If you’re on the hunt for a biscuit recipe that’s bursting with flavor yet wonderfully simple to make, then you’re in the right place. This Garlic Butter Biscuits Recipe is one of those gems I always come back to. It’s perfectly flaky, wonderfully garlicky, and that buttery richness? Absolutely next-level. Trust me when I say, once you try this, your biscuit game will never be the same.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rich Garlic Flavor: The homemade garlic butter seeps right into the biscuits, delivering a comforting, savory punch.
- Flaky & Buttery Texture: Thanks to the cold garlic butter pieces folded into the dough, these turn out perfectly flaky every time.
- Make-Ahead Garlic Butter: Preparing the garlic butter in advance means less last-minute prep and more flavor development.
- Versatile and Crowd-Pleasing: Whether breakfast, dinner, or snacking, these biscuits are always a hit.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients here are straightforward but thoughtfully chosen to balance flavor and texture. The magic starts with that garlic butter—once you make it, you’ll find endless uses beyond just these biscuits!
- Garlic butter: This is the heart of the recipe—fresh garlic sautéed gently in butter, then incorporated with more softened butter for richness.
- All-purpose flour: Provides a tender crumb with just enough structure for light, flakey biscuits.
- Baking powder: Your leavening agent to give those biscuits a lovely rise and fluffiness.
- Buttermilk: Adds acidity that tenderizes the dough and gives that slight tang you’ll adore.
- Soft butter: Used alongside the garlic butter to maintain the perfect buttery consistency throughout.
- Minced garlic: Fresh garlic for the butter, lending that unmistakable aromatic flavor.
Variations
I love customizing this Garlic Butter Biscuits Recipe depending on the meal or mood. Don’t hesitate to make it your own—you’ll discover new favorites along the way!
- Cheesy Garlic Biscuits: Adding a handful of shredded cheddar or Parmesan to the dough is a game-changer for cheese lovers like me.
- Herb-Infused Variation: Mix chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, or thyme into the garlic butter before folding it in for a fresh garden twist.
- Spicy Kick: For a bit of heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes into the garlic butter—you’ll still get that buttery richness with a little zing.
- Gluten-Free Version: Swap the all-purpose flour for a trusted gluten-free blend; just be mindful the texture will vary slightly but still delicious.
How to Make Garlic Butter Biscuits Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Garlic Butter
This is your flavor powerhouse, so don’t skip the prep! Melt 3 tablespoons of butter over low heat—ensure it doesn’t brown, which dulls the flavor. Add your minced garlic and sauté just until it softens, about a minute. Let it cool almost completely. Then, stir this garlicky butter into the remaining half cup of softened butter until well combined. Form it into a log wrapped in plastic and chill until firm. Chopping the butter into thumb-sized pieces later makes for those flaky buttery pockets you want in every biscuit.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients and Incorporate Butter
Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a food processor, quickly blend the flour and baking powder. Pulse in those cold garlic butter pieces—you want to see small lumps of butter like in pie dough, not homogenized. This takes practice but seriously, don’t overmix! Those butter bits melt during baking, creating that signature flakiness.
Step 3: Add Buttermilk and Form Dough
Make a well in your dry mix and pour in the buttermilk. Using a wooden spoon, fold together quickly and gently—stop as soon as you see no more dry flour. Overworking makes tough biscuits. Drop the sticky dough onto a floured surface. Instead of rolling, I like to pat it out by hand to about 1½ inches thick, keeping things rustic and tender.
Step 4: Cut and Bake Your Biscuits
Use a sharp 3-inch biscuit cutter dipped in flour to cut your biscuits. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet (I prefer aluminum for even heat distribution). For that gorgeous golden top, whisk an egg with a tablespoon of water and lightly brush the biscuits—this step is optional but such a nice touch! Bake for about 20 minutes, watching for an even golden brown as the cue to pull them out.
Pro Tips for Making Garlic Butter Biscuits Recipe
- Keep Butter Cold: Chilling the garlic butter before mixing helps create those flaky layers you want — don’t rush this step.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: I learned the hard way that overmixing leads to dense biscuits; folding just until combined is key.
- Use Clean, Sharp Cutter: Press straight down without twisting to keep the edges sharp and biscuits that rise evenly.
- Avoid Browning the Garlic: Sauté garlic gently on low heat so the flavor stays sweet and mellow—not burnt and bitter.
How to Serve Garlic Butter Biscuits Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle just a little flaky sea salt over warm biscuits right when they come out of the oven—it heightens that buttery garlic flavor. Freshly chopped parsley or chives add a pretty pop of color and fresh bite too. For a festive twist, a light brush of herb-infused olive oil after baking is lovely.
Side Dishes
These biscuits go perfectly alongside everything from classic comfort foods like roast turkey or fried chicken to something hearty and warm, like a bowl of chili or creamy soup. I’ve also used them for breakfast sandwiches stuffed with eggs and bacon—my family goes crazy for that midday treat!
