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Buttermilk Biscuits

These Buttermilk Biscuits made with farm fresh butter & buttermilk are rich, buttery and stacked with flaky layers – the perfect food!

Buttermilk Biscuits | JavaCupcake.com

Every time I make biscuits from scratch, they never rise!  They’r flat, tasteless and honestly… a lot like hockey pucks! I’m not sure if it’s because I didn’t have the right recipe, if I didn’t cut the butter into he flour enough or maybe I overworked the dough.

Regardless… I failed each time I made them.  My family still ate it… but in the back of my head, it was a failure.  Until today.

Buttermilk Biscuits with Homemade Strawberry Jam | JavaCupcake.com

Betsie Morris Gibson, one of my loyal and super sweet readers of JavaCupcake shared with me her Grandma Love’s recipe for biscuits!  Betsie said her Grandma Love adapted this recipe from the back of the Clabber Girl Baking Powder container back  in the 1950’s.  So… this recipe is tried, true and I could definitely count on it work!

Now… if only I don’t screw it up!

Buttermilk Biscuits | JavaCupcake.com

I started with farm fresh butter and buttermilk from a local farm here in Germany.  My great friend, Margot, hooked me up with it… she’s got an “in” with a farmer.  I have never had such fresh ingredients before.  It’s amazing to think that 100 years ago…. 75 years ago… heck even 50 years ago… this is how everyone was baking and cooking.   Fresh, local ingredients.

I also recently bought a pastry cutter and used it to work the butter instead of using my fingers or a fork and knife.  This made a HUGE difference in the amount of time it took to create that “coarse meal” texture you need for this biscuits.

Buttermilk Biscuits with Homemade Strawberry Jam | JavaCupcake.com

The biggest thing I did, made sure not to overwork the dough.  I really only turned it 4 times out on my floured counter and gently patted it to 3/4 inch height.  Before, I rolled it out and I think rolled it too thin.  Not this time!  Pat pat pat and thick thick thick!

Thanks Betsie and Margot for the tools to FINALLY make the most perfect, fluffy and flaky buttermilk biscuits!  This is definitely going to be my go-to recipe!

If you’re interested in the recipe for the super delicious jam I topped the biscuits with, you can find that strawberry freezer jam recipe here!

Buttermilk Biscuits with Homemade Strawberry Jam | JavaCupcake.com

Oh, and my husband (he’s in Afghanistan) saw a picture and requested these biscuits with chipped beef and gravy when he returns!  I can so do that!!!

Enjoy!

Buttermilk Biscuits

Buttermilk Biscuits

Yield: 8 biscuits
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, COLD
  • 3/4 cup milk, COLD (I used buttermilk)
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 3-7/16" biscuit cutter (or any size you want)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 F degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour sugar, baking powder, salt and cream of tartar.
  3. Add the butter and with a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
  4. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the egg and buttermilk. With a wooden spoon, stir until just combined.
  5. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead lightly 4-5 times. STOP! Do not knead anymore than this!
  6. GENTLY pat the dough to 3/4 inch thickness.
  7. Using the biscuit cutter, cut out circles and place them on the baking sheet. Lightly press together the scraps, pat the same thickness, and cut again until you only have a few small scraps of dough left.
  8. Bake 13-15 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
  9. Remove immediately to a wire rack to cool.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Nancy Anne

Thursday 26th of December 2013

Betsie got this recipe from me, and I got it from our Grandma. I taught Betsie not to overwork the dough. To clarify on the history, I got it from Grandma Love in the 80's, and it was still on the back of the Clabber Girl baking powder can at that point. While I haven't seen it on the can in years, it is still on their website. It's a great recipe- We just had it for Christmas breakfast this morning with gravy! Small Internet that I ran across it!

Betsy Eves

Friday 27th of December 2013

Thanks for the info, Nancy Anne! :)

cookingactress

Monday 14th of October 2013

I LOVE that you used fresh local ingredients! And these biscuits look like beautiful fluffy perfection!

Betsy Eves

Monday 14th of October 2013

I know!! I can't believe I had never used farm fresh buttermilk before! I just need to come up with more things to bake with it before it goes bad!!! :)

Betsie

Sunday 13th of October 2013

I totally missed your jam recipe! I am glad you posted the link for it because I need to make it :-) Glad they are a hit and I hope your hubby enjoys upon his return ;)

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