Description
Homemade Angel Biscuits are fluffy, tender yeast biscuits made with buttermilk and cold butter, offering a delightful texture and rich flavor. Perfectly golden and soft on the inside, these biscuits are an excellent accompaniment to breakfast or dinner, and easy to make from scratch using simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Yeast Mixture
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water (110°F)
Dry Ingredients
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Wet Ingredients and Fat
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
- 2 cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, dissolve the active dry yeast in the warm water (110°F). Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to ensure an even distribution of leavening agents and seasoning.
- Incorporate the butter: Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces, which helps create flaky layers.
- Add wet ingredients: Pour in the buttermilk and the yeast mixture to the crumbly flour and butter mixture. Stir gently just until the dough comes together without overmixing to maintain tenderness.
- Knead the dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead gently a few times to bring the dough into a smooth ball, being careful not to overwork it.
- Shape and cut biscuits: Roll or pat the dough out to about 1/2-inch thickness. Use a round biscuit cutter to cut out biscuits. Place the biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet—close together if you prefer soft sides, or spaced apart for crisper edges.
- Let the biscuits rise: Cover the biscuits lightly with a kitchen towel and allow them to rise at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes until slightly puffed.
- Preheat the oven: While the biscuits rise, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Bake: Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top.
- Serve warm: Remove from the oven and serve warm with butter, honey, or jam for a delicious treat.
Notes
- These biscuits can be made ahead of time and refrigerated overnight before baking for convenience and enhanced flavor.
- For extra flaky layers, gently fold the dough over itself a few times before cutting the biscuits.
