Gluten Free Buttermilk Biscuits

You're going to adore this incredible, easy gluten free buttermilk biscuit recipe! It consistently delivers the softest, most buttery biscuits, complete with irresistible, crispy, flaky layers.

Course Breads

Prep Time 40

Cook Time 20

Chill Time 20

Total Time 1 20

Servings (Depending on size)

Calories 396kcal

Author Rebecca Taig

Equipment

Food Processor optional

Ingredients

8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter, chilled
2¼ cups (340g) gluten-free flour (Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour)
1 tablespoon (15g) sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
1 large egg

Instructions

Prepare and freeze the butter. If you're using a food processor to cut the butter into the flour, slice the stick into cubes and pop them in the freezer for 20 minutes.
If you're grating the butter, grab a box grater or a cheese grater and place a sheet of parchment paper on a plate underneath to catch all the butter. Hold the grater firmly in one hand and the butter in the other, then carefully grate the butter, watching your fingers! Once you're done, transfer the parchment paper with the grated butter to the freezer for 20 minutes.
Combine the dry ingredients and frozen butter. In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until they're fully combined. If you prefer using a food processor, pulse these ingredients a few times until they're evenly mixed.
Next, add the cubed or grated frozen butter. Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until coarse crumbs form. If you're using a food processor, pulse the mixture until coarse crumbs form, then transfer the butter/flour mixture to a large bowl.
Add the wet ingredients. Get a medium-sized bowl and whisk the buttermilk and large egg together. Make a well in the middle of your flour mixture. Pour the buttermilk and egg mixture into the well.
Stir until the dough forms. Use a rubber spatula to stir it all together. It will look really dry when you start, but keep mixing, and it will turn into a shaggy dough with dry bits at the bottom of the bowl.
Shape the dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Lightly flour your hands and the work surface as needed to prevent sticking. Gently flatten the dough with both hands into a 1-inch-thick rectangle.
Laminate the dough. To laminate the dough, picture yourself folding a letter. Using a bench scraper, bring one side into the center, then fold the other side directly on top. Next, rotate the dough 90 degrees and gently flatten it back into a rectangle. Repeat this entire folding process two more times, for a total of three folds.
Cut the biscuits. After the final fold, pat the dough back into a rectangle about ¾ to 1 inch thick on all four sides. Using a 2½ to 3-inch round biscuit cutter, press straight down into the dough and pull straight up. Don't twist the cutter, or your biscuits will crimp and won't rise properly. Clean and re-flour the cutter between each cut.
Gather any dough scraps and gently re-roll them into another rectangle, maintaining a thickness of ¾ to 1 inch. Continue cutting biscuits until you've used all the dough. Depending on your cutter size, you should yield between 5 and 8 biscuits.
Chill the biscuits. Place the biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart; this helps them rise taller. Then, put the baking sheet in the freezer for 20 minutes. While the biscuits are chilling, preheat your oven to 450°F.
Bake the biscuits. Remove the biscuits from the freezer and brush their tops with additional buttermilk. Place them in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Smaller biscuits will likely be done around the 15-minute mark, while larger ones may take closer to 19 minutes. For perfectly baked biscuits, use an instant-read thermometer to check their internal temperature; it should be 190-200°F.
Remove the biscuits from the oven and brush their tops with a tablespoon of melted butter and, if you like, a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

Storage: Biscuits are best enjoyed warm and fresh from the oven! If you have leftovers, they'll stay good at room temperature for a few days. Just pop them in the microwave and reheat until warm.

Freezing: After cutting your biscuit dough, arrange the unbaked biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they don't touch. Freeze them for 1-2 hours, or until completely firm. Once solid, you can transfer the frozen biscuits to a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container, where they'll keep for up to three months. When you're ready to bake, there's no need to thaw; simply place the frozen biscuits on a baking sheet and bake at 450°F, adding an extra 2-3 minutes to the usual baking time.

Nutrition