Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

These are made with lard and butter for flakiness and flavor – lard is far more traditional but I only have it if I render it. If you don’t have lard, just use all butter and they’ll still be wicked good.

June Arthurs
January 28, 2026
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Ingredients (~8 biscuits)

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
  • 1/4 cup lard (or use more butter)
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk, chilled

Mix the Dry Ingredients

Preheat your oven to 450F.

Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl until well combined.

Work in the Fat

Dump in the chilled butter and lard and rub them into the flour by pinching the chunks of fat between your fingers.

You’re looking for a breadcrumb-like texture – some pieces will be smaller, some slightly bigger, and that’s totally fine.

Stop when most of the fat is incorporated and you don’t see big chunks anymore.

Add the Buttermilk

Add about half of the buttermilk and stir with your hand to start bringing the dough together.

Pour in the rest of the buttermilk in one or two more additions, gently working the dough until all the flour and buttermilk are incorporated.

The dough should be soft and sticky – if it feels dry, add 1 Tbsp more buttermilk.

Roll and Cut the Biscuits

Turn out the dough onto a floured surface, scraping out the bowl to get all the dough.

Sprinkle the top of the dough liberally with flour and roll to 3/4 inch thick.

Using a 2 1/2″ round biscuit cutter dipped in flour, cut straight down without twisting – twisting seals the edges and keeps them from rising properly.

Gently re-roll the scraps once and cut more, being careful not to overwork the dough.

Bake the Biscuits

Place the biscuits with their sides touching on a baking stone or cookie sheet – this helps them rise taller.

Let them rest at room temperature for ~10 minutes for a higher rise.

Bake for ~15-18 minutes at 450F until they’re well risen and golden brown on top.

The bottoms should sound hollow when you tap them.

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

These are made with lard and butter for flakiness and flavor – lard is far more traditional but I only have it if I render it. If you don’t have lard, just use all butter and they’ll still be wicked good.
prep time15 minutes
cook time18 minutes
total time33 minutes

Ingredients

Ingredients (~8 biscuits)

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
  • 1/4 cup lard, or use more butter
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk, chilled

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450F.
  • Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl.
  • Rub chilled butter and lard into flour until breadcrumb-like texture forms.
  • Add buttermilk gradually, mixing until soft, sticky dough forms.
  • Turn dough onto floured surface and roll to 3/4 inch thick.
  • Cut biscuits using floured 2 1/2″ cutter, avoiding twisting.
  • Gently re-roll scraps and cut additional biscuits.
  • Place biscuits touching on baking sheet and rest 10 minutes.
  • Bake 15-18 minutes until golden brown and bottoms sound hollow.

Notes

Do not overwork dough; gentle handling ensures tender biscuits.