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    Home » Breakfast » Fast and Easy Homemade Kentucky Biscuits

    Published: Dec 15, 2020 · Modified: Feb 25, 2022 by Kevin Mayfield · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Fast and Easy Homemade Kentucky Biscuits

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    There's nothing like waking up to the smell of hot, fresh homemade biscuits baking in the oven. What a heavenly way to start the day!

    Biscuits stacked on a plate with butter and preserves
    Nothing beats starting the day with hot, flaky homemade biscuits.

    Homemade Biscuits were a Staple growing up in Kentucky

    When I was growing up, I spent many summers with my grandmother in southeastern Kentucky. At first it was quite a culture shock going from the suburbs of Chicago to the very rural lifestyle of Appalachia. I used to joke that it was 600 miles and 75 years away from our modern home!

    I really enjoyed spending every day out hunting, fishing and hiking from dawn 'til dusk. It was peaceful and not unusual to go an entire day without seeing another person. I also began to appreciate the time with my only grandparent, and listening to her stories about growing up back in the depression.

    Every morning my grandmother made a big, hearty breakfast, and everything was made from scratch. The nearest store was miles away and she had no way to get there because she didn't drive or own a car. So there were no store-bought biscuits in her house!

    Way back in the hollows of Kentucky you'd have been pretty hard pressed to point out modern improvements or changes from her early life. Eventually, I began to hang around with her and we'd talk as she cooked. Little did I know at the time that as she went over those recipes and techniques, she was subtly passing down a big part of her knowledge and culture to a new generation -- me!

    Just a Few Simple Ingredients Are All You Need

    These biscuits are so simple that you probably already have everything you need right in your pantry:

    • All Purpose Flour
    • Baking Soda
    • Shortening
    • Salt
    • Milk

    Not only are they super simple to mix up, but it only takes a few minutes to put it all together.

    Hints For Making Homemade Biscuits

    With only a few ingredients that you probably already have, you can whip up a batch of hot, flaky biscuits in no time. A few things to keep in mind as you make the dough:

    1. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture with a large fork until it takes on a grainy, pebble-y consistency.
    2. Slowly pour the milk in, mixing as you go. If it's too dry, you may need to add a little more milk along the way.
    3. Use your hands to push and pat the dough flat. No need for a rolling pin here!
    • 1. Slightly pebble-y flour and shortening mixture
    • 2. The mixture with the milk
    • A series of process photos for making homemade biscuits
      3. Dough flattened by hand
    Steps for making biscuit dough

    A Couple of Ingredients Tips

    • Use cold shortening when mixing with the flour to ensure they mix well.
    • Use whole milk so they turn out fluffy and full.

    What do you prefer to top your biscuits with, butter, jelly or sausage gravy?

    Biscuits stacked on a plate with butter and preserves

    Fast and Simple Homemade Biscuits

    Kevin Mayfield
    These fast homemade biscuits mix up in minutes and come out flaky and tender every time.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 Biscuits
    Calories 165 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
    • 2 Tablespoons Baking Powder
    • ½ Teaspoon Salt
    • ½ Cup Shortening
    • 1 Cup Whole Milk

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees.
    • In a large mixing bowl, use a sifter to add the dry ingredients.
    • Cut in the cold shortening using a fork until it develops a pebble-like consistency.
    • Slowly pour in the cold milk, mixing with a fork until the dough becomes tacky and forms into a large ball.
    • Place the dough ball on a large, lightly floured surface.
    • Using your hands, knead the ball a few times and pat down into a flat ½ inch thick layer -- no need for a rolling pin.
    • Using a biscuit cutter, cut out individual biscuits and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. 
    • Combine the dough pieces and form them back into a flat layer to cut more biscuits, until all the dough is used up. You should have about a dozen biscuits; it will vary slightly depending on the size and thickness. 

    Notes

    You can substitute butter for shortening, but the biscuits may not be as fluffy.
    Keep your wet ingredients as cold as possible to ensure they mix in properly.
    Add the milk slowly and mix as you go, making sure the dough does not get too wet.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 318mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 33IUCalcium: 144mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Biscuits and Gravy, Homemade Biscuits, old fashioned biscuits, Simple Biscuits, Southern style biscuits
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Kevin Mayfield

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