Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

Home » Bread Recipes » Sweet Biscuits

by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 16 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Homemade old-fashioned sweet biscuits are great for breakfast, dinner, or strawberry shortcakes. These fluffy biscuits with a touch of sweetness are easy to make from scratch.

Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (1)

Table of Contents

Homemade Biscuits

It’s really easy to make homemade biscuits. Biscuit recipes are often passed down from generation to generation, and this sweet biscuits recipe is from the archives of my grandmother, Ethel Eynard.

Why You Should Try This Sweet Biscuits Recipe

The main reason to make these sweet milk biscuits is simple. They are wonderfully light, fluffy, sweet, and taste delicious! This recipe for sweet biscuits is sure to become one of your go-to biscuit recipes.

These sweet breakfast biscuits are fluffy with just the right touch of sweetness. Moreover, you don’t have to limit yourself to breakfast. These homemade biscuits taste so good you will not be able to resist them at any time.

Sweet Biscuits Recipe – Ingredients You Will Need

If you are a regular baker, you probably have these ingredients on hand. This is what you will need to make these sweet homemade biscuits:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Shortening
  • Sugar
  • Milk
  • Cream of tartar
  • Baking powder
  • Salt

CopyKat Tip: To avoid flat biscuits, make sure your baking powder is fresh, as it loses effectiveness over time.

Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (2)

How to Make Sweet Biscuits

This sweet biscuits recipe is not difficult to put together. Here are the steps:

  1. Preheat your oven to 450°F.
  2. Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl.
Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (3)
  1. Add the shortening until you have a mixture resembling coarse crumbs.
Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (4)
  1. Pour in the milk, stir it into the mixture, then knead slightly.
  2. Make 8 biscuit shapes from the dough.
Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (5)
  1. Bake for 10 to 20 minutes.
Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (6)

How to Shape Biscuit Dough

  1. Shape the dough into a rectangle with your hands.
  2. Fold the dough in half, then in half again five more times (this creates the flaky layers in the dough).
  3. After the final fold, pat your dough down until you have a 1-inch-thick piece.
  4. Using a 2‑1/2-inch biscuit cutter, cut the dough into round biscuits. Be sure to use a sharp cutter to cut the biscuit rounds so all of the edges puff up.
  5. If your dough seems too sticky, just add some extra flour. Sticky dough may be caused by humidity or how the flour is measured. And, of course, flour the countertop, the surface of the dough, and rolling pin if you use one.

How to Make Sweet Biscuits for Strawberry Shortcake:

  1. Pat the pastry dough into a 6 x 6-inch square about 3/4-inch thick.
  2. Cut the square into quarters.
  3. Place the dough square on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 15 to 20minutes, until golden brown around the edges.
  4. Remove and let the shortcake biscuits cool on a wire cake rack.

Recipe Variations

This sweet biscuits recipe is very easy to change up. Here are some suggestions:

  • Sweet buttermilk biscuits – Substitute buttermilk for regular milk. See this recipe for buttermilk biscuits.
  • Sweet cream biscuits – Make biscuits with heavy cream.
  • Sweet cinnamon biscuits – add a touch of cinnamon.
  • Mini sweet biscuits – Use a smaller pastry cutter to make smaller biscuits.
  • Add a crunchy sweet topping – Sweet biscuits are very similar to scones but a bit sweeter, especially if you go for a crunchy turbinado sugar top. (Turbinado is large coarse-grained raw cane sugar.)
  • Biscuit strawberry shortcake – Use this sweet homemade biscuits recipe to make a shortcake dessert, especially strawberry shortcake. Simply allow your fruit to absorb a little sugar for an hour or so, then serve it between a split sweet biscuit with vanilla whipped cream. Biscuit shortcake is the perfect picnic or summer barbecue dessert.

Recipe Tips

  • A pastry blender, two knives, or a fork should be used to mix the shortening into the dry flour mixture.
  • A preheated hot oven is essential to ensure flaky biscuits.
  • For an added touch of sweetness, once the biscuits are out of the oven, brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter, then add a sprinkle of coarse sugar.

What to Serve With Sweet Milk Biscuits

These sweet breakfast biscuits are delightful when served warm. They only need a slather of butter and maybe a drizzle of honey. Of course, you can also spread them with your favorite jam. Here are some other ways to serve your sweet homemade biscuits:

  • Crumble them into ice cream. (This is especially perfect if, for some reason, your biscuits haven’t turned out exactly as desired.)
  • These sweet homemade biscuits make a great dessert with strawberries and whipped cream.
  • The sweetness of the biscuits goes very well with savory dishes, such as vegetable soup.

