Flaky, Buttery Biscuit Dough Recipe

There’s something so cozy about making biscuits from scratch, and with this simple dough recipe, you’ll get those perfect flaky layers and a soft, tender bite every time. This recipe has become a staple in my kitchen because it’s so versatile and easy to whip up with just a few basic ingredients. Plus, the dough is a breeze to work with – especially when you use cold ingredients!

Endless Ways to Enjoy Biscuit Dough

This dough can be used for all kinds of recipes beyond just biscuits. Here are a few ways to put it to good use:

• Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich: Perfect with round sausage patties or bacon.

• Empanadas: It’s delicious shell for both sweet and savory fillings.

• Pigs in a Blanket: Wrap mini hot dogs or sausages in strips of this dough for an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what goes into making this dough come out just right:

All-Purpose Flour: The perfect base that keeps the biscuits light.

Baking Powder: Gives the dough a nice rise and fluffy texture.

Sugar: Just a little bit for a touch of sweetness.

Salt: Balances the flavor.

Cold Unsalted Butter: This is key – cold butter creates steam pockets as it melts in the oven, which is what gives those flaky layers.

Cold Whole Milk: Cold milk makes the dough easier to work with and keeps everything buttery and tender. Although, you can substitute with buttermilk if you have it on hand.

Tips for the Perfect Biscuits

Use Cold Ingredients: Trust me, cold ingredients make the dough easier to handle. They keep the butter solid until it’s in the oven, helping to create those flaky layers.

Be Gentle with the Dough: Over mixing makes the biscuits tough, so stir just until everything’s combined and avoid kneading too much.

Cutting in the Butter: Use your fingertips to work the butter into the flour until you have coarse crumbs – this gives the dough the perfect texture.

Place biscuits close together: They should almost touching to allow them to grow taller.

Recipe: Homemade Biscuit Dough

Let’s dive into the recipe! Here’s everything you need to make a delicious, easy biscuit dough from scratch:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp salt

• 6 tbsp very cold unsalted butter, cubed

• 3/4 cup cold whole milk

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425f and prepare baking sheet with parchment paper or rub butter all over.

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
2. Add in the cold, cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it looks like coarse crumbs.
3. Pour in the cold milk and stir just until the dough comes together. Be careful not to over mix! 
4. On a well floured surface, work the dough together gently. If the dough is too sticky, add flour until it is easier to work with. Then, fold the dough in half and rotate the dough and fold over again. Gently pat the dough into a 1-inch-thick rectangle.
5. Cut closely into biscuits with a round cutter 5-6 times then place on prepared baking sheet. Gently reshape the dough to get the last biscuit or two. 
6. Bake at 425°F for 12–15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
7. Brush melted butter if desired and serve warm.

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I hope this recipe becomes a go-to for you like it has for me. Whether you’re making classic breakfast biscuits, empanadas, or easy pigs in a blanket, this dough is as versatile as it is delicious!

Let me know if you try it!

xo Melissa