There is nothing quite as comforting and utterly delicious as a fresh batch of warm biscuits straight from the oven, especially when topped with a luscious spread that perfectly balances sweet and salty. The Salted Honey Butter Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe is a true celebration of simple ingredients coming together to create a flaky, tender biscuit with a hint of sweetness and just the right touch of salted honey butter. Once you try this recipe, you’ll find yourself craving these golden beauties morning, noon, and night because they are simply that irresistible.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this recipe plays a crucial role in achieving those tender, flaky layers and that buttery, slightly sweet finish that make these biscuits unforgettable. Using fresh, high-quality ingredients will take this humble recipe to the next level with authentic Southern charm.
- All-purpose flour: The backbone of the biscuit, providing the perfect balance of structure and tenderness.
- Baking powder: Adds lift and lightness for fluffy biscuits.
- Baking soda: Enhances rise and complements the acidity in the buttermilk for a perfect crumb.
- Salt: Brings out all the flavors – don’t skip this essential seasoning.
- Granulated sugar: Offers just a hint of sweetness to balance the tangy buttermilk.
- Cold unsalted butter: Cubed and cold to create those beautiful flaky layers.
- Cold buttermilk: Adds moisture, tenderizes the dough, and delivers a gentle tang that’s signature to classic biscuits.
- Extra flour for dusting: Keeps the dough from sticking while shaping.
- Unsalted butter (for the honey butter): Softened, creating that indulgent, creamy spread.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness that pairs flawlessly with salted butter.
- Flaky sea salt: Sprinkled into the honey butter for a delightful salty contrast and crunch.
How to Make Salted Honey Butter Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Dry Ingredients
Start by heating your oven to a hot 425°F (220°C) to ensure beautiful browning once the biscuits hit the baking sheet. Next, whisk together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. This blend of dry ingredients sets the stage for tender, flavorful biscuits through perfect chemical reactions.
Step 2: Cut the Butter Into the Flour
Add the cold, cubed butter to your dry mix and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to break it down until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. The little chunks of cold butter are the secret to those amazing flaky layers, so work quickly and keep everything cold for the best texture.
Step 3: Add Buttermilk and Form the Dough
Make a well in the center of your crumbly mixture and pour in the cold buttermilk. Gently stir with a spoon or spatula just until the dough begins to come together – overmixing will toughen the biscuits, so be gentle and patient here.
Step 4: Fold and Layer the Dough
Turn your dough out onto a floured surface and pat it into a rectangle about 1 inch thick. Fold the dough in half, then pat out again. Repeat this folding and patting process 2 to 3 times – this technique creates the flaky layers that make these biscuits stand out. Finish by patting the dough into a 1-inch thickness one last time.
Step 5: Cut and Arrange Biscuits
Using a round biscuit cutter, press straight down into the dough to cut out your biscuits. Avoid twisting the cutter, as this seals the edges and can inhibit rising. Place biscuits snugly on a parchment-lined baking sheet so the sides just touch, which encourages soft edges. Don’t forget to re-roll scraps and keep going until you’ve used all the dough.
Step 6: Bake Until Golden Brown
Bake in your preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes or until the biscuits are rise beautifully with a golden top that promises soft, buttery layers inside. The aroma alone will have everyone gathered in the kitchen eager to taste these freshly baked wonders.
Step 7: Make and Brush On the Salted Honey Butter
While the biscuits bake, mix together the softened butter, honey, and flaky sea salt until smooth and glossy. As soon as the biscuits come out of the oven, brush them generously with this salted honey butter, letting the warm biscuits soak up every bit of that sweet, salty richness.
How to Serve Salted Honey Butter Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe
Garnishes
For a simple yet stunning finish, a sprinkle of extra flaky sea salt on top of the honey butter adds a delicate crunch and elevates each bite. Fresh herbs like chives or thyme can also add an unexpected freshness for a savory twist.
Side Dishes
These biscuits pair beautifully with classic Southern staples like creamy eggs, crispy bacon, or a hearty sausage gravy. They are also perfect alongside a fresh fruit salad or a bowl of spicy chili for a comforting meal any time of day.
