Description
Brenda Gantt’s 3-Ingredient Biscuits deliver an incredibly simple and delicious biscuit recipe using just shortening, White Lily flour, and buttermilk. These biscuits are flaky, tender, and perfect for any meal, made easy with minimal ingredients and a straightforward method.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup shortening, plus extra for preparing the pan
- 5 cups White Lily flour
- 3/4 cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Coat an 8- or 9-inch cast iron pan with some shortening to prevent sticking and ensure a golden crust.
- Sift and Arrange Flour: Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl and spread it up the sides. Using the back of your hand, press down the flour into the bottom of the bowl to create a well or ‘bird’s nest’. Firmly pack the flour at the bottom to prepare for mixing.
- Add Shortening and Buttermilk: Add 1/4 cup shortening into the well in the center of the flour along with the buttermilk. Using your clean fingertips, pinch and mix the shortening and buttermilk together without incorporating the flour initially. Then, use your forefinger to sweep flour from the sides into the center, gradually pulling the mixture together into a dough.
- Form Dough: Once the mixture forms a bulky, tacky ball, transfer it to a floured work surface. Note that only about 2 cups of the flour are used in the dough; save the leftover flour for future baking projects within 1-2 days.
- Shape Dough: Flour your hands thoroughly and pull the dough from the edges toward the center to create a smooth, round ball. Flip the dough over and gently press it down until it is approximately 3/4 inch thick.
- Cut Biscuits: Using a floured 2-inch round cutter, cut out biscuits and place them in the prepared cast iron pan. Gather any scraps, press them together, and cut additional biscuits until all dough is used.
- Bake Biscuits: Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes until they are puffy and golden brown on top.
Notes
- Only about 2 cups of the 5 cups of flour are used in the dough; the remainder can be saved for up to 2 days for other baking projects.
- Using White Lily flour is traditional and gives the best texture; however, other soft wheat flours can be substituted if necessary.
- Make sure to flour your hands and work surface well to prevent sticking and to allow easy shaping and cutting of the biscuits.
- Baking at a very high temperature (500°F) is key to achieving the characteristic puff and golden crust.
- Shortening provides a tender crumb and flakiness, but butter can be used for a richer flavor though it might alter texture slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Keywords: 3-ingredient biscuits, Brenda Gantt biscuits, Southern biscuits, easy homemade biscuits, cast iron biscuits
