If you are searching for a delightfully buttery, moist, and golden treat to brighten up any meal, the Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe is your new best friend in the kitchen. These biscuits literally swim in melted butter during baking, which makes their texture incredibly tender and rich, with a perfectly crisped top and soft interior. Whether you’re craving a cozy breakfast companion, a side for dinner, or a snack that feels like a warm hug, these biscuits will deliver every time. Getting your hands on this simple yet irresistibly decadent recipe means you’re just a few steps away from biscuit bliss that your family and friends will rave about.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe calls for simple, pantry-friendly ingredients that work harmoniously to create that perfect biscuit. Each one plays a crucial role in flavor, texture, or color, ensuring you get that beautiful balance of buttery richness and fluffy softness.
- All-purpose flour (2½ cups): The base for tender, fluffy biscuits with just the right density.
- Granulated sugar (1½ tablespoons): Adds a hint of sweetness that enhances the buttery notes.
- Baking powder (4 teaspoons): The leavening magic that makes your biscuits rise and become airy.
- Salt (1½ teaspoons): Balances flavors and brings out the best in the butter and buttermilk.
- Buttermilk (1¾ cups): Provides tanginess and tender moisture that creates a soft crumb.
- Unsalted butter (½ cup, melted): The star of the show, adding richness and a gorgeous golden crust as the biscuits swim in it while baking.
How to Make Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Start by setting your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat is essential to getting that golden, crispy exterior on your biscuits while keeping the inside tender and buttery.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. This blend ensures your biscuits have a balanced flavor with the perfect lift.
Step 3: Add the Buttermilk
Pour in the buttermilk and gently mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix here, as a light hand will keep your biscuits flaky rather than tough.
Step 4: Prepare the Butter Base
Pour the melted butter into an 8×8-inch glass baking dish. This butter will create a luscious pool for your biscuits to “swim” in, infusing them with flavor as they bake.
Step 5: Transfer and Spread the Dough
Turn your biscuit dough into the butter-filled dish and spread it evenly. This ensures each biscuit gets a generous soak in the melted butter, which is the key to that iconic texture and taste.
Step 6: Cut into Squares
Use a bench scraper or a sharp knife to slice the dough into nine equal squares right in the dish. This step helps the biscuits bake evenly and makes serving a breeze.
Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Pop your dish into the hot oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the biscuits turn a beautiful golden brown and spring back when gently pressed—signaling they are perfectly baked.
Step 8: Let Them Rest
Once out of the oven, allow the biscuits to sit for about 5 minutes. This brief resting time lets them absorb even more of the melted butter, ensuring every bite is rich and luscious.
How to Serve Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe
Garnishes
While these biscuits are delicious on their own, a light drizzle of honey or a pat of softened butter on top just before serving elevates their flavor profile wonderfully. Fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme sprinkled over warm biscuits can add an unexpected but delightful aroma and taste.
Side Dishes
Butter Swim Biscuits pair beautifully with savory dishes such as fried chicken, creamy soups, or hearty stews. They also make fantastic companions to breakfast favorites like scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, or fresh fruit and jam for a sweet twist.
Creative Ways to Present
For a charming presentation, serve these biscuits stacked with layers of ham and cheese tucked in between, turning them into quick and satisfying sliders. Alternatively, you can split them open and fill with your favorite sandwich fixings or a dollop of clotted cream and jam for an afternoon treat that impresses.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Any leftover Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe biscuits can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. To maintain freshness, place a paper towel in the container to absorb moisture and keep the biscuits from getting soggy.
Freezing
For longer storage, wrap individual biscuits tightly in plastic wrap and freeze in a resealable bag for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or briefly warm from frozen.
Reheating
To revive the buttery goodness, warm biscuits in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. This method keeps the texture crisp on the outside while warming the inside perfectly—avoid microwaving if possible, as it can make them chewy.
FAQs
Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
While regular milk can be used, buttermilk provides acidity that reacts with baking powder, helping the biscuits rise better and giving them a slight tang that complements the butter. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk and let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
Is it necessary to melt the butter for this recipe?
Yes, melting the butter is crucial because you pour it into the baking dish first, allowing the biscuit dough to swim in it. This technique creates that signature rich crust and tender texture that makes the Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe so special.
Why shouldn’t I overmix the dough?
Overmixing develops gluten in the flour, which can make biscuits tough and dense. Mixing until just combined keeps the dough tender and flaky, resulting in light, soft biscuits every time.
Can I make these biscuits larger or smaller?
Absolutely! You can cut the dough into more pieces for smaller biscuits or fewer for larger ones, adjusting baking time accordingly. Just keep an eye on them while baking to ensure they don’t under- or overcook.
What’s the best way to serve these biscuits for breakfast?
For a cozy breakfast, serve your Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe with butter and honey or homemade jam. Pair them with eggs, bacon, or sausage for a complete and satisfying morning meal.
Final Thoughts
I can’t recommend this Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe enough—it’s the kind of comforting, foolproof recipe you’ll find yourself making again and again. Whether you enjoy them fresh out of the oven or reheated the next day, these buttery, tender biscuits bring a little extra happiness to any table. So grab your ingredients, invite some friends or family, and treat everyone to a batch of these irresistible biscuits that truly swim in buttery goodness!
Print
Butter Swim Biscuits Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 9 biscuits
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Description
Butter Swim Biscuits are a delightful Southern-style biscuit baked in melted butter, resulting in a tender, flavorful treat with a golden crust. Perfect for breakfast or as a side, these biscuits soak up the rich butter while baking, giving them a unique, buttery taste and moist texture.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour (300 grams)
- 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1¾ cups buttermilk
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (1 stick)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s hot enough to give your biscuits a crisp, golden crust.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Add Buttermilk: Pour in the buttermilk and stir gently until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix to keep the biscuits tender.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Pour the melted unsalted butter into the bottom of an 8×8-inch glass baking dish, ensuring it coats the bottom evenly.
- Shape the Dough: Transfer the biscuit dough into the butter-lined baking dish and spread it out evenly into a flat layer.
- Cut the Biscuits: Using a bench scraper or sharp knife, cut the dough into nine equal squares directly in the baking dish.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the biscuits turn golden brown and spring back when gently pressed.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the biscuits to rest in the baking dish for 5 minutes after baking so they can absorb the melted butter. Serve warm for best flavor.
Notes
- Do not overmix the dough to keep biscuits light and fluffy.
- Use cold buttermilk for best texture and rise.
- The butter pools at the bottom create a rich buttery crust on the biscuits.
- For an extra touch, serve with honey or jam.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat gently to retain moisture.
