Air-Fryer Buttermilk Biscuits: A Quick, Crispy Treat?

Buttermilk biscuits are a delicious treat, but baking them in an oven can be time-consuming. Luckily, air fryers offer a quick and easy alternative to baking, producing fluffy, golden brown biscuits with a crispy exterior. The hot air circulates around the biscuits, cooking them evenly and efficiently. This method is perfect for busy households or when you don't want to heat up your kitchen with a traditional oven. With just a few simple ingredients and an air fryer, you can make delicious homemade buttermilk biscuits in no time!

How to make buttermilk

Yes, you can cook buttermilk biscuits in an air fryer! Here's a recipe for making buttermilk, along with instructions for making buttermilk biscuits in an air fryer.

Making buttermilk at home is simple and only requires two ingredients: milk and vinegar or lemon juice. The basic ratio is one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to one cup of milk. You can use any type of milk, including dairy-free and vegan options such as coconut milk or soy milk.

• Measure one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice into a liquid measuring cup. If using lemon juice, it is recommended to use freshly squeezed lemon juice to avoid an overly acidic taste.
• Fill the measuring cup with milk up to the one-cup mark.
• Stir the mixture and let it rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes. The mixture will appear curdled, which is normal, and it will have a buttermilk-like texture and taste.

Now that you have your buttermilk, you can use it to make delicious, golden brown, and flaky biscuits in your air fryer. Here's a simple recipe to follow:

• Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit (195 degrees Celsius).
• Sift flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt into a bowl.
• Cut cold butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or fork until the butter is about the size of small peas.
• Add buttermilk and stir until a thick dough forms.
• Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and bring it together with your hands. Fold the dough 5 to 6 times, ending with a 1-inch thick rectangle.
• Cut the biscuits using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter. Remember not to twist the cutter, just press down and pull up. You can gather the leftover dough and cut more biscuits.
• Place the biscuits into the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving some space between them. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
• Air fry the biscuits at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 13-15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and fluffy.
• Brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter, honey, or your favorite jam.

Enjoy your freshly made buttermilk biscuits!

Air fryer temperature and time

The temperature and time for cooking buttermilk biscuits in an air fryer may vary depending on the brand and style of the biscuit, the air fryer model, and whether the biscuits are frozen or not.

For instance, canned biscuits take around 8 minutes to cook in an air fryer at 330°F. If you are using Pillsbury Grands Buttermilk Biscuits, you should cook them at 320°F for 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through. You can also cook them at 400°F for 8–10 minutes until they are golden brown.

If you are cooking frozen biscuits, the cooking time will be slightly longer, typically around 11–12 minutes, and you should flip them halfway through.

To reheat biscuits, place them in the air fryer basket and cook at 350°F for about 2–3 minutes. If the biscuits are frozen, you can reheat them straight from frozen, but you should add another 10 minutes to the reheating time, and make sure to flip them halfway through.

Biscuit dough preparation

To prepare the biscuit dough, start by sifting the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. The exact ingredients may vary depending on the recipe, but generally, you will need flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. You can also add baking soda to the mix.

Next, cut cold butter into the flour mixture. You can use a pastry cutter or a fork for this step. Mix until the butter is combined and reduced to small pieces, similar to the size of peas. This will help create a flaky texture in your biscuits.

Now, it's time to add the buttermilk. Stir it into the flour-butter mixture until a thick dough starts to form. If your dough seems too dry, you can add a little extra buttermilk. On the other hand, if it's too wet, simply add a tablespoon of flour to adjust the consistency.

Once you have a cohesive dough, transfer it to a clean, floured work surface. Gently knead the dough 6 to 7 times until all the flour is incorporated. Remember not to overwork the dough, as this can affect the texture of your biscuits. You should still be able to see small pieces of butter throughout the dough, which is what will make your biscuits flaky.

Finally, shape the dough into a circle or rectangle, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches in thickness. Then, use a biscuit cutter to cut out your biscuits. Press the cutter straight down into the dough and then lift it up without twisting, as twisting can seal the edges of the dough and prevent your biscuits from rising properly. Bring any leftover dough back together and cut out more biscuits until you've used up all the dough.

Biscuit shaping and cutting

Shaping and cutting the biscuit dough is an important step in the biscuit-making process. The key to this step is to keep the biscuit dough cold. This ensures that the biscuits rise well during cooking.

To shape the biscuits, first, transfer your dough to a floured surface. Using your hands, gently pat the dough into a disc. The thickness of the disc will depend on your preferred biscuit thickness and size. For example, for 2 1/2-inch biscuits, the disc should be about 1 1/2-inch thick. For 2-3 inch biscuits, the disc should be about 3/4-inch thick.

Once you have shaped the dough into a disc, it's time to cut out the individual biscuits. Using a biscuit cutter or round cutter, cut the dough into biscuits. The size of the cutter will depend on the desired size of your biscuits. Remember to press the cutter straight down into the dough and then pull it straight back up. Do not twist the cutter, as this will seal the edges of the biscuits and prevent them from rising properly during cooking.

If you have extra dough after cutting, you can gather it and pat it out again to cut more biscuits. This will ensure you have enough biscuits and minimize waste. Place the cut biscuits onto a floured surface or a sheet of parchment paper, ready for cooking.

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the biscuits in batches to avoid overcrowding. Place the biscuits into the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between them to allow for even cooking and rising. If needed, you can lightly spray the basket with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Brushing with butter or honey

To brush your biscuits with butter, simply melt some butter in a small bowl and use a pastry brush to apply it to the tops of the biscuits as soon as they come out of the air fryer. You can also use salted butter to give your biscuits a salty edge.

If you want to brush your biscuits with honey, you can make a honey butter topping by whisking together melted butter and honey. Then, use a pastry brush to apply it to the tops of the warm biscuits. This optional topping will set your biscuits apart and give them a lovely tang.

You can also brush the biscuits with buttermilk before baking to help the tops brown evenly and give them a lovely tang. This step is especially important if you're making biscuits in a cast-iron skillet, as it will help the edges crisp up beautifully.

Frequently asked questions