Buttered Biscuits

Recipe by PJ Hamel
134 Reviews 4.3 out of 5 stars

Here it is! The very easiest way to make tender, buttered biscuits. Rather than cutting or rubbing butter into flour, then adding liquid, these biscuits are a simple matter of stirring cream into the flour and other dry ingredients. Pat into a round, cut, bake, and enjoy (with an additional pat of butter on top, of course!). 

Prep
15 mins
Bake
20 mins
Total
1 hr 5 mins
Yield
9 to 11 biscuits, depending on size
Biscuits

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.

  1. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and sugar. Stir in enough heavy cream to moisten the dough thoroughly. You'll probably use about 1 cup (227g) in the summer, 1 1/4 cups (284g) in the winter, and 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (256g) at the turn of the seasons. You want to be able to gather the dough together, squeeze it, and have it hang together easily, without dry bits falling off.

  2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and very gently pat it into an 8" circle about 3/4" thick. If you're uncertain about your ability to make a nice freeform 8" round, pat the dough into a lightly floured 8" round cake pan, then turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.

  3. Use a sharp 2 1/4" biscuit cutter to cut rounds. (If you use a biscuit cutter of another size, know that larger biscuits may need to bake a bit longer, and smaller biscuits a bit less time.) Place them on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.

  4. Brush the biscuits with about half of the melted butter. (This adds extra flavor.)

  5. Place the pan in the freezer for 30 minutes. This will improve the biscuits' texture and rise.

  6. Preheat the oven to 425°F while the biscuits are in the freezer.

  7. Bake the biscuits for 20 minutes, till they're golden brown. Remove from the oven.

  8. Brush the warm biscuits with the remaining melted butter. Serve immediately.

  9. Store any leftover biscuits, well wrapped, at room temperature for several days. Freeze for longer storage. Biscuits are always best when they're rewarmed before serving (and these Buttered Biscuits are no exception).

Tips from our Bakers

  • Easiest way to cut biscuits? Pat the dough into a 7" square. Use a sharp knife to divide the dough into nine squares. Hey, nobody said biscuits have to be round!
  • Why the cornstarch in this recipe? It lowers the protein of the flour, which in turn produces a more tender biscuit.
  • Can you use milk or buttermilk instead of heavy cream? Of course. You'll need to use a bit more, and your biscuits won't be as tender-textured or rich-flavored.

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