness added by the sugar. Great with a sausage gravy as in biscuits and gravy.

Janelle

Wednesday 31st of August 2022

Thanks Paul! I'm so glad you like them! And I agree, sausage gravy is a favorite with these.

Tom

Tuesday 2nd of July 2019

Can these be frozen

Janelle

Friday 21st of August 2020

Cooked Biscuits should be find to freeze. I've never tried freezing the dough though.

Ruth Calabro

Monday 12th of February 2018

We tried these. Yummy! The next day when my husband was ready to come home from work, for dinner, he told me that he had never had better biscuits - and implied that he would be happy to have me make them anytime. I did. We and our children all loved them. Thanks, Janelle!

Janelle

Thursday 7th of March 2019

Ruth, I am so happy to hear that your family enjoyed the biscuits! Thank you for trying out my recipe! Hope you find some more recipes on Nums the Word! Thanks for your comment!

Jennie

Tuesday 12th of January 2016

These were AMAZING!!! The 10 yr old told me to ALWAYS make homemade biscuits and the hubster said they were delicious! Thanks for the great recipe!!

Janelle

Thursday 14th of January 2016

Thanks Jennie! I'm so glad your family enjoyed them so much that they are now going to be your go-to biscuit recipe! Your comment has made my day!

Liz Heath

Monday 28th of December 2015

I'll have to give these a try.

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