How to Store Leftover Sweet Milk Biscuits

  • Fridge: Leftover sweet biscuits can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2days at room temperature or up to a week in the refrigerator.
  • Freezing: Biscuits can be frozen fully baked for up to 2 months. Wrap your leftover biscuits well to avoid freezer burn.
  • Reheating: To reheat pre-baked leftover biscuits, wrap them in foil and place them in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes. If you want crisp biscuits, open the foil halfway through.
  • Freezing biscuit dough: Prepare the dough and cut your biscuits. Freeze them uncovered on a cookie sheet for about 1 to 2 hours, then place them in freezer bags or stack them in an airtight container separating each biscuit with waxed paper. Cover and freeze for up to 4 weeks.
  • To bake frozen dough: Thaw the biscuits unwrapped at room temperature for about an hour. Bake in a preheated 425°F oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. Be aware that pre-frozen dough won’t rise as high when baked because the leavening agents become weaker the longer they are stored.
Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (7)

Love Biscuits? Try These Recipes!

  • Cracker Barrel Biscuits
  • Honey Biscuits
  • KFC Biscuits
  • Red Lobster Biscuits
  • Sour Cream Biscuits
  • Yeast Biscuits

Popular Quick Bread Recipes

  • Apple Bread
  • Beer Bread
  • Brown Bread in a Can
  • Rhubarb Bread
  • Starbucks Banana Bread
  • Whole Wheat Banana Bread

Check out more of my easy bread recipes and family favorite recipes on CopyKat!

This recipe is from the archives of my grandmother, Ethel Eynard. Jefferson City, MO. 1966.

Sweet Biscuits

Fluffy homemade biscuits with a touch of sweetness made from scratch. They are so good you will be crazy for them.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate Add to Collection

Course: Breads

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Biscuits

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 245kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2/3 cup milk

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F.

  • Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl. Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

  • Add the milk and stir until the dough follows a fork around the bowl. Knead slightly.

  • Pat out the dough onto a lightly floured board and cut it into individual biscuits.

  • Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10 to 20 minutes, or until brown.

Notes

To reheat leftover biscuits, wrap them in foil and heat in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes. Open the foil halfway through heating if you want them crisp.

Nutrition

Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 293mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 1.6mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

REVEALED: Copycat Secrets for 2023

free email bonus

Yes, you CAN make it at home!I'll show you how.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Previous Post: « Dunkin Donuts Coffee Coolatta

Next Post: Master the Classic Hollandaise Sauce Recipe and Try It On Delicious Recipes! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Melda

    Was the baking power old (out of date)

    Reply

  2. Lita Watson

    Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (9)
    What kinds of shortening that you have used to make those biscuits? Can i use oven to reheat them instead of using microwave?

    Reply

  3. Deb

    We enjoyed these biscuits.

    Reply

    • stephaniemanley

      That’s interesting. I think sometimes its buyer beware on kindle books or other self published books.

      Reply

  4. cscavalry

    For those with the biscuits not rising, the recipe is supposed to say “SELF Rising” Flour with the baking powder already in it. Thats why baking powder is not listed as an ingredient. If you use regular flour, you will need 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda. If anyone used buttermilk instead of milk, I bet you got quite a surprise with no neutralizing agent!

    Reply

    • stephaniemanley

      Baking powder is listed at the 4th ingredient. So I am not sure where you would see that it wasn’t listed.

      Reply

  5. Jopie

    My response is the same as Ann’s. They tasted great but did not rise at all, and I followed directions exactly.

    Reply

  6. Ann Moore

    The flavor of these were great… but they were FLAT FLAT FLAT… I’m sure I did something wrong on my end… but not sure what.

    Reply

    • stephaniemanley

      it could be that your baking powder was not fresh. It does loose its effectiveness over time.

      Reply

  7. Bambi5999

    These turned out great just like my grams biscuits, I did use buttermilk tho (no baking soda)
    thanx for sharing your grams recipe. I didn’t know mines she would mix it right in the flour bin 🙂
    These even looked pretty!

    Reply

  8. Bambi5999

    These turned out great just like my grams biscuits, I did use buttermilk tho (no baking soda)
    thanx for sharing your grams recipe. I didn’t know mines she would mix it right in the flour bin 🙂
    These even looked pretty!

    Reply

    • stephaniemanley

      I am so happy to hear that these turned out well for you.

      Reply

  9. Anonymous

    I’m crazy for these biscuits. Thank you for sharing your Grandmother’s wonderful biscuit recipe. I’ve always been able to make bread like nobody’s business, but my home made biscuits could have been used for hockey pucks. Bisquick to the rescue. This is the FIRST time that a scratch recipe has worked for me. These were flaky, picture perfect and delicious. Thank you…thank you and thank you.

    Reply

  10. Kat

    There is no baking soda in this recipe.

    Reply

  11. Trsh

    I just made these tonite, they looked beautiful but I could taste the salty baking soda flavor in them, I’m going to try, perhaps using less Baking soda next time, but they were flaky and picture perfect.

    I am guessing you meant baking powder ~Stephanie

    Reply

    • Mizbev

      you only use baking soda if you are using buttermilk. Otherwise it is baking powder just as the recipe for the biscuits states.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Best Homemade Sweet Biscuits - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good biscuit? ›

It's super simple and makes tall, fluffy biscuits ready for breakfast, sandwiches, and more! The secret to the best biscuits is using very cold butter and baking powder. We've made a lot of biscuits, but this easy biscuits recipe is the one we turn to the most (they are so fluffy!).

Are biscuits better made with butter or Crisco? ›

Crisco may be beneficial for other baking applications, but for biscuit making, butter is the ultimate champion!

What makes Southern biscuits so good? ›

Here's the Reason Biscuits in the South Really Are Better

The not-so-secret ingredient they rely upon is soft wheat flour. Soft wheat thrives in temperate, moist climates like that of the mid-Atlantic, so cooks in those areas have had access to its special flour for a long time.

Which liquid makes the best biscuits? ›

Just as important as the fat is the liquid used to make your biscuits. Our Buttermilk Biscuit recipe offers the choice of using milk or buttermilk. Buttermilk is known for making biscuits tender and adding a zippy tang, so we used that for this test.

What kind of flour do southerners use for biscuits? ›

If you start asking around, any Southern chef, Southern Living Test Kitchen pro, or biscuit-making family member will swear by White Lily flour.

Should you chill biscuit dough before baking? ›

And the longer it takes the butter to melt as the biscuits bake, the more chance they have to rise high and maintain their shape. So, chill... and chill.

Is buttermilk or milk better for biscuits? ›

Buttermilk adds a nice tang to the biscuit flavor and helps them rise better.

What makes biscuits rise better? ›

While biscuits receive some leavening power from chemical sources — baking powder and baking soda — the difference between serviceable and greatness comes from the extra rise that steam provides. In order to generate steam, the oven must be set at a minimum of 425 degrees for at least 10 minutes prior to baking.

Why are my homemade biscuits so dense? ›

The reason: The butter has not been incorporated evenly, leaving pockets of your cooked biscuits that are dry, dense, and filled with flour. But even if you properly mix your biscuits, if your butter pieces are too large or inconsistently sized they may not get distributed evenly throughout the dough.

Why can't northerners make biscuits? ›

In the North, the flour was milled from hard winter wheat, which has a higher protein level — great for bread and other baked goods, but not ideal for biscuits, as it can make them tough.

What is the best type of flour to use for biscuits? ›

Cake flour will give you a lighter, fluffier biscuit, but the outer crust won't have as much bite to it. Conversely, all-purpose flour will provide more bite, but it'll be a drier, less airy biscuit. The solution: Use half cake flour and half all-purpose flour.

What are the tastiest biscuits? ›

Check out the list of best stools for the living room below.
  • Parle Biscuit - Gold. ...
  • Britannia Treat Jim Jam Biscuits. ...
  • Parle Hide and Seek Chocolate Chip Cookies. ...
  • Britannia Milk Bikis Milk Cream Biscuits. ...
  • Cadbury Chocobakes ChocoChip Cookies. ...
  • Cadbury Oreo Vanilla Flavour Crème Sandwich Biscuit. ...
  • UNIBIC Fruit & Nut Cookies.
Feb 23, 2024

Which milk is best for biscuits? ›

If you are going to substitute a non-cultured liquid into your biscuits, I'd strongly recommend using low-fat milk, or even whole milk, instead of cream. Both will give you a more pleasant biscuit, with just the right amount of fat that you'll still want to slather the inside with butter.

What type of butter is best for biscuits? ›

In general, with baking you want to use unsalted butter so that you can control the amount of salt in your final product. I tend to follow this rule, but I did notice that even the biscuit recipe that I liked the best only called for a small amount of salt.

Can I use heavy cream instead of buttermilk for biscuits? ›

Yes, you can swap them in a recipe, but it's not as simple as switching buttermilk for heavy cream/heavy cream for buttermilk. For example, if you're replacing buttermilk with heavy cream you'll probably need to switch out your baking soda for baking powder.

What is the key characteristics of a good biscuit? ›

In general, a rolled biscuit of desirable quality has a golden brown, smooth and crisp crust without brown specks, and a tender and flaky crumb; it is expected to be symmetrical in shape with a high height, flat top and straight side (Learning and Food Resource of Oregon State University, 2012, see web references).

What are the two most important steps in biscuit making? ›

The two keys to success in making the best biscuits are handling the dough as little as possible as well as using very cold solid fat (butter, shortening, or lard) and cold liquid. When the biscuits hit the oven, the cold liquid will start to evaporate creating steam which will help our biscuits get very tall.

What ingredient makes a biscuit rise? ›

While biscuits receive some leavening power from chemical sources — baking powder and baking soda — the difference between serviceable and greatness comes from the extra rise that steam provides.

How do you get a good rise on biscuits? ›

Cut off uneven edges and put these scraps to the side; clean cuts on all sides will encourage rise. Pat scraps together to make 1 odd-shaped ninth biscuit. Place biscuits close together in a 9-inch square pan and brush with melted salted butter. Place pan on top of the warm stove for 10 to 15 minutes to rise.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Delena Feil

Last Updated:

Views: 5848

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Delena Feil

Birthday: 1998-08-29

Address: 747 Lubowitz Run, Sidmouth, HI 90646-5543

Phone: +99513241752844

Job: Design Supervisor

Hobby: Digital arts, Lacemaking, Air sports, Running, Scouting, Shooting, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Delena Feil, I am a clean, splendid, calm, fancy, jolly, bright, faithful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.