Pillowy soft, tender, flaky and buttery, these Easy Sour Cream Biscuits make for the perfect side to any family dinner or as the perfect shortcake vehicle! This is guaranteed to be your new favorite biscuit recipe!

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Sour cream biscuits piled high on a napkin lined tin ready to serve

If you’ve never made biscuits from scratch because you’re intimidated or it went wrong that one time you tried, I’m here to offer redemption. Today’s recipe is an easy, no-fail Sour Cream Biscuit that will knock your socks off! Sure, added cheese or herbs can be fantastic but it’s beyond necessary to have a simple, go-to biscuit recipe. So, here I am, the biscuit fairy godmother coming to bless your kitchens!

Table of Contents

Perks and Highlights of the Best Sour Cream Biscuits

Cuisine Inspiration: Southern Comfort

Primary Cooking Method: Baking

Dietary Info: Vegetarian, Contains Gluten and Dairy

Key Flavor: Buttery with a Tangy Twist

Skill Level: Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Special Perks:

Fluff Factor: These aren’t just any biscuits; they’re cloud-like dreams! The sour cream isn’t here to play; it’s here to elevate, ensuring each bite is divinely tender.
Simple & Scrumptious: You don’t need to be a Southern grandma to whip these up! With minimal ingredients and steps, these biscuits are as simple as they are scrumptious.
Versatility is Key: Whether it’s jam or gravy, these biscuits are your canvas. They’re perfectly delectable on their own but aren’t afraid to be a sidekick to your favorite toppings or pairings.
Make Ahead Magic: In a rush? No problem, honey! Prepare your dough in advance and refrigerate overnight. Just pop them in the oven when needed, and voilà – freshness on demand!
Comfort in Every Bite: Whether you’re curing a heartache or sharing a joy, these biscuits are comfort food incarnate. They’re a hug for your soul and a celebration of the simple things in life.

Ingredients

Made with less than 10 ingredients, these biscuits come together in no time! Whether you’re looking for a quick buttery bite or trying to impress family and friends, this recipe is absolutely perfect for you.

Here are today’s tools:

All-Purpose Flour- the key to a fluffy, tender biscuit is properly measuring the flour. Be as accurate as possible and, if you’re looking to the extra mile, bust out the sifter.

Sugar- play around with the sugar! If you prefer a sweeter biscuit, include the sugar. If you prefer a savory biscuit, omit the sugar.

Baking Soda- if you don’t have baking soda on hand, baking powder will work. It won’t produce the exact rise but it’s a convenient switch when needed.

Salt- again, fit this to your own preference. Add less salt for a sweeter biscuit or add more for a saltier biscuit.

Unsalted Butter- Use your favorite butter, just be sure it’s rich and creamy.

Sour Cream- sour cream has a wonderful way of helping produce tender biscuits. The subtle tang is also a very welcome surprise!

Large Egg & Water- egg wash helps to develop a crisp crust and a golden-brown coloration.

Six tender biscuits made with sour cream on a parchment lined baking sheet after being baked until golden

How to Make Sour Cream Biscuits

Set the Stage: Preheat your oven to a toasty 400 degrees. While it’s heating, line a baking pan with parchment paper. This little trick means no sticking and easy cleanup!
Mix the Basics: In the bowl of your food processor, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Give it a few pulses until everything’s mixed well.
Butter Me Up: Time for richness! Add your butter cubes to the mixture and pulse again. What you’re looking for here are crumbs of varying sizes. This is what gives our biscuits that fabulous flaky texture.
Creamy Goodness: Now, add in that sour cream and a dash of vanilla. Pulse again until everything is just combined. This is the secret behind the tang and tenderness in each bite!
Knead with Love: Pour that dough out onto a floured board. A little knead does the deed—just enough to bring everything together, but careful not to overdo it. We want fluffy, not tough!
Shape and Chill: Using your hands, gently press the dough to a thickness of about 1 inch. Go ahead and get those biscuits shaped with a round cutter, then place them on your prepared baking pan. Pop them into the fridge for 20-25 minutes. This step helps them hold their shape while baking.
Glam Them Up: Just before these beauties hit the oven, give them a loving brush with some egg wash. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, a sprinkle of turbinado sugar will caramelize beautifully.
Bake to Perfection: Into the oven they go for 16-19 minutes, until they’re a gorgeous golden brown. Patience, darling—they’re worth the wait!
Cool and Serve: Once done, let them rest and cool. You know, beauty sleep!

Tips for Better Biscuits

There’s always room to upgrade your biscuit game. Start by tucking a few of my butteriest biscuit tips under your baking toolbelt!

Freeze the Butter

Before baking, I will actually cut the butter into 1-2”inch cubes, place them in a glass bowl and freeze while I prep the rest of my ingredients. Just about 10 minutes will ensure extremely cold butter that doesn’t melt while being worked.

Use Good Quality Butter

There aren’t many ingredients in a biscuit recipe so using fresh, quality ingredients is key. Find the best quality butter within your budget. Good butter equals better flavor.

Don’t Use a Rolling Pin

Just don’t do it. A rolling pin will flatten and compress the dough which results in a hard, dry biscuit. Instead, use your hands to flatten out and fold over the dough a few times.

An overhead of sour cream biscuits made into shortcakes with fresh peaches and sour cream against gray background

Leftover Storage

Freshly baked biscuits can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 days. I suggest wrapping the biscuits in foil or plastic wrap, then place them in an airtight container or plastic bag. If you want to keep them in the fridge, they’ll keep for about a week. Don’t serve biscuits that have an odd smell or stale texture.

TIP: Prefer a warm biscuit? So do I. To reheat, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and arrange the biscuits on top. Bake for about 5 minutes and top with butter!

Best Biscuits

If you thought you’d come to a Southern food blog and just get one biscuit recipe, you’re crazy! Whether you like them sweet, salty or somewhere in between, I’ve got the recipe for you.

Go ahead, give ‘em a try: