Fluffy 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe Ready in a Flash

Southern kitchens have long cherished these simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits that rise with golden perfection.

Soft, flaky layers melt in your mouth with every tender bite.

Generations of home cooks have passed down this treasured recipe through warm family gatherings.

These biscuits require minimal effort but deliver maximum comfort and satisfaction.

Mixing flour, butter, and buttermilk creates a magic that transforms ordinary ingredients into extraordinary breakfast magic.

Each biscuit promises a warm, buttery embrace that connects you to traditional Southern cooking.

Serve these heavenly biscuits straight from the oven and watch everyone’s eyes light up with pure delight.

Perks of 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits

• These buttermilk biscuits are incredibly simple to make with just three ingredients, perfect for novice bakers wanting a foolproof recipe.
• No complicated techniques required – just basic mixing, folding, and cutting create restaurant-quality biscuits right in your kitchen.
• Serve these golden delights alongside breakfast, as a dinner side, or split and stuffed with ham for a satisfying snack that everyone will love.
• Experiment by adding herbs, cheese, or using them as a base for creative breakfast sandwiches or dessert shortcakes.

What’s in Buttermilk Biscuits

• Self-Rising Flour: The foundational ingredient that provides structure and lift for the perfect biscuit texture.

• Frozen Butter: A cold butter that creates flaky layers when grated and incorporated into the flour, ensuring a tender and light biscuit.

• Cold Buttermilk: A tangy dairy ingredient that helps bind the dough and contributes to the biscuits' soft and rich flavor profile.

• Melted Butter: A golden, rich topping that adds extra flavor and creates a beautiful sheen on the baked biscuits.

• All-Purpose Flour: Used for work surface and hand dusting to prevent dough from sticking during preparation.

Making Buttermilk Biscuits

Step 1: Fire Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a scorching 450F (232C).

This high heat is the secret weapon for creating those dreamy, cloud-like biscuits that will make everyone’s mouth water.

Step 2: Prepare the Flour Base

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and dump in self-rising flour.

This magical ingredient will be the foundation of your biscuit masterpiece, promising a light and airy texture that melts in your mouth.

Step 3: Transform Butter into Snowflakes

Take a frozen butter stick and transform it into delicate snowflakes by grating directly into the flour.

Use a pastry cutter or two forks to blend until the mixture looks like coarse, crumbly sand.

The colder the butter, the flakier the biscuits.

Step 4: Bring the Dough to Life

Pour cold buttermilk into the flour-butter mixture.

Gently stir with a rubber spatula until a shaggy, slightly sticky dough forms.

Don’t stress about perfection – rustic is beautiful!

Step 5: Create Your Baking Playground

Dust a clean surface with flour to prevent sticking.

Transfer the dough and lightly flour your hands to make handling easier.

Step 6: Gentle Dough Massage

Softly knead the dough just a few times.

Think of it as a gentle touch – too much handling will make your biscuits tough and dense.

Keep it light and lovingly brief.

Step 7: Build Magnificent Layers

Fold the dough over itself multiple times.

This technique is your ticket to those Instagram-worthy, picture-perfect layers that will have everyone impressed.

Step 8: Shape with Intention

Pat the dough into a relaxed rectangle about 1-inch thick.

Don’t worry about perfection – rustic charm is your friend here.

Step 9: Craft Biscuit Circles

Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter, pressing straight down without twisting.

This ensures maximum rise and fluffy potential.

Gather scraps and reshape for bonus biscuits.

Step 10: Huddle the Biscuits

Arrange cut biscuits close together on a baking sheet, sides touching.

This proximity encourages upward growth and keeps them cozy.

Step 11: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking sheet into the oven.

Bake for 12-14 minutes until gloriously golden.

For extra indulgence, brush with melted butter during the final moments and broil briefly for a sun-kissed top.

Step 12: Butter and Celebrate

The moment they emerge, lavish the biscuits with melted butter.

Let it soak in, then add another loving brush.

Take a moment to bask in your baking triumph before diving into these heavenly treats!

Buttermilk Biscuit Baking Tips

• Freeze the butter before grating to ensure maximum flakiness and prevent it from melting too quickly during preparation.
• Work the dough as little as possible to keep biscuits tender and prevent developing tough gluten strands.
• Use a straight downward motion when cutting biscuits to help them rise evenly and maintain their signature height.
• Keep the mixture slightly sticky for lighter, more tender biscuits – resist adding too much extra flour.
• Arrange cut biscuits close together on the baking sheet so they support each other while rising in the oven.

How to Store Buttermilk Biscuits

• Seal cooled biscuits in an airtight container or ziplock bag. They'll stay fresh for 3-4 days when stored in the refrigerator.
• Wrap individual biscuits tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Frozen biscuits maintain quality for up to 2 months.
• Warm refrigerated biscuits at 350F for 5-7 minutes. For frozen biscuits, thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheat room temperature biscuits for 15-20 seconds. Frozen biscuits might need 30-45 seconds, but watch carefully to prevent toughening.

