Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Published March 31, 2018. Updated March 8, 2019

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Who doesn’t love fresh from the oven homemade biscuits? These Buttermilk Drop Biscuits are unbelievably easy, yet they still have all those irresistible buttery flavors of the classic buttermilk biscuits. And they have that super tender texture.

These are likely to become your go-to biscuit recipe. Ditch that boxed mix, because these are a hundred times better!

drizzling honey onto stacks of Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Homemade Drop Biscuits

I got this buttermilk drop biscuit recipe from Cook’s Illustrated, so obviously it’s going to be good, right? I love that it doesn’t require kneading or rolling/patting and folding and cutting.

In other words, it’s an ultra basic buttermilk biscuit recipe that’s practically guaranteed to become a staple. I’ve been making these for years!

The only two thing I tweaked was to melt the butter until it’s about 2/3 or 3/4 melted, then stir. This way, that unmelted portion cools down the rest so you don’t need to wait 5 minutes to cool it down. Then I listed that remaining 2 Tbsp butter as optional because I don’t always add it. Obviously, these drop biscuits are better with it, but it cuts back the fat just a bit to omit it.

And I didn’t quite understand why they listed a 5-minute wait time after baking either, I’m diving right in! Okay, maybe after one minute so they aren’t scorching.

These easy drop biscuits make the perfect addition to a nice weekend meal (like a roast or ham), they go perfectly with soup, and of course they’re great for serving at breakfast (egg breakfast sandwich or biscuits and gravy, anyone?).

I’m thinking I even need to try making these into strawberry shortcake and try adding in a few tablespoons of sugar just to make them a little sweeter for a dessert.

Don’t pass this recipe by. It’s one you may just find yourself making on a regular basis, everyone in the family will be requesting them time and time again!

brushing butter onto the tops of Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Buttermilk Drop Biscuits Ingredients

These homemade biscuits only require 7 ingredients, and chances are you always have each of those ingredients on hand — at least if you’re a buttermilk pancakes fanatic like me.

  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Unsalted butter
  • Buttermilk

someone grabbing a Buttermilk Drop Biscuit from a baking trayHow to Make Buttermilk Biscuits

Thanks to this “drop” method of this recipe, you get to skip a few steps.

  • First you’ll whisk together your dry ingredients.
  • Then melt a stick of butter and blend that with buttermilk until the butter starts to re-solidify (it will appear clumpy).
  • Fold that buttermilk mixture into the flour just enough to fully to bring it together.
  • Spray a 1/4-cup dry measuring cup with non-stick spray and scoop dough up using the measuring cup then drop onto a lined baking sheet.
  • Bake in the oven until golden brown, brush with a little more butter and serve warm with jam or honey if desired.

If you’ve been hooked on a box biscuit mix, this recipe will be a game changer for you. They’re practically just as easy and it’s just a few extra ingredients but the flavor is one hundred times better!

Buttermilk Drop Biscuits on a baking tray

Can I Use a Buttermilk Substitute?

Yes, a buttermilk substitute (like milk mixed with lemon juice or vinegar) should work for this drop biscuits recipe. Just make sure you’re using a milk with fat in it. Skim milk won’t give the same results!

How Will I Know When the Biscuits Are Done?

You should take the homemade drop biscuits out of the oven when the top is a lovely golden brown color. They only need to bake for 12 to 14 minutes.

The Best Biscuit Toppings

These delicious buttermilk drop biscuits can be enjoyed so many different ways. A few of my favorite biscuit topping ideas include:

  • Fruit jam or jelly
  • Honey
  • Butter
  • Sausage gravy
  • Sliced cheese
  • Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato
  • …and more!

Buttermilk Drop Biscuits in a white bowl with a purple towel

Tips for the Best Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

  • Level the top of the flour to make sure you’re measuring the correct amount.
  • If you only have salted butter on hand, scale back the amount of salt you add to the drop biscuit dough.
  • Make sure to use both baking powder and baking soda. You need both to get a good rise on these biscuits!

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Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
4.95 from 20 votes

Easy Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

These biscuits are unbelievably easy yet they still have all those irresistible buttery flavors of the classic and they have a fluffy, super tender texture. Likely to become your go-to biscuit recipe. Ditch that box because these are a hundred times better!
Servings: 12
Prep10 minutes
Cook12 minutes
Ready in: 22 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Line a rimmed 18 by 13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper (made to withstand 475 degrees) or a silicone baking mat (made to withstand 475 degrees), set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt, make a well in center of mixture.
  • Place 1/2 cup diced butter in a medium microwave safe dish and heat in microwave until about 3/4 melted. Remove and stir to melt fully.
  • Pour buttermilk in with butter and whisk until mixture appears lumpy.
  • Pour buttermilk mixture into well in flour mixture then fold mixture with a rubber spatula just until incorporated.
  • Spray a 1/4-cup round measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray. 
  • Scoop dough out a scant 1/4 cup at a time and drop onto prepared baking sheet spacing them 1 1/2-inches apart.
  • Bake in preheated oven until tops are slightly golden brown, about 12 - 14 minutes. 
  • Brush with melted butter and serve warm.

Notes

  • Recipe source: adapted from Cook's Illustrated
  • If you only have salted butter on hand, scale back the amount of salt you add to the drop biscuit dough. 
Nutrition Facts
Easy Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
Amount Per Serving
Calories 246 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 28mg9%
Sodium 221mg10%
Potassium 152mg4%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 340IU7%
Calcium 67mg7%
Iron 1.9mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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41 Comments

  • Julian Child

    WOW, these are good! I made them to accompany stew a couple nights ago and ate four before the stew was even ready. I’m about to make them again. I hate that they’re so easy and so very good but thank you!

  • Mark Strong

    I just made these for the first time and they were great. However they were a bit crumbly when cut. Is that expected or did I over cook them? They were golden brown on the bottom and nicely brown on top and the texture was fine. It’s just hen we tried to cut them to apply honey or other ingredients to the inside, they started to fall apart somewhat.

    Thanks

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Yes it could be that they are over-baked or that too much flour was added. Sorry to hear they weren’t perfect for you!

  • DeLisa N Kelley

    Can I use self rising flour in the place of the flour, baking soda, and baking powder?

  • Jan Mancuso

    Yummy, first time out, my guests raved. In my oven, it took 18 minutes. Next time I’m using convection.

  • Cathy

    Perfect! These gems are tasty & tender!!!
    We were in the mood for sweet biscuits for our Sunday breakfast so I sprinkled the biscuits with sugar before baking DELICIOUS!
    This is now our Go To biscuit recipe :)
    Thank you!!!!!

  • Jennifer Kurth

    This is my go to for drop biscuits. It’s so easy you can’t go wrong. I used an ice cream scooper and didn’t have to spray it.
    I baked mine for 12 minutes and got 11.
    Thanks for the great recipe!

  • Dave Cogar

    This was an awesome recipe. I left out the sugar i don’t care for sweet biscuits.