Creative Ways to Present
Try layering biscuits with slices of sharp cheddar and ham for fancy biscuit sandwiches, or serve them as mini sliders for a brunch gathering. Drizzle extra salted honey butter on top just before serving for an irresistible glossy finish and added sweetness.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover biscuits can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. To maintain freshness, place a paper towel inside the container to absorb moisture and prevent sogginess.
Freezing
You can freeze both unbaked and baked biscuits successfully. For unbaked, cut biscuits and place them on a baking sheet to freeze before transferring to a freezer bag—bake directly from frozen, adding a couple of minutes to the baking time. For baked biscuits, wrap tightly in foil or plastic wrap, then freeze for up to three months.
Reheating
Reheat biscuits in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes to bring back warmth and crispness. Avoid the microwave if you want to maintain their signature flaky texture, but if you do use it, heat briefly and consider wrapping them in a damp paper towel to add moisture.
FAQs
Can I substitute regular milk for buttermilk in this recipe?
While it’s best to use buttermilk for its tangy flavor and leavening reaction with baking soda, you can make a simple substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to ¾ cup of milk and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes. This mimics buttermilk’s acidity to help your biscuits rise beautifully.
Why is it important to keep the butter cold?
Keeping the butter cold ensures it stays solid while you mix it into the flour. When baked, the cold butter creates pockets of steam, which make the biscuits flaky and tender. Warm or melted butter will result in a dense, less flaky biscuit.
Can I make these biscuits gluten-free?
To keep the texture close to the original, use a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that contains xanthan gum. However, the flaky layers might be slightly less pronounced without the gluten structure.
How do I know when biscuits are done baking?
Biscuits are ready when they have puffed up, are a lovely golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The edges will be slightly firm but the center should remain soft and tender.
Can I prepare the Salted Honey Butter in advance?
Absolutely! The salted honey butter can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Let it soften a bit at room temperature before brushing it on warm biscuits for the best spreading consistency and flavor.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly magical about the Salted Honey Butter Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe that feels like a warm hug from the inside out. It’s amazing how just a few humble ingredients can come together to create a show-stopping biscuit that’s flaky, tender, and bursting with flavor. Whether you’re making them for a cozy weekend breakfast or an impressive brunch, these biscuits will quickly become a beloved favorite. So grab your butter, honey, and buttermilk, and dive into this rewarding baking adventure—you won’t regret it!
Print
Salted Honey Butter Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 biscuits 1x
- Category: Bread, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Salted Honey Butter Buttermilk Biscuits are tender, flaky, and golden brown, perfect for breakfast or any time of day. Enhanced with a luscious salted honey butter glaze, they offer a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors that melt in your mouth. Made with simple pantry staples, these classic American biscuits bring Southern charm to your table with every bite.
Ingredients
Biscuits
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- ¾ cup cold buttermilk
- Extra flour for dusting
Salted Honey Butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar until well combined to ensure the right rise and flavor.
- Cut in Butter: Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry mixture. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with small pea-sized pieces of butter.
- Add Buttermilk: Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the cold buttermilk. Gently stir just until the dough starts to come together; be careful not to overmix, which can make biscuits tough.
- Layer the Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently pat it into a 1-inch thick rectangle. Fold the dough in half and pat it out again to 1-inch thickness. Repeat this folding and patting 2–3 times to develop flaky layers.
- Cut Biscuits: Use a round biscuit cutter to cut out biscuits by pressing straight down without twisting, which keeps the layers intact. Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet so they touch slightly for softer sides. Re-roll any dough scraps to cut more biscuits.
- Bake Biscuits: Bake the biscuits for 13–15 minutes until golden brown on top and cooked through, providing a light and flaky texture.
- Make Salted Honey Butter: While the biscuits bake, combine the softened butter, honey, and flaky sea salt in a small bowl. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Finish and Serve: Brush the warm biscuits with the salted honey butter right out of the oven, allowing the butter to melt into the layers for added richness and sweetness. Serve extra butter on the side for spreading.
Notes
- For the best rise, keep all ingredients cold and work quickly to prevent the butter from melting prematurely.
- You can freeze the cut biscuits before baking and bake them directly from frozen; just add 2–3 extra minutes to the baking time.
- Do not twist the biscuit cutter when cutting biscuits to maintain flaky layers.
- Use flaky sea salt in the honey butter for texture and a pleasant salty crunch.
