Description

These Butter Swim Biscuits are soft, fluffy, and buttery biscuits baked to golden perfection. Made with simple pantry staples like all-purpose flour, baking powder, and buttermilk, these biscuits are quick to whip up and perfect for serving alongside breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The addition of melted butter both in the dough and brushed on top after baking gives them a rich flavor and tender crumb. They retain a delightful flaky texture when baked in a cast-iron skillet or baking dish and pair wonderfully with gravies, jams, or honey.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup buttermilk (or whole milk as an alternative)

For Brushing

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for brushing (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Grease a 9×9-inch square baking dish, a round cake pan, or a cast-iron skillet to ensure the biscuits don’t stick and to enhance crispiness.
Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, salt, and baking soda. Stir the dry ingredients together until well mixed.
Add the butter and buttermilk: Pour in the melted unsalted butter and buttermilk into the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix. The dough should remain a bit lumpy and sticky to yield tender biscuits.
Transfer the dough to the pan: Pour the biscuit dough into the prepared baking dish or skillet. Gently spread it out with a spatula, keeping it rustic and uneven, which will help develop a fluffy texture during baking.
Bake the biscuits: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tops of the biscuits turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Brush with butter (optional): Once removed from the oven, brush the top of the warm biscuits with the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter to add richness and enhance flavor.
Serve: Allow the biscuits to cool for a few minutes before serving. They pair beautifully with gravies, honey, or jam for a comforting and delicious treat.

Notes

Using buttermilk imparts a tender crumb and slight tang; if unavailable, whole milk can be used as an alternative.
Overmixing the dough can result in tougher biscuits—mix just until ingredients are combined.
Baking in a cast-iron skillet can produce extra crispy edges and a better crust.
For extra flavor, you can sprinkle a little coarse salt or herbs on top before baking.
Leftover biscuits can be reheated in the oven or toaster oven to restore crispness.