Flaky Layered Buttermilk Biscuits

Inspired by techniques from Serious Eats, NYT Cooking and America's Test Kitchen.

Biscuit · American

Cold butter is cut into a seasoned flour mixture, bound with buttermilk, folded twice like a letter for layers, cut and baked close together until tall and golden.

Prep20 min
Cook17 min
Total37 min
DifficultyEasy
Per serving189 kcal
FreeVegetarian
Servings12Recipe makes 12
Allergens (EU 14)
GlutenCrustaceansEggsFishPeanutsSoybeansMilkTree nutsCeleryMustardSesameSulphitesLupinMolluscs

Always check the labels of the products you use.

Method

  1. 1

    Heat the oven. Heat the oven to 220 °C (200 °C fan).

  2. 2

    Cut in the butter. Pulse the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate, sugar and salt, add the cold butter and pulse 8-10 times until the largest pieces are pea-sized.

  3. 3

    Bind. Add the buttermilk and fold with a spatula until just combined into a shaggy dough.

  4. 4

    Fold. Pat into a 30 x 20 cm rectangle, fold in three like a letter, turn and repeat once. Pat 2.5 cm thick.

  5. 5

    Cut and chill. Stamp out rounds without twisting, set them touching on the tray and re-cut the scraps once to make 12. Chill 10 minutes.

  6. 6

    Bake. Brush with melted butter and bake 14-17 minutes until tall and deep golden. Serve warm.

Storage

Store airtight at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 1 month. Warm through before serving.

Free sugars

Sugar (daily guide)

1 g per serving

2 % of the 50 g daily maximum · 4 % of the ideal 25 g

Free sugars under 50 g a day, ideally about 25 g, based on WHO free-sugar guidance (not endorsed by WHO). The share shown is the share of one serving. WHO

Equipment

  • food processor or large bowl
  • rolling pin
  • bench scraper or knife
  • 6.5 cm round cutter
  • baking tray lined with baking paper
  • pastry brush

Nutrition per serving (estimated values)

Per servingAmount
Energy189 kcal
Protein3.4 g
Carbohydrate21.3 g
of which sugars2.1 g
of which free sugars1 g
Fat10.1 g
of which saturates6.3 g
Fibre0.7 g
Salt0.95 g

Protein per 100 kcal

1.8 g High Protein needs ≥ 5 g (20% of energy)

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values