Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe
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To me, old-fashioned buttermilk biscuits go with every meal. You can have biscuits and gravy for breakfast, a biscuit sandwich for lunch, and biscuits for your bread at dinner. Am I right or am I right? Haha.
One of the reasons I like biscuits is that they don’t require yeast or rising time. It’s nice to be able to whip up bread fairly quickly. While I do love homemade bread and rolls, they take much longer to make and most of us don’t have time these days.
These biscuits came from my Victory Cookbook, which features recipes from during and after World War II. They are pretty basic and I had all of the ingredients in my pantry except the buttermilk.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Flour
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Shortening
- Buttermilk
Equipment You May Need
- Flour Sifter
- Cookie Sheet
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Mixing Bowl
- Pastry Blender
- Biscuit Cutter
Helpful Tips
- I didn’t want to buy a whole carton of buttermilk, so I bought the powdered kind which lasts for about a year in the fridge once it is opened.
- You can also make your own buttermilk.
- Instead of using a biscuit cutter, I used the top of a small glass jar to cut the dough. This dough was a bit sticky so I will probably use a biscuit cutter next time.
- Instead of a flour sifter, I used a whisk, which is what I do most of the time. I don’t use my flour sifter too often unless I am trying to be really authentic and old-school like my grandma.
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
If you want a biscuit recipe that doesn’t require buttermilk, you can try my Baking Powder Biscuits. Most people have all of those ingredients in their kitchen. Another great bread to try is Irish Soda Bread. This Recipe for Scones is also quite yummy. These biscuits would be great with my Old Fashioned Shepherd’s Pie or with this Lamb Rogan Josh from Shilpa at Easy Indian Cookbook! You could also top them off with this Honey Butter Recipe from Mary at Dine Dream Discover. That would be delicious!
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Flour Sifted
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Cup Shortening Cold
- 1 Cup Buttermilk Cold
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F and spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
- Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.
- Cut in shortening using 2 knives or a pastry blender.
- Add cold buttermilk and stir quickly.
- Place dough on lightly floured board and knead for a few seconds.
- Use hands to flatten dough to ½ inch thickness and cut with biscuit cutter.
- Place on cookie sheet at least 1 inch apart.
- Bake at 450° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
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41 Comments
joleisa
love the look of these! It reminds me of the ones that used to be sold at KFC back in the days in Jamaica.
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you so much! I bet those were yummy too!
Kelly Diane
This is a real throwback for me. My nan use to make buttermilk biscuits all the time.
Heidi Bruaw
That is great to hear! xx
Della Driscoll
These are so simple and old school but I love the look of them – great recipe xx
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! Simple is sometimes best. 🙂
Charity
Oh Yum! I love a good homemade biscuit. I will have to try this out!
Heidi Bruaw
Yes, they are the best! Let me know if you try it. 🙂
Sue Berk Koch
I find that when a recipe has shortening instead of butter, the baked goods are often sweeter. And it
takes some of the edge off for the lactose intolerant among us! Thanks!
Heidi Bruaw
I would agree with that as well. I hadn’t thought about it taking the edge off but it probably does. 🙂
Headphonesthoughts
I love how easy it is to make these. This is a great option for breakfast for me.
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! Yes, they are very quick and easy to make. Definitely a great breakfast option. 🙂
Forever My Little Moon
These look so good! I’ll have to try making my own biscuits!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! Let me know if you try them. 🙂
lynnmumbingmejia
Yummy! I love homemade biscuits especially a warm one with jam and butter! This looks super easy, Thanks for sharing, Heidi! x
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Heidi Bruaw
That sounds so good right now! I definitely agree. That is how my husband always eats biscuits no matter what meal he has them with. 🙂
Jaya Avendel
Homemade biscuits are the best! I love a good cheddar drop biscuit, but these look divine too. Wartime recipes are so simple and tasty and, while I never have buttermilk on hand either, I make my own by adding one tablespoon apple cider vinegar per one cup of milk. 🙂
Heidi Bruaw
Yes, they are! Cheddar drop biscuits are yummy too! That is a great alternative to buttermilk as well. Thank you for mentioning that. 🙂
Maria
Wow these look amazing. They sound delicious!! I might have to try to make them!
https://whereintheworldismaria.com
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! They are pretty easy to make, too. 🙂
bournemouthgirl
These look and sound great. You have shared such simple steps to help people follow the recipe. Thank you for sharing this post.
Lauren
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you, Lauren!
readandreviewit1
Lovely recipe, these look delicious! Definitely need to try this recipe out soon 🙂
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you. They are very simple and delicious. 🙂
wilde1faye
Oh these look so delicious and so simple to make!! Thank you so for sharing your recipe – I may just have to make them this evening
Heidi Bruaw
You’re welcome! Let me know if you try them. 🙂
Eddie
These look so simple to make, I do love dipping bread in gravy so I may have to give these a try. Is buttermilk really that bad on its own? I’ve never had it.
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! Buttermilk is quite sour so most people don’t prefer it. 🙂
TheBlackPrincessDiaries
they look so good! You literally can’t go wrong with some delicious homemade butter biscuits!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! That is so true. 🙂
Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes
Thanks for sharing, these look easy to prepare and make 🙂
Heidi Bruaw
You’re welcome. They are pretty simple and yummy!
TheQuietGirl (Anissa)
These look lovely! I love a good biscuit, always so tasty. Great post!
traveladdictedunicorn
Those look soo good! My partner is the baker in the house, I will show him the recipe and hope he makes them ahah! Actually, they seem pretty easy to make but don’t want to burn the house down lol
Heidi Bruaw
Haha, I totally understand! I hope you get to enjoy them! 🙂
cafebeauty2021
Great recipe! I’ve never tried to make biscuits before, but this recipe doesn’t seem to be too difficult to do. Thanks for sharing!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! They are pretty simple, that’s for sure. 🙂
Elle
Wow, these look and sound amazing!!! Delicious Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you!
Brenda
This is the same recipe my grandmother used to make fruit cobblers too. A Dutch oven full of fruit (strawberries, apples, peaches, whatever was in season) bubbling with the addition of sugar in it’s own juices. Then she would drop the biscuit dough by the tablespoon full allowing the hot liquid to “set” the biscuit as she flipped them over. They would float on top of the fruit and she would put them into the hot oven and they would brown lightly on top as they continued to soak up the richness of the fruit juices. So very good. Ice cream or softly beaten heavy cream suggested but not required!
Heidi Bruaw
Hi Brenda,
Thank you for sharing! I love that your grandma made cobblers with them. That is a great idea! I’ll have to try this soon! 🙂