Perfect Christmas Biscuits — Buttery Flaky Side

Buttery flaky biscuits are perfect for Christmas morning gravy or as dinner side.

The classic recipe (makes 12)

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cold butter (diced)
• 3/4 cup cold buttermilk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 425°F
2. Mix flour + baking powder + salt
3. Cut in cold butter (pea-sized chunks)
4. Add buttermilk; mix just to combine
5. Turn out; fold dough 4-5 times (don't knead)
6. Pat to 1-inch thick
7. Cut with biscuit cutter (don't twist)
8. Place on parchment-lined sheet
9. Bake 12-15 minutes until golden

The secrets

Cold ingredients

• Butter must stay cold
• Buttermilk cold
• Cold = flaky

Don't twist cutter

• Press straight down
• Twisting seals edges
• Limits rise

Minimal handling

• Fold; don't knead
• Tough biscuits from overworking

Variations

• Cheddar-chive
• Sweet biscuits (add sugar; berries)
• Drop biscuits (no cutting)
• Christmas-spice

Cross-references

For perfect Christmas cornbread — adjacent.

For perfect Christmas dinner rolls — adjacent.

For perfect Christmas popovers — adjacent.

For Christmas dinner ideas — broader.

Perfect Christmas biscuits are buttery flaky perfection. Cold ingredients. Minimal handling. Don't twist the cutter. The biscuit that elevates morning gravy and dinner alike.