Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (2024)

Bless This Mess Recipes Breads Sourdough

By Melissa

on May 11, 2020, Updated Sep 16, 2022

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Sourdough Biscuits recipe makes tender, flaky, golden-brown biscuits that are perfect for breakfast and dinner alike. They are nice and crusty on the outside with soft, fluffy insides!

Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (2)

Table of Contents

  • Quick and Easy Sourdough Biscuits
  • What Makes These the Best Sourdough Biscuits?
  • What’s in these Biscuits?
  • How to Make Sourdough Biscuits:
  • Tips for Making Sourdough Biscuits:
  • How to Store Sourdough Biscuits:
  • FAQs:
  • Quick Sourdough Biscuits Recipe

Quick and Easy Sourdough Biscuits

Two words: sourdough biscuits. Oh man, these are a serious heaven-in-your-mouth situation, and if you are actively caring for a sourdough starter, they’re your answer to a FAST biscuit recipe. And one that is oh-so good. Biscuits make everything better, and sourdough biscuits are really where it’s at. That subtle tart flavor mixed with the buttery flakiness of a biscuit is unbelievable! Plus, this recipe is a quickie. No waiting for dough to rise like other traditional sourdough recipes. You just make the dough and they’re ready to bake!

The fun thing is you can use your starter OR your discard in this recipe. (If you want to make your own sourdough starter, find my tutorial right here.) The discard gives it more of a strong sourdough flavor, and I actually prefer to use the starter over the discard. But both are good in their own ways! This is a fun and fast weekday recipe or a great one for a big holiday brunch if you need something that’s comforting but doesn’t take a ton of effort!

Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (3)

What Makes These the Best Sourdough Biscuits?

A few things add to the perfection of these biscuits! First of all, it’s the easiest sourdough recipe you’ll ever bake. If you love the taste of sourdough but don’t have time for a full loaf, this is your answer. Plus, the grated butter does so many things! As it melts, it creates pockets of air for the perfectly flaky, layered biscuits. And you already know butter adds the punch of rich flavor we all need and love in a biscuit. They are SO GOOD!

What’s in these Biscuits?

Sourdough starter or discard:The discard will give them a more sour flavor, and I prefer the starter for the best texture and flavor.

Milk:Milk is the liquid that brings the dough together and gives the taste a rich and hearty element.

All-purpose flour:All-purpose flour allows the dough to become thick and hearty, a biscuit must!

Baking powder:Baking powder helps the biscuits rise and puff up as they bake.

Salt:Salt’s the almighty balancer of flavors in baked goodies.

Butter:The key! Make sure your butter is extra-cold (you can freeze it for a few minutes) and grate it using a cheese grater for the best biscuit texture.

Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (4)

How to Make Sourdough Biscuits:

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly butter the bottom of baking dish.
  2. Whisk the sourdough starter/discard and 1/3 cup of milk.
  3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and grated butter in separate bowl.
  4. Add milk mixture to bowl; stir to combine.
  5. Adjust the dough, using additional milk, until dough comes together well but isn’t sticky.
  6. Remove dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured work surface.
  7. Use your hands to gently pat the dough into 6×9-inch rectangle.
  8. Use a sharp knife to cut biscuits into 12 pieces.
  9. Place cut biscuits into prepared pan.
  10. Bake for about 15 minutes until the tops are golden-brown.
  11. Remove the biscuits from the oven and serve hot with butter and jam or with sausage gravy on top.
Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (5)

Tips for Making Sourdough Biscuits:

  • Use sourdough starter:You CAN use the discard if you like, the choice is yours so use what you like or have on hand.
  • Grate the butter:Grated butter melts in tiny pockets as the biscuits bake, making them uber flaky, airy, and layered.
  • Gently pat out the dough:When preparing the biscuits, very gently pat the dough into a 1-inch rectangle. Pushing too hard will lead to denser, less fluffy biscuits.

How to Store Sourdough Biscuits:

Let the biscuits cool completely before storing in an zipper-topped bag or airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. They also freeze well for up to 3 to 4 months.

