here’s a classic, detailed recipe for Butter Swim Biscuits (also known as buttery, flaky biscuits that melt in your mouth 😍).
🧈 Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe
🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
⏱ Cook Time: 12–15 minutes
🍽 Makes: 8–10 biscuits
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- ¾ cup cold milk (or buttermilk for extra flavor)
- 2–3 tablespoons melted butter (for brushing)
Optional (for extra buttery taste)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter mixed with 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- A pinch of paprika or black pepper
- Cheddar cheese (½ cup shredded) for cheesy biscuits
Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat oven
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2️⃣ Mix dry ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together:
- flour
- baking powder
- sugar
- salt
3️⃣ Cut in the butter
Add the cold butter cubes to the flour mixture.
Use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until the mixture looks crumbly and resembles coarse sand.
👉 Small pea-sized bits of butter should remain.
4️⃣ Add milk
Pour in the cold milk (or buttermilk).
Stir gently until the dough comes together.
Do not overmix — overworking makes biscuits tough.
5️⃣ Shape the biscuits
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
- Pat it into a 1-inch thick rectangle.
- Fold it over 2–3 times to create layers.
- Pat again to 1-inch thickness.
Use a 2–3 inch biscuit cutter to cut rounds.
Place them on the baking sheet close together for soft sides.
6️⃣ Bake
Bake for 12–15 minutes or until golden brown on top.
7️⃣ Brush with butter (the “Swim” part!)
As soon as the biscuits come out of the oven, brush the tops with melted butter.
This gives them that glossy, buttery “swim” finish.
🍽 Serving Ideas
- Serve warm with honey, jam, or gravy
- Perfect with fried chicken, soup, or scrambled eggs
Tips for the BEST Butter Swim Biscuits
✅ Use cold butter for flakiness
✅ Keep the dough slightly rough
✅ Don’t twist the cutter — press straight down
✅ Bake on a hot tray for extra rise