Homemade Biscuits

I LOVE a homemade biscuit.  I don't make them that often, but when my kids ask for them i'm all the way in!  Hot, homemade and slathered with butter!

My standard recipe makes about a dozen biscuits.  Problem is, most of the time we don't need that many.  This version of the recipe makes 6-8 depending on the size of your biscuit cutter.


Buttery Homemade Biscuits - Small Batch
(makes approx 6-8 biscuits) 

For this recipe you will need:
2 Tablespoons shortening
1 c. all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2  teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons milk  (I use almond milk, but cows milk is fine too)

1 Tablespoon melted butter 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl combine shortening, flour, sugar, baking powder, sugar and salt.  Use a fork to combine everything and thoroughly mix in the shortening.  The mixture should look like crumbs.  

The mixture should look like crumbs

Once everything is combined make a well in the center of the flour. 

Pour the milk into the center of the well you created.  Keep in mind that the trick to fluffy biscuits is to not over mix the dough.  Run your fork around the edges of the flour and combine it with the milk in the center of the bowl.  You want to combine the milk and flour mixture using as few strokes as possible.

Don't over work the dough!

Mix it just enough to bring the dough together.

Next turn dough onto a floured surface.  I roll my biscuits on a cutting board.


DO NOT KNEAD THIS DOUGH!  Using your hands or a floured rolling pin press (or roll) the dough to approx 1" thickness. Flour your biscuit cutter (use a glass if you don't have an official cutter).  Cut your biscuits and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet or pan.




Once you're done cutting out the biscuits, gently press all of the dough scraps together.  Shape the scraps into 1 - 2 large biscuits.  This last biscuit is called the mama cake!  It's the biggest biscuit and it's reserved for mama (or the biscuit maker).  Place it on the cookie sheet or pan.

Almost oven ready

Melt 1 Tablespoon of butter.  Brush the tops and sides of the biscuits with melted butter.  Be sure to put extra butter on the mama cake (you deserve it)!

Oven ready!

INCREASE THE OVEN TO 450 degrees.  Place the biscuits in the oven.
Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown.  Biscuits baked in a rising oven will be lighter and fluffier!!!

While the biscuits are baking clean up.

All Done!

PRO TIP:
If you are a novice biscuit maker, try drop biscuits.

For drop biscuits, use 1/2 cup of milk instead of 6 Tablespoons.  Mix dough (don't over mix).  Drop tablespoons of dough onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake.  With drop biscuits, there is no kneading or rolling.

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