FAQs:

What if My Biscuits Aren’t Flaky?

Be sure you get your butter really cold by keeping it in the fridge right until you need it — or even freeze for a few minutes. Then, be sure to grate it with a cheese grater for small little slices of the butter to be incorporated into the dough! This helps create little air pockets for the flakiest biscuits.

How Do I Make My Biscuits Have a Stronger Sourdough Flavor?

Using the sourdough discard, instead of the starter, will lend to a stronger sourdough flavor. Read about how to create your own sourdough starter here.

Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (6)

Print

Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (7)

Quick Sourdough Biscuits

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 20 reviews

  • Author: Melissa Griffiths – Bless this Mess
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 biscuits 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This Sourdough Biscuits recipe makes tender, golden-brown biscuits perfect for breakfast or dinner. They are crusty on the outside with fluffy insides!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 cup (225g) sourdough starter or sourdough discard
  • 1/3 cup (plus up to 1/3 cup more as needed) (80-160g) milk, I use whole or 2%
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon (15g) baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (3g) salt
  • 6 tablespoons (85g) very cold butter, grated

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F., and lightly butter the bottom of a baking dish, such as a 12-inch skillet or a 7×11-inch baking dish.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, add the sourdough starter (or discard) and 1/3 cup of milk. Whisk well with a fork to combine.
  3. In a second medium mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt, and grated butter. Stir with a fork to combine.
  4. Add the milk mixture to the bowl and stir to combine.
  5. The texture of the biscuits will depend a lot on the starter/discard that you used.
  6. Adjust the dough, using additional milk as needed, until the dough comes together well but isn’t sticky. You can work it with your hands just a little if you’d like to get the last of the flour to come together. It’s better if you are working with a slightly dry dough, opposed to a wet or sticky dough.
  7. When the dough mostly comes together, remove it from the bowl onto a lightly floured work surface.
  8. Use a rolling pin or your hands to gently roll or pat the dough into a rectangle that is roughly 6 inches by 9 inches so that the biscuit dough is about 1 inch thick.
  9. Use a sharp knife to cut the biscuits into 12 pieces.
  10. Place the cut biscuits into the prepared pan.
  11. Bake for about 15 minutes until the tops are golden-brown.
  12. Remove the biscuits from the oven and serve hot with butter and jam or with sausage gravy on top.

Notes

  • I like to use my mature bubbly active starter for this recipe. I think it has the best texture and flavor. My starter is considered a 100% hydration starter because I feed it equal parts water and flour. When I use my active starter for this recipe, I use 2/3 cup of milk total.
  • You are free to use your sourdough discard in this recipe. The flavor is generally more sour, and you’ll need to adjust the milk to account for the texture of your discard. Often discard is thinner than mature starter, so make adjustments as needed. You will likely need less milk.
  • This recipe doesn’t work well for a long or overnight rising time. The baking powder will lose it’s leavening power over an extended time.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Sourdough
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (8)
Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (9)

Other Biscuit Recipes You Might Enjoy

  • Homemade Biscuits and Gravy
  • Breakfast Biscuit Sandwiches for a Crowd
  • The Best Butter Biscuits
  • Homemade Chive Biscuits
  • The Best Buttermilk Biscuits

About Melissa

Read More About Me

You May Also Like:

Breads

How to Make a Sourdough Starter

Sourdough

My Favorite Go-To Sourdough Bread Recipe

Sourdough

Chocolate Chip Sourdough Bread

Recipes

Overnight Sourdough Muffins

Easy Sourdough Biscuits Recipe - Tender Homemade Biscuits! (2024)

FAQs

Why are my homemade biscuits tough? ›

Kneading too much and overhandling biscuit, shortcake and scone dough overdevelops the gluten in the flour, resulting in a chewy, tough baked product.

How do you keep homemade biscuits from getting soft? ›

The solution is as simple as putting the biscuits in an airtight jar along with a small piece of bread (no more than half a slice). If you don't have an airtight jar, a zip-lock bag also works well.

