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Honey drizzled over a biscuit half on a plate with butter.
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4.98 from 40 votes

Southern (Crisco/Shortening) Biscuits

Soft and fluffy shortening biscuits made with buttermilk and brushed with melted butter before and after baking.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crisco biscuits, fluffy biscuits, shortening biscuits
Servings: 18 biscuits
Calories: 235kcal
Author: Erin
Cost: $0.95

Ingredients

  • 4 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup shortening like Crisco
  • 1 ¾ cups buttermilk
  • 1 stick melted butter for brushing biscuits

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Combine 4 ½ cups all purpose flour, 2 tablespoons baking powder, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl until evenly mixed.
  • Cut in 1 cup of shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  • Add 1 ¾ cups buttermilk and mix until soft and combined.
  • Turn dough  out onto generously floured surface.
  • Roll out into a ¾-INCH thick slab.
  • Use a biscuit cutter or glass to cut out biscuits; roll up excess scraps and re-roll another slab to cut more biscuits until little to no dough remains.
  • Brush with melted butter.
  • Bake on a baking sheet for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
  • Remove from oven, brush again with melted butter while still hot.

Notes

  • FOR DROP BISCUITS: MAKE RECIPE AS IS, BUT DON'T ROLL OUT ONTO A FLOURED SURFACE. INSTEAD, LEAVE THE DOUGH IN THE BOWL, AND USE A FORK OR SPOON TO "SCOOP" 2 INCH SECTIONS OUT AND "DROP" THEM INTO A GREASED PAN ABOUT 1-2 INCHES APART. BAKE AS INSTRUCTED.
  • Any brand of vegetable shortening will work, however Crisco is a popular and trusted brand.
  • Recipe makes a large batch, about 18 dozen biscuits so cut in half to make a smaller batch.
  • If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a buttermilk "substitute" by combining the milk with a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice; stir and let sit for 5 minutes to thicken. Use in place of buttermilk called for in recipe.
  • If you do not have a biscuit cutter, use a small glass. Dust the rim with flour to prevent sticking.
  • These biscuits are so very soft and are great served straight up; with butter and jam.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 361mg | Potassium: 65mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 2mg