Buttermilk Biscuit Pairings

Savor Southern Comfort Pairings: Elevate Buttermilk Biscuits

• Hearty Breakfast Companion: Pair these fluffy biscuits with crispy country ham or sausage patties, creating a classic Southern morning feast that celebrates rich, savory flavors.
• Jam and Preserve Paradise: Spread homemade strawberry, peach, or fig preserves over warm biscuits, letting the sweet, fruity notes dance with the buttery, tender texture.
• Southern Beverage Bliss: Complement the biscuits with sweet iced tea or freshly brewed black coffee, allowing the drink's robust character to balance the biscuits' delicate, buttery profile.
• Gravy Dipping Delight: Serve alongside creamy sausage gravy or country white gravy, transforming these biscuits into a hearty comfort food experience that screams Southern hospitality.

Buttermilk Biscuit Flavor Variations

• Gluten-Free Biscuits: Replace self-rising flour with a gluten-free blend containing xanthan gum for binding and structure.
• Vegan Buttermilk Alternative: Swap buttermilk with dairy-free milk mixed with apple cider vinegar, using plant-based butter or coconut oil as a butter replacement.
• Herb-Infused Biscuits: Mix in dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, or chives directly into the flour for an aromatic flavor boost that transforms the classic recipe.
• Whole Wheat Hearty Version: Substitute half the self-rising flour with whole wheat flour to add nutty flavor and increased nutritional value, keeping the same tender texture.

FAQs

• What makes self-rising flour different from regular flour?

Self-rising flour already contains baking powder and salt, which helps the biscuits rise and provides seasoning without adding extra ingredients. This saves time and ensures consistent leavening for perfect biscuits.

• Why should butter be frozen when making biscuits?

Frozen butter creates tiny, cold pockets that melt during baking, producing flaky, tender layers. Cold butter doesn’t blend completely into the flour, which helps create those signature light and airy biscuit textures.

• How do I know if I've kneaded the dough correctly?

Proper kneading means gently folding the dough a few times without overworking it. The dough should remain slightly sticky and not become smooth like bread dough. Minimal handling prevents tough biscuits and maintains a delicate texture.

• Can I substitute buttermilk if I don't have it?

Yes, you can use regular milk with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice added and let it sit for 5 minutes. This creates a similar acidic environment that helps activate the leavening agents and provides tenderness to the biscuits.

3-ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe

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4.8 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 29 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Homemade 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits elevate simple pantry staples into flaky, golden perfection. Southern comfort meets culinary simplicity with these irresistible, tender biscuits that welcome you to savor pure, mouthwatering warmth.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 cup cold buttermilk
• 1 stick (113 grams) frozen butter

Topping:

• Additional butter for brushing

Measurements Note:

• Butter measurements: 1 stick = 1/2 cup = 113 grams = 4 ounces

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven at 450F (232C), ensuring a hot environment for optimal biscuit rising and golden exterior.
2. Select a large mixing bowl and add self-rising flour, creating a pristine base for the biscuit mixture.
3. Retrieve frozen butter and grate it directly into the flour, using a grater to create tiny, cold butter fragments that will generate flaky layers.
4. Integrate the grated butter into the flour using a pastry cutter or two forks, transforming the mixture into a texture resembling coarse crumbs.
5. Pour cold buttermilk into the flour-butter mixture, stirring gently with a rubber spatula until a cohesive, slightly sticky dough forms.
6. Dust a clean work surface with flour, then transfer the dough, coating hands lightly to prevent excessive sticking.
7. Delicately knead the dough a few times, maintaining a light touch to preserve tenderness and avoid developing tough texture.
8. Execute strategic folding techniques, turning the dough over itself multiple times to establish beautiful, distinct layers.
9. Flatten the dough into a rectangular shape approximately 1-inch thick, ensuring uniform consistency for even baking.
10. Utilize a 3-inch biscuit cutter, pressing straight down without twisting to maintain proper rising potential, and collect remaining dough scraps for additional biscuits.
11. Arrange cut biscuits on a baking sheet with sides touching, promoting vertical expansion during baking.
12. Bake for 12-14 minutes until golden brown, optional: brush with melted butter during final minute and briefly broil for enhanced color.
13. Remove from oven and immediately coat with melted butter, allowing absorption for maximum flavor and moisture.

Notes

• Cold butter is the secret weapon for creating ultra-flaky, tender biscuits that practically melt in your mouth.
• Avoid overworking the dough, as this can develop gluten and result in tough, dense biscuits instead of light, airy ones.
• For a gluten-free version, swap self-rising flour with a gluten-free alternative and add 2 teaspoons of baking powder plus 1/2 teaspoon of salt to mimic self-rising flour’s properties.
• Buttermilk can be substituted with a quick homemade version by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes to curdle.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 14 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 440 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 29 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg