Classic Butter Swim Biscuits

• • 1 teaspoon  salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated  sugar
  • 2 cups  buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

That’s it!

A handful of ordinary ingredients turns into a pan of beautifully golden biscuits.

Why Buttermilk?

Buttermilk gives these biscuits a slightly tangy flavor and helps create a tender texture.

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a quick substitute by adding 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup and adding enough milk to reach 1 cup. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before using.

For this recipe, you’ll need 2 cups total.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

You don’t need anything fancy to make these.

• • 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking dish
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Rubber spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Pastry brush, optional
  • Knife or bench scraper for scoring

I especially love using a square baking dish because it gives you those wonderfully thick, bakery-style biscuits.

Ingredient Additions and Substitutions

This recipe is delicious exactly as written, but there are plenty of ways to play around with it.

Add Cheese

Fold in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese for cheesy butter swim biscuits.

Sharp cheddar is especially good.

Add Garlic and Herbs

Try adding:

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

Then brush the warm biscuits with a little more melted butter.

So good!!

Make Them Sweeter

For a slightly sweeter biscuit, increase the sugar to 2–3 tablespoons.

These are especially delicious with honey or jam.

Use Salted Butter

Salted butter works perfectly well. If you use it, you may want to reduce the added salt slightly.

How to Make Classic Butter Swim Biscuits

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 450°F.

Place the butter in your baking dish and put it in the oven for a few minutes, just until the butter melts.