Name: Angel Biscuits Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients: 5 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes; 1/2 cup cold shortening; 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet); 1/4 cup warm water (105–110°F); 2 cups buttermilk, cold

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Fluffy, tender, and impossibly light, this Angel Biscuits Recipe combines everything you love about classic Southern biscuits and elevates it to something magical. With a gentle lift from yeast in addition to baking powder and baking soda, these biscuits bake up with a dreamy, pillowy texture that quite literally melts in your mouth. Whether enjoyed warm with a pat of butter at breakfast or piled high next to supper, this recipe will make you a believer in the wonders of Angel Biscuits Recipe.

Ingredients You’ll Need

With just a handful of simple pantry staples, each one playing its role to create the signature fluff and subtle tang, you’re about to craft biscuits that will outshine any store-bought version. Here’s why every ingredient matters for the perfect Angel Biscuits Recipe.

All-purpose flour: The sturdy backbone of biscuit dough, it gives structure while keeping things light.
Granulated sugar: Just a touch for that barely-there sweetness that enhances flavor without turning these into dessert.
Baking powder: It partners with the yeast for double-duty rise, making each biscuit irresistibly fluffy.
Baking soda: Balances the acidity of buttermilk and gives just the right tenderness.
Salt: Brings every flavor into focus and ensures the biscuits aren’t bland.
Cold unsalted butter: Those little cold cubes create steamy pockets in the oven for flaky layers.
Cold shortening: Adds extra tenderness and richness, a little secret for melt-in-your-mouth bites.
Active dry yeast: This is the angelic twist, giving rise and making biscuits lighter than air.
Warm water: Activates the yeast, so be sure it’s just the right temperature—think bathwater warm.
Cold buttermilk: The classic Southern tang, it wets the dough while keeping biscuits soft and flavorful.

How to Make Angel Biscuits Recipe

Step 1: Proof the Yeast

Start by waking up that yeast! In a small bowl, dissolve your active dry yeast in the warm water—aim for water just above room temperature, not hot. Let it stand for about 5 minutes until you see it start to foam and bubble, which means the yeast is alive and kicking. This step gives your Angel Biscuits Recipe their signature rise and ethereal texture.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures every leavening agent is evenly distributed throughout your dough, so you don’t end up with uneven biscuits. A few seconds of whisking now sets you up for perfectly risen, flavor-packed biscuits every time.

Step 3: Cut in the Fats

Toss in your cold butter cubes and cold shortening. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, blend them into the flour mixture until everything looks like coarse, uneven crumbs. Those bits of fat are the secret to fluffy, flaky layers—the colder, the better, so don’t be shy about popping your bowl in the fridge if your kitchen is warm.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Pour the foamy yeast mixture and the cold buttermilk over your flour mixture. Stir just until everything comes together into a shaggy dough. Resist the urge to over-mix! The dough should look a bit messy—this ensures tender results in your Angel Biscuits Recipe.

Step 5: Shape and Cut the Dough

Dust your countertop with flour, then gently turn out the dough. Knead with light hands only 3 to 4 times—just enough to bring it together. Pat or gently roll the dough to about 1/2-inch thickness. Use a floured biscuit cutter to cut out circles, pressing straight down for the best edges. Gather scraps gently and repeat until you’ve used all the dough.

Step 6: Rise Time

Place your biscuits close together, but not touching, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover them and let them rise in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes. The yeast will give them a lift and ready them for the oven. This extra rise is what sets Angel Biscuits Recipe apart from ordinary biscuits.

Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection

While your biscuits are rising, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Once ready, bake biscuits for 12 to 15 minutes, until gorgeously golden and puffed. Serve them warm, and get ready for wide eyes and even wider smiles at your table.

How to Serve Angel Biscuits Recipe

Garnishes

A pat of salted butter melting over a hot biscuit is a classic for good reason. You can also brush the tops with melted butter right as they come out of the oven, or drizzle with honey for a sweet touch. For a savory bite, try freshly cracked black pepper or a scatter of finely chopped herbs.

Side Dishes

Angel Biscuits Recipe is a Southern gem that goes with almost everything. Set them alongside eggs and bacon at breakfast, or serve with fried chicken, sausage gravy, or a warm stew for dinner. They’re the ultimate sopping tool for any saucy dish.

Creative Ways to Present

Get playful! Split your Angel Biscuits in half and fill with country ham and pimento cheese for a party appetizer, or layer with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for the best shortcake ever. They’re sturdy enough for mini sandwiches, yet soft enough to shine as a breadbasket star at any gathering.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, slip any leftover biscuits into an airtight container or zip-top bag. They’ll stay fresh and tender on the counter for two days, or pop them in the fridge for up to five days. A quick warm-up brings back their fresh-from-the-oven magic.

Freezing

Angel Biscuits freeze wonderfully—just cool them completely, then layer them between parchment paper in a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to two months, making it easy to enjoy a warm, homemade biscuit anytime the craving strikes.

Reheating

To bring back their oven-fresh charm, simply warm biscuits in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, right from frozen or thawed. For extra softness, wrap them in foil while reheating. Avoid the microwave, as it can make the biscuits chewy instead of light and airy.

FAQs

Why do Angel Biscuits use both yeast and baking powder?

The combination of yeast and baking powder gives you the best of both worlds: yeast creates an airy, soft crumb, while baking powder ensures extra lift and quick rise for melt-in-the-mouth texture unique to Angel Biscuits Recipe.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can refrigerate the dough overnight before cutting and baking. Just let it come to room temperature and complete its rise before popping into the oven—great for prepping a crowd-pleasing breakfast in advance.

Do I have to use shortening, or can I substitute something else?

Shortening adds tenderness, but if you prefer, you can replace it with more cold butter or even coconut oil. Keep in mind, though, this may alter the texture, giving a slightly different crumb than traditional Angel Biscuits Recipe.

How can I ensure my fats stay cold while making biscuits?

Prep your butter and shortening ahead, and keep them refrigerated until ready to use. If you pause during assembly, pop your bowl of dough or cut biscuits into the fridge. Cold fat is key for those dreamy, flaky layers in this Angel Biscuits Recipe!

What’s the best way to cut biscuits without a cutter?

If you don’t have a biscuit cutter, a drinking glass with a thin rim works in a pinch. Just flour the edge and press straight down—avoid twisting, which can seal the edges and hinder proper rising in your Angel Biscuits Recipe.

Final Thoughts

Baking up a batch of Angel Biscuits Recipe is like sharing a little slice of Southern warmth with everyone at your table. Fluffy, flavorful, and always crowd-pleasing, these biscuits are sure to become a staple in your kitchen. Give them a try and let that irresistible aroma fill your home!

Angel Biscuits Recipe

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4.9 from 30 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 35 minutes (plus rising time)
Yield: 20 biscuits 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Learn how to make light and fluffy Angel Biscuits with this easy recipe. These biscuits are perfect for breakfast or as a side for dinner, and they freeze well too!

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients:

5 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/2 cup cold shortening
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
1/4 cup warm water (105–110°F)
2 cups buttermilk, cold

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Instructions

Dissolve Yeast: In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Cut in Butter and Shortening: Cut in the cold butter and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in the yeast mixture and cold buttermilk just until combined.
Knead and Shape: Turn the dough onto a floured surface, knead gently, roll to 1/2-inch thickness, and cut with a biscuit cutter.
Rise and Bake: Place biscuits on a baking sheet, let rise for 30–45 minutes, then bake at 400°F for 12–15 minutes until golden brown.
Serve: Serve warm with butter or jam.