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Aunt Dolores's Buttermilk Biscuits

Posted by Jenny on May 30, 2008 · recipe from Aunt Dolores · filed under Breads

Aunt Dolores's, perfected over a thousand Sunday mornings.

  • Makes8 biscuits
  • Prep15 min
  • Bake15 min
  • Oven425°F

What you’ll need

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 6 tbsp cold butter, cubed
  • 3/4 cup cold buttermilk (plus a splash if needed)
  • Melted butter for brushing

How to make it

  1. Heat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet.
  2. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
  3. Cut in cold butter with your fingers until the size of peas. Keep it cold.
  4. Pour in buttermilk; stir with a fork just until it comes together.
  5. Turn out, pat to 1 inch thick, fold over itself 3 times (this makes the layers).
  6. Cut with a floured glass — press straight down, don't twist.
  7. Bake 13–15 minutes until tall and golden. Brush with melted butter.
Dolores insists Cold butter, cold buttermilk, warm hands ruin everything. And NEVER twist the cutter or they bake lopsided.

Jenny’s notes

Even Grandma conceded that Dolores was right about never twisting the cutter. I've since learned you can freeze them raw and bake straight from the freezer (just add a few minutes) — honestly perfect.

— J.