Creative Ways to Present
For special dinners, I like to arrange biscuits in a circle on a large platter with little bowls of honey butter, jam, or even a homemade garlic herb spread nearby. Another fun idea is to slice them in half and layer with smoked salmon and cream cheese for a fancy brunch twist. Presentation always makes eating extra joyful!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days—they keep well but are best eaten fresh for that fluffy texture. If I’m holding onto them longer, I refrigerate.
Freezing
One of the things I love about this Garlic Butter Biscuits Recipe is how well it freezes. I freeze unbaked biscuits on a tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag. When I want fresh biscuits, I bake them straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Reheating
To reheat, I pop the biscuits into a 350°F oven for about 5-8 minutes—or until warm and reviving that just-baked aroma. Avoid the microwave if possible; it tends to make them chewy instead of flaky.
FAQs
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Can I use frozen garlic butter for this recipe?
Absolutely! Frozen garlic butter works great. Just thaw it enough to chop into small pieces before folding it into the dry ingredients. This helps maintain that flaky texture in the final biscuits.
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What if I don’t have buttermilk?
No worries! You can make a quick buttermilk substitute by stirring 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar into 1 cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using it in your biscuit dough.
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Why is it important not to overmix biscuit dough?
Overmixing activates gluten in the flour, resulting in tougher, dense biscuits. Folding just until the ingredients come together keeps your biscuits tender and flaky.
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Can I make these biscuits vegan?
To make vegan garlic butter biscuits, swap butter for a plant-based butter and use a non-dairy milk mixed with lemon juice as a buttermilk substitute. The garlic flavor will still shine through beautifully!
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What’s the best way to store leftover garlic butter?
Keep the garlic butter tightly wrapped and refrigerated; it will stay fresh for about a week. You can also freeze it in portions, which is great for quick future biscuits or spreading on bread.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Garlic Butter Biscuits Recipe turned out every single time I’ve made it. There’s a comforting warmth in every bite that makes it perfect for family dinners, weekend breakfasts, or anytime you want to impress without complicated steps. If you give this recipe a try, I promise you’ll find yourself making garlic butter from scratch on purpose just to bake these biscuits. They really do make any meal feel a little more special—so go ahead and treat yourself!
Print
Garlic Butter Biscuits Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 biscuits
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These fluffy Garlic Butter Biscuits combine rich, savory flavors of garlic and butter into a tender, flaky pastry. Perfect for breakfast sandwiches or as a side with roast turkey, chili, or fried chicken, they are baked to a golden brown with an optional egg wash for an extra appetizing finish.
Ingredients
Garlic Butter
- 1/2 cup garlic butter (prepared earlier as directed)
- 3-4 cloves minced garlic
- 3 tbsp butter (for sautéing garlic)
- Remaining butter from the 1/2 cup soft butter at room temperature
Biscuit Dough
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Chilled garlic butter pieces (from above)
- 1/2 cup soft butter (to be made into garlic butter)
Optional
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions
- Prepare Garlic Butter: Heat 3 tablespoons of butter over low heat without browning it. Add minced garlic and sauté for about a minute until softened. Remove from heat and let cool to near room temperature. Stir this mixture into the remaining soft butter until fully combined. Wrap the garlic butter in plastic wrap forming a small log and refrigerate until firm. Once chilled, cut into small thumb-sized pieces.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) to get ready for baking the biscuits.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a food processor, combine the flour and baking powder, pulsing to blend evenly. Add the cold garlic butter pieces and pulse just enough to distribute, leaving small visible chunks of butter for flakiness.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Transfer the flour and butter mixture to a large bowl. Create a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk. Quickly fold the mixture with a wooden spoon just until the flour disappears and the dough starts to come together, being careful not to over-mix.
- Shape Dough: Drop the sticky dough onto a well-floured surface. Flour the top of the dough and your hands, then gently pat the dough out to about 1 1/2 inches thick. Avoid rolling pins to maintain tenderness.
- Cut Biscuits: Use a sharp 3-inch biscuit cutter to cut out biscuits. Place them on a parchment paper-lined aluminum baking sheet to prevent burning and ensure even baking.
- Add Egg Wash (Optional): Whisk 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water to create an egg wash. Lightly brush over the tops of the biscuits to encourage golden brown color during baking. Not all egg wash may be needed.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the tops are evenly golden brown and the biscuits are cooked through.
Notes
- Garlic Butter Biscuits pair wonderfully with a variety of meals, from roast turkey to hearty chili or fried chicken.
- They make delicious breakfast sandwiches when sliced and filled with eggs or other favorites.
- Make garlic butter ahead of time; it stores well for up to a week in the refrigerator.
- Use aluminum baking sheets to avoid burning the bottoms of the biscuits at the high baking temperature.
- Do not overwork the biscuit dough to keep the texture light and flaky.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 biscuit
- Calories: 162
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 222 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 21 mg