Homemade Biscuits are so easy to make, and these are the fluffiest biscuits you’ll try – buttery and super soft! I’ll share my best tip for cutting them to get that impressive rise. This Biscuit Recipe has just six simple ingredients that come together fast, and there is no rising time required.

Homemade Biscuits served in a bread bowl

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Of all of the different breads I bake, I’m convinced that biscuits are the easiest home-baked bread! There’s no kneading or waiting as with yeast doughs, and you don’t need any fancy equipment. Watch my video tutorial below, and you’ll see how easy it is to whip up a batch of biscuits from scratch. These are so good on their own, but also excellent in Strawberry Shortcake or Biscuits and Gravy.

Homemade Biscuits Video

Helpful Reader Reviews

“I forgot to move my butter from the freezer to the fridge the night before, so I just grated it directly into the dry ingredients. It worked very well. I’ve been trying out a lot of biscuit recipes recently and this is by far the best one! So delicate and moist inside with a nice crust on the top and bottom.” – Johanna ★★★★★

“These are the very best biscuits I’ve ever made! This recipe is my ‘go to’ because they are tall, flaky, and have an excellent crumb! I freeze and shred my butter into the flour before adding the half & half. It all comes together so well and the biscuits are delicious! Thank you for posting!” – Brenda ★★★★★

Biscuit Recipe

If you love homemade bread and fresh dinner rolls, but don’t like to wait for them to rise and proof, this biscuit recipe is for you. They’re perfect for any cooking skill level and taste way better than store-bought biscuits out of a can.

Up close fluffy homemade biscuit with soft layers

Ingredients for Biscuits

I love that this uses pantry and refrigerator staple ingredients.

  • Flour – all-purpose flour works best for a tender crumb
  • Baking Powder – use aluminum-free and make sure to sift if you see clumps in your baking powder.
  • Salt and sugar – add just the right amount of flavor.
  • Unsalted Butter – be sure it’s cold, right from the refrigerator. If you prefer to use salted butter, you will want to reduce the salt in the recipe.
  • Half and Half – this is also called “light cream.” If you don’t have half and half, you can make it by combining equal parts of milk and heavy whipping cream.
Ingredients to make biscuits with butter, flour, half and half, baking powder, salt and sugar

Tips for the Best Homemade Biscuits

  • Measure flour correctly – spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level the top. Read our post on how to measure ingredients.
  • Dip your pastry cutter into flour between each cut. This will create a cleaner cut for a better rise.
  • Cut Biscuits straight down. Don’t turn your cutter side to side and do not use a sawing motion. Cutting straight down is the KEY to help the biscuits rise better.
  • Use cold butter. The key to making great biscuits is to use cold butter. We dice up the butter and then refrigerate it until ready to use. Cold butter will produce the fluffiest layers in your biscuits.
  • Do not over-mix – once liquids touch the flour, mix just until dry ingredients are moistened.
Cold diced butter for the best biscuits

Tools for Making Biscuits

The best thing about making homemade biscuits is that you don’t need any fancy equipment. Here are the tools we use to make the process super quick and easy:

  • Baking Sheet – line it with a sheet of parchment paper
  • Biscuit Cutter – we used a 2 1/2″ diameter round cutter. You can also use a knife or bench cutter to cut the biscuits into squares.
  • Pastry Blender – to cut butter into the flour. You can also use a fork with wide tines, two knives, or a food processor (see instructions for this below).
  • Mixing Bowl – this dough comes together in 1 bowl (we used a 4 qt).
  • Wooden spoon or spatula – to stir in the liquid ingredients
Biscuit cutter for making biscuits

How to Make Biscuits

  • Dice butter – Cut into 1/2″ cubes and refrigerate until needed.
  • Whisk dry ingredients – In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Whisk until really well combined before adding butter and liquids.
  • Add diced butter to the flour mixture and cut it into the flour until the largest pieces are pea-sized. It’s easy with a pastry blender.
  • Add liquids -Pour in all the half and half at once and stir it in until the dry ingredients are just moistened then transfer to a floured surface. If the dough is too moist, dust the top with flour.
  • Shape the dough into a rectangle and fold in half. Shape into a rectangle again and fold a second time. Shape dough into a 5×10″ rectangle and cut out 8 2 1/2″ diameter circles. You can pull together the scraps to form 2 more biscuits.
  • Bake – Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 450˚F for 12-15 minutes or until golden. Brush hot biscuits with melted butter.
step by step how to make biscuit dough

Pro Tip:

For the Softest Biscuits, be sure not to overmix the dough so it doesn’t develop gluten strands, which can cause the biscuits to be tough. Mix just until it comes together and you should still be able to see bits of butter in the dough.

how to cut out biscuits and bake

Can I Make Biscuits in a Food Processor?