Why are my biscuits dense and not fluffy? ›

Cold butter is key to making your biscuits fluffy. Warm butter will be absorbed into the flour and prevent them becoming all fluffy. Its similar to making pie crust. Cold butter will not be fully absorbed by the flour which means you will have small chunks visible in the dough.

Why are my sourdough biscuits flat? ›

Why are my sourdough biscuits flat? Most likely it is the result of old baking powder and/or baking soda. If these ingredients are not fresh, then they may not rise the dough as much or at all.

How do you make biscuits less hard? ›

If your biscuits are too tough…

If you do think this about your dough, fight the urge to add more dry ingredients — dough that isn't wet enough will bake into a hard, dry biscuit.

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!).

Should you let biscuits rest before baking? ›

Place the pan of biscuits in the refrigerator while you preheat your oven to 425°F, or for about 20 to 30 minutes. This short chill will help the biscuits maintain their shape while baking.

Why are my homemade biscuits chewy? ›

Biscuit making is an art. It requires the right touch—and that means with your hands. A blender or processor will create too much friction, heating up the butter and flour quickly. You also have to be careful not to over-blend or you'll end up with chewy biscuits.

How do you make biscuits soft after baking? ›

Before putting biscuits in bag, turn on your oven to ~~~250° F/~~~120° C, then lightly spray the inside of the brown bag with water from a sprayer. Put the biscuits into the bag and close the bag firmly so it will stay closed. Place in oven for about 20 minutes and it should be enough to reheat the biscuits inside.

Is buttermilk or heavy cream better for biscuits? ›

Heavy cream provides rich butterfat that gives the biscuits tenderness and flavor, as well as moisture from its water content. The formula requires minimal mixing, reducing the risk of too much gluten development.

What temperature do you bake biscuits at? ›

Preheat your oven to 425°F with a rack in the upper portion. Get out a baking sheet; there's no need to grease it. Line it with parchment if you like, for easiest cleanup.

How to improve the quality of biscuits? ›

  1. Flour should not exceed 9.0% protein. Higher protein will result in a hard biscuit.
  2. Cornflour and maize flour are used to reduce the total gluten content and make a more tender eating biscuit.
  3. SMS will modify the protein to make a soft extensible dough.
Aug 27, 2022

How to make sourdough bread fluffier? ›

Keeping the lid on for the first part of baking allows steam to expand between the gluten fibers to rise the bread and create a fluffy loaf. Step 4: Remove the lid and bake for an additional 12-14 minutes or until the crust is crispy and golden brown. Once you take the lid off, the bread likely won't rise anymore.

Why is my sourdough dough so tough? ›

I feel like, more often than not, the issue is under-hydrated—meaning you didn't put enough water into the dough. If your dough is too stiff, basically that means it's resistant to being blown up by the yeast. DOGU: If your hydration is low, increase it.

What is underproofed sourdough? ›

Underproofed bread dough is simply dough that has not had enough total fermentation time: the time from where your preferment (such as a sourdough starter or levain) is added to the dough until baking.

How do you harden soft biscuits? ›

  1. Aside ftom cooking them an extra two or three minutes, there are a few things you can try.
  2. Using egg whites instead of whole eggs will make crisper cookies. ...
  3. Swapping any brown sugar in the recipe for granulayed sugar will also make them crisp.
Aug 27, 2020

How do you make old biscuits soft? ›

If you want something a little simpler, but still effective, Day recommends loosely wrapping your leftover biscuits in foil, and placing them in a 350°F oven for six to eight minutes. “Pull the biscuits out, and peel the foil back to expose the tops of them.

What causes biscuits to go soft? ›

As the biscuits sit around, even in a tin, the sugar absorbs moisture from the air. Leave sugar in a bowl in the tropics, for example, and it will absorb so much water it will eventually turn into a liquid! As the sugar in the biscuit absorbs more moisture, it becomes softer and softer and less and less appetising.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 6133

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.