KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

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by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 18 Comments

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KFC Buttermilk Biscuits have to be one of my guilty pleasures. They are soft, billowy, and have a crunchy top. You know you don’t have to leave home to enjoy biscuits just like the KFC Buttermilk Biscuits.

KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (1)

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What I really like about making these KFC Buttermilk Biscuits at home means I can make them for breakfast, you can’t buy these biscuits in the restaurant before lunch.

Table of Contents

Why This Is the Best Copycat KFC Buttermilk Biscuit Recipe

This recipe for KFC biscuits is just about as simple as it can get without popping a tube of premade dough. But simplicity doesn’t mean tasteless. Nope. These KFC copycat biscuits are deliciously buttery and flakey.

What Makes These Biscuits so Flavorful?

Fat equals flavor and cutting in an entire stick of ice-cold butter instead of oil, margarine, or shortening like some other recipes call for means unbelievably delicate and tasty biscuits.

The relatively large amount of buttermilk lends a substantial tang that adds to the depth of the flavor, giving this KFC biscuit recipe the authentic taste of a country kitchen.

KFC Biscuits Ingredients

To make the KFC biscuit recipe, you will need:

  • Self-rising flour
  • Sugar
  • Cream of Tartar
  • Butter
  • Buttermilk
KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (2)

Ingredient Notes

Don’t fear the butter; it is essential for the biscuits to come out properly. When you cut the butter into the self-rising flour, use ice-cold butter to create the air pockets important for the perfect texture.

Self-rising flour contains flour, baking powder, and salt, and it helps biscuits rise in the oven and turn golden brown. If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can make your own by adding one-and-a-half teaspoons of baking powder and one-quarter teaspoon of fine-ground salt for each cup of AP flour.

Don’t leave the cream of tartar out. It supercharges the baking powder in the self-rising flour, adding more oven spring and tang to these KFC style biscuits.

It isn’t a Southern-style biscuit without buttermilk. Real buttermilk is the liquid left after churning butter, but the kind you buy in the store is cultured buttermilk, lightly fermented milk. You can use either variety in this recipe or look below for alternatives

Ingredient Substitutes

No buttermilk? No problem. Try one of the following buttermilk substitutions:

  • Combine a tablespoon of lemon juice with a cup of whole milk and leave on the counter for about 15 minutes, or until it starts to curdle. You can also use white vinegar instead.
  • Mix three-quarters of a cup of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream with a quarter-cup of whole milk and whisk well.
  • Use unsweetened kefir as a one-to-one replacement for buttermilk.

How to Make KFC Biscuits

Here are the steps for making copycat KFC style biscuits at home:

  1. Place the oven rack in the middle and preheat to 425 degrees.
  2. Chop the butter into small pieces. Work quickly and avoid touching the butter with your hands to make sure the butter stays as cold as possible.
KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (3)
  1. Stir together all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add the butter to the flour.
KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (4)
  1. Use apastry cutteror the back of a large fork to cut in the butter until the ingredients resemble coarse crumbs.
  2. Pour in the buttermilk and lightly stir to make a dough.
  3. Roll the biscuit into a three-quarter-inch thick rectangle on a floured board.
  4. Cut with a2-inch biscuit cutteror a glass and place on an ungreased baking sheet or lined baking sheet.
  5. Use a pastry brush tops of the biscuits with a bit of melted butter.
  6. Bake the biscuits in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes.
KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (5)

Recipe Variations

You can also make these copycat KFC biscuits in the air fryer to save a few minutes and avoid running the oven.

To make in the air fryer:

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
  2. Spray the bottom of the biscuits with a little oil to keep them from sticking.
  3. Cook the biscuits for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

What Goes Well With KFC Biscuits

Biscuits are the perfect side for everything fromfried chickentochicken fried steak. Serve these KFC Butter Milk Biscuits as the base forsausage gravyor a bun for abreakfast sandwich.

How to Serve Biscuits

Just out of the oven is the best way to eat biscuits, but you can make them in advance to save time in the morning.

How to Store Biscuits

Fresh biscuits may be the best, but sometimes it just isn’t practical. You can keep biscuits in a plastic bag in the crisper portion of your fridge for three or four days.

How to Freeze Biscuits

To freeze homemade biscuits:

  1. Let them cool completely on a wire rack.
  2. Wrap them separately in aluminum foil.
  3. Place the biscuits together in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to three months.

How to Reheat Biscuits

To reheat buttermilk biscuits:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place the biscuits on a parchment-lined baking tray and cover them with aluminum foil.
  3. Reheat frozen biscuits for about 15 minutes and unfrozen biscuits for around three minutes.

If your biscuits dry out a little in the fridge, try wrapping them with a damp paper towel and microwaving for about 25 seconds on high.

KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (6)

Love KFC? Try these KFC Copycat Recipes!

  • KFC Chicken Pot Pie
  • KFC Coleslaw
  • KFC Fried Chicken
  • KFC Honey BBQ Strips
  • KFC Potato Wedges

More Biscuit Recipes

  • Beer Biscuits
  • Cracker Barrel Biscuits
  • Denver Biscuits
  • Freezer Biscuits
  • Homemade Biscuits with Crisco
  • Honey Biscuits
  • Red Lobster Biscuits
  • Sour Cream Biscuits

Check out more of my easy bread recipes and the best fast food recipes here on CopyKat!

KFC Buttermilk Biscuits

Make KFC Buttermilk Biscuits at home with this easy copycat recipe.

5 from 6 votes

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Course: Breads

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Biscuits, Buttermilk Biscuits, KFC Biscuits

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 194kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter (or shortening) chilled
  • 2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F.

  • Cut the chilled butter or shortening into small cubes so that it will be easier to work into the flour.

  • In a medium-sized bowl combine the self-rising flour, sugar, and cream of tartar.

  • Add the cubed butter or shortening, and work it into the flour until it reaches a large sand grain texture.

  • Add the buttermilk, and mix until it is incorporated into the dough.

  • On a floured surface, turn the dough out of the bowl, and form it into a round shape.

  • Use a rolling pin to gently roll out dough to about 3/4 inch thick.

  • Use a biscuit cutter to cut out biscuits and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.

  • Brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter.

  • Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

Video

Notes

You can substitute shortening for the butter in the dough. If you use shortening, chill it so you cut it into small pieces.

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 330IU | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 0.2mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chef Mike

    I used to work at kfc this is not even close to the recipe!!!

    Reply

    • DonnaMarie SheBoom Ada-Aguon

      Do share the recipe.. I love their biscuits

      Reply

    • Atricia Kelley

      Right I use to make them for 2 years as a teenager. Flour shortening and buttermilk that’s it. Butter afterwards

      Reply

  2. Krittersittter03

    Would love Lee’s Famous Recipe copycats of their slaw, biscuits and extra crispy chicken.

    Reply

  3. Techchef

    KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (8)
    Thanks for the recipes (this one and the Fried Chicken) but the video on the side that starts automatically is very annoying..

    Reply

  4. cjletsid

    biscuits are not easy to make, even for everyday bakers. My mom taught me when I was very young and it took me years to perfect her biscuits. You can not over knead or under knead. You have to use the right flour and sifting is very important. If they flop for you, you most likely did something wrong whether you want to hear it or not.

    Reply

    • Stephanie Manley

      It seems like baking is often more than just following directions. Lots of practice also helps!

      Reply

  5. marissa

    i think tat it is kool and it tasted really nice wen i tried it soooooo………..i think um…u can try it

    Reply

  6. Sandra

    I would give the moon for a recipe from Jack’s Restaurant biscuits 😀

    Reply

  7. Bree

    Does anyone have a recipe for KFCs coleslaw?? Thanks, Bree

    Reply

    • Stephanie Manley

      The recipe is here, Better than KFC Coleslaw.

      Reply

    • Patt

      when you get this recipe please let me know Thanks Sewqueen

      Reply

  8. Casey

    I usually enjoy all of your recipes, however, this one I did not. They were not like the KFC biscuits I have had. Will not be making these again.

    Reply

  9. munkee

    KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (9)
    Schwans has cheap biscuits like KFCs without the hassle. Very addictive.

    Reply

    • Nitra Stokes

      just seeing this … and just went on their website to order, after 2 years I hope their still as delicious as you said, I only ordered one bag to see if I like them .. and for 8 bucks for 18 biscuits you cant beat that

      Reply

  10. Fran

    Well, that looks easy enough. Sounds like the perfect side to eggs this weekend.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

KFC Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to use milk or buttermilk in biscuits? ›

What's the Difference Between Buttermilk Biscuits and Regular Biscuits? As the names might suggest, regular biscuits do not contain buttermilk, while these do. Regular biscuits are typically prepared with milk or water instead. Buttermilk adds a nice tang to the biscuit flavor and helps them rise better.

Why aren t my buttermilk biscuits fluffy? ›

Why aren't my buttermilk biscuits fluffy? A non-fluffy, flat biscuit can be caused by a few things: too much liquid in the dough (resist the urge to add more buttermilk to make the dough come together and use the heat of your hands and a bit more kneading instead). Over-mixing the dough can cause flat biscuits.

How do you make Paula Deen buttermilk biscuits? ›

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Using a fork or pastry blender, cut in cold butter until mixture is crumbly and about the size of peas. Gradually add buttermilk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and gently knead 3 to 4 times.

Are KFC biscuits frozen? ›

But the biscuits are frozen.

We lay them out on trays and stick them in the oven for 20 minutes.

Is it better to use vinegar or lemon juice to make buttermilk? ›

This quick and easy buttermilk substitute is incredibly simple, and my hope is that you have what you need at home already. Here's what you need: Lemon juice OR vinegar. Fresh or bottled lemon juice OR distilled white vinegar will work equally well.

Can I use sour cream instead of buttermilk for biscuits? ›

Yes, you can substitute sour cream! Thin it with milk or water to get the right consistency. For each cup of buttermilk needed, use 3/4 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup liquid. Editor's Tip: Sour cream has a higher fat content, so this will result in richer-tasting foods.

Why are my buttermilk biscuits so dry? ›

If your biscuits are too dry…

Dry biscuits that stick to the roof of your mouth make for an unpleasant eating experience that will have you gulping your coffee or OJ just to get through it — and they're often the result of having spent too long in the oven.

What is the secret to high rising biscuits? ›

Cut off uneven edges and put these scraps to the side; clean cuts on all sides will encourage rise. Pat scraps together to make 1 odd-shaped ninth biscuit. Place biscuits close together in a 9-inch square pan and brush with melted salted butter. Place pan on top of the warm stove for 10 to 15 minutes to rise.

What is the best flour for buttermilk biscuits? ›

White wheat in general is around 9-12% protein, while the hard reds are 11-15%. As far as brands of flour, White Lily “all-purpose” flour has been my go-to for biscuit making. It's a soft red winter wheat, and the low protein and low gluten content keep biscuits from becoming too dense.

Are biscuits better with butter or shortening? ›

Crisco may be beneficial for other baking applications, but for biscuit making, butter is the ultimate champion!

What's the difference between a Southern style biscuit and a buttermilk biscuit? ›

There are many theories about why Southern biscuits are different (ahem, better) than other biscuits—richer buttermilk, more butter, better grandmothers—but the real difference is more fundamental. Southern biscuits are different because of the flour most Southerners use. My grandmother swore by White Lily flour.

What is a substitute for baking powder in buttermilk biscuits? ›

Because of its acidity, combining buttermilk with baking soda can produce the same leavening effect as baking powder. Add 1/2 a cup (122 grams) of buttermilk and 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) of baking soda to the rest of your ingredients for an easy substitute for 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder.

Is butter better than shortening for buttermilk biscuits? ›

The butter version rises the highest — look at those flaky layers! The shortening biscuit is slightly shorter and a bit drier, too. Butter contains a bit of water, which helps create steam and gives baked goods a boost.

Are KFC biscuits healthy? ›

KFC, biscuit contains 175 calories per 49 g serving. This serving contains 8.4 g of fat, 3.7 g of protein and 21 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 2 g sugar and 1 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. KFC, biscuit contains 5.8 g of saturated fat and 0.5 mg of cholesterol per serving.

Do KFC biscuits contain milk? ›

Buttermilk Biscuit Enriched bleached flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Cultured buttermilk (skim milk, nonfat dry milk, cultures added), Water, Palm and Soybean oil, Modified wheat starch, Dextrose, Baking soda, Salt, Whey, Sodium aluminum phosphate, Sugar, Sodium acid ...

What are biscuits made out of? ›

biscuit, in the United States, a small quick bread usually made from flour, salt, and butter or vegetable shortening, with baking powder as a leavening agent. The dough is kneaded briefly and rolled out, and the biscuits are cut with a round cutter. The dough may also be dropped by spoonfuls for an irregular shape.

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