To use a food processor, pulse together dry ingredients, then add chilled diced butter and pulse just until the largest pieces are pea-sized. Add just 3/4 cup half and half and pulse only until combined.

What is the Secret to a good biscuit?

There are a few ‘secrets’ that are important for good biscuits. Make sure you don’t overwork the dough, cut straight down when you cut out your biscuits, and avoid overbaking.

three fluffy biscuits stacked

Serve Biscuits with

  • Gravy – there’s nothing more classic than biscuits and gravy.
  • Jam – spread sweet jam over biscuits and enjoy them with tea.
  • Honey Butter – we love how butter melts onto a warm biscuit
  • Breakfast Sandwiches – break the biscuit in half and use it for a sandwich.
Biscuits served with jam

Make-Ahead and Storage

It’s easy to make biscuits in advance. You can prep them in advance and enjoy freshly baked biscuits in the morning.

  • Overnight Make-Ahead Biscuits – Cut the biscuits, place them on a baking sheet, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Uncover and bake before serving. Bake the cold biscuits in a fully preheated oven.
  • Storage – once the biscuits are cooled, store in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to a week in the refrigerator. Biscuits can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Make ahead biscuits cooling on wire rack

Homemade biscuits truly are easy and such a treat. These always disappear fast and are a hit with our whole family. The kiddos can’t resist a warm buttered biscuit.

More Quick Bread Recipes

Quick Breads are great because they don’t need rising time. Instead of using yeast, they use baking soda or baking powder for leavening to give them a beautiful rise. If you love these homemade biscuits, then you won’t want to miss our top-rated quick-bread recipes.

Easy Homemade Biscuits

4.98 from 452 votes
Homemade Biscuits served in a bread bowl
This is the only Biscuit Recipe you will need. Homemade Biscuits are super soft and these are quick and easy to make with just 6 ingredients.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10 biscuits
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder, (aluminum free)
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 3/4 tsp salt, (we use fine sea salt)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold (8 Tbsp = 1/2 cup)
  • 1 cup half and half (minus 2 Tbsp)*
  • 1/2 Tbsp melted butter, to brush the baked biscuits

Instructions

Make the Biscuit Dough:

  • Dice butter into 1/2" cubes and refrigerate until needed.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Whisk thoroughly.
  • Add diced cold butter and cut it into the flour using a pastry blender (or two knives or a fork), until the largest butter pieces are pea-sized.
  • Add 1 cup – minus 2 Tbsp of Half and Half all at once and stir until mixture comes together and is mostly moistened. Do not over-mix.

Fold Dough and Cut Biscuits:

  • Turn dough out onto a floured surface. If dough is very sticky, lightly sprinkle the top with flour.
  • Pat dough into a rectangle then fold it in half and pat into another rectangle. Fold a second time and pat into a 5"x10" rectangle or 3/4" thickness. Dip a 2 1/2" round biscuit cutter into flour and cut out 8 biscults. Pull together scraps and form into a rectangle to cut an extra 2 biscuits.

Bake Biscuits:

  • Place biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet 1-inch apart and bake at 450˚F for 12-15 minutes or until tops are golden brown and biscuits are baked through. While biscuits are hot, brush tops with 1/2 Tbsp melted butter. Transfer to a wire rack to cool 10 minutes then serve.

Notes

*Notes on half and half – you can substitute with equal parts heavy cream and milk. In very humid climates, reduce the amount of half and a half to 3/4 cup. 

Nutrition Per Serving

212kcal Calories21g Carbs3g Protein13g Fat8g Saturated Fat35mg Cholesterol193mg Sodium240mg Potassium1g Fiber1g Sugar387IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C110mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Easy Homemade Biscuits
Amount per Serving
Calories
212
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
13
g
20
%
Saturated Fat
 
8
g
50
%
Cholesterol
 
35
mg
12
%
Sodium
 
193
mg
8
%
Potassium
 
240
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
21
g
7
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
387
IU
8
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
110
mg
11
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: biscuit recipe, biscuits, homemade biscuits
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 212
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.98 from 452 votes (284 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Erin
    January 25, 2025

    I have made the recipe several times. Delicious!

    Reply

  • Diane
    January 23, 2025

    Does the baking powder have to be aluminum free?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 23, 2025

      Hi Diane! It doesn’t have to be, but we prefer it for taste reasons.

      Reply

  • Marie
    January 22, 2025

    Another awesome recipe. Thank you Natasha!
    I did add about 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese to basic recipe. Love your versatile recipies.

    Reply

  • Kim
    January 22, 2025

    Don’t see what or why you take the 2 teaspoons on milk away?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 22, 2025

      Hi Kim, it is in #4 in the instructions. That’s the total measurement 1 cup minus two TABLEspoons, which is equal to be an 1/8 of a cup typically, but tricky with liquid measurements so it’s easier to say One cup minus 2 TBSP. I cup was too much liquid.

      Reply

  • Mirella
    January 21, 2025

    Hi Natasha, This biscuits recipe is so easy and quick to make.I have done it with light cream instead of half half and it came out delicious and soft. As there is butter and butter again for coating , I served with only jam on top to make it less caloric.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 21, 2025

      Hi Mirella! Thank you for trying my recipe. Im glad you enjoy it.

      Reply

  • Brenda
    January 19, 2025

    These are the very best biscuits I’ve ever made! This recipe is my ‘go to’ because they are tall, flaky, and have an excellent crumb! I freeze and shred my butter into the flour before adding the half & half. It all comes together so well and the biscuits are delicious! Thank you for posting!

    Reply

  • Ellen
    January 14, 2025

    Delicious biscuts and easy recipe. I followed the recipe exactly and they came out buttery and flaky. I cut them in squares since I don’t have a pastry cutter and they were perfect. My family enjoyed.
    Thank you Natasha.

    Reply

  • Clare
    January 13, 2025

    These are my absolute go-to recipe for biscuits, SO soft and flaky!

    Reply

  • Sharonda
    January 12, 2025

    These were so good and easy. I was a bit worried because the dough was so sticky. But they were good

    Reply

  • Jennie
    January 5, 2025

    I forgot to do the step of folding multiple times and biscuits still raised beautifully. Also brushed tops with remaining milk before baking. Came out nice

    Reply

  • Lori
    January 5, 2025

    Delivered a great experience all the way around. Fluffy, tasty and presented a great color

    Reply

  • Elizabeth
    January 4, 2025

    They are perfect and yummy!!!!

    Reply

  • Rosie
    December 31, 2024

    My new go to biscuits. These were so easy and the best biscuits I’ve ever made

    Reply

  • Jim
    December 31, 2024

    Very dry biscuits. Followed recipe to the exact measurements.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 1, 2025

      Hi Jim, sorry to hear that. Dry biscuits are usually due to adding too much flour, overworking the dough or Overbaking. Read through the section titled “Tips for the Best Homemade Biscuits” which covers most common troubleshooting issues with Biscuits.

      Reply

  • Pat
    December 31, 2024

    I love watching you. I love your energy. I have made some of your recipes but, I am only one person so don’t cook as much as I use to

    Reply

  • Katy Wiggins
    December 30, 2024

    Hi Natasha! I love following all your recipes! My family enjoys watching your videos and your great sense of humor and fun! Our kids love looking for the shark! Thanks for keeping your videos engaging for us! Your biscuits are great! I’ve kept mine frozen in the freezer to have extra on hand. Do I reset the temp at 450 degrees and bake frozen biscuits for 12-15 minutes just like the recipe calls? God bless you and your family!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 30, 2024

      Hi Katy! I’m so glad you’re loving the recipes. If you’re baking these biscuits from frozen, you’ll need to increase the baking time. Likely 5-10mins. I would start checking early and look for signs of doneness. The temperature can remain the same. Make sure your oven is fully preheated first.

      Reply

  • Susan
    December 29, 2024

    Hi Natasha I love Your recipes I have made your chicken pot pie filling so many times I can’t count it is my favorite and I actually eat it like a soup. It’s just me LOL Anyway I want to know if I can make the biscuits ahead of time and bake later or freeze and bake later they sound delicious can’t wait to make them thank you

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 29, 2024

      Great to hear that you enjoyed this and other recipes that you have tried from us! You can make the bicsuits ahead of time, bake and freeze it. Just make sure to allow the biscuits to cool completely on a wire rack to prevent them from getting soggy when stored. Reheat the biscuits at the oven for 350°F (175°C) for about 10-12 minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds, but they may not stay as crispy.

      Reply

  • Judit Szepessy
    December 28, 2024

    Can I make the dough in a food processor?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 29, 2024

      Hi Judit! Yes, you can. See my instructions regarding this in the common question section above.

      Reply

  • Kim
    December 16, 2024

    Could I replace the half and half with buttermilk?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 16, 2024

      Hi Kim! Several of my readers reported good results using buttermilk, but I haven’t personally tried it.

      Reply

      • Kim
        December 17, 2024

        Hi Natasha! Thank you. 🙏 I will give it a try sometimes I don’t have the half and half 😁 but I make these biscuits at least 3-4 or more times in a month lol. ! They are delish and are always a hit !

        Reply

  • dee mccluskey
    December 14, 2024

    Greetings Natasha, I am now making very tasty Biscuits with this recipe. I guess the way you have explained the steps plus the recipe is easy. I am 68 years. Imagine that. I want to learn pie shells. Thank you….. nannydee

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 14, 2024

      Hi Dee! That’s so great. I’m happy it was helpful.

      Reply

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