Flaky, light, golden vegan Biscuits are a southern American classic and they make a delicious addition to the table at lunch, dinner or breakfast. This easy, fool-proof recipe guarantees the best biscuits you've ever baked, vegan or not. Instructions for making these gluten-free are included.
Buttery, fluffy, homemade biscuits are a beloved American food, and a much-requested bread in our home as well. That's why, a decade ago, I came up with this vegan recipe for a classic buttermilk biscuit and shared it with you on the blog. Many of you have made it since, and loved it, so I wanted to bring it back to the front for those of you who are newer here.
For as long as I lived in India, where English was a legacy of the British colonizers, a biscuit, for me, was any hard cookie to eat with my tea. But once I'd moved to the United States, I fell in love with the southern biscuit: a flaky, light, buttery treat that crackles like a dream between your teeth before it can melt in your mouth.
Homemade biscuits come together really quickly, so they're the perfect bread to bake up when you're in a hurry or have guests. And they need just six ingredients, most of which you almost certainly have in your pantry.
They are also utterly easy to make, with a few caveats to keep in mind. I'm going to share them with you today, so you can make the most delicious vegan biscuits that'll get you rave reviews from everyone who eats them.
How to make the perfect vegan biscuits:
- I've made vegan biscuits with just about every kind of wheat flour -- whole wheat flour, a mix of whole wheat and all purpose, a mix of all purpose flour and whole wheat pastry flour -- but the version I love the most is made with unbleached all purpose flour. If this is something you'd rather not do, and I completely understand, substitute half the all purpose flour with regular whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour. Your biscuit won't be as light as one made with only all purpose flour, but you'll still get a delicious biscuit.
- Making a biscuit dough is not unlike making a pie dough -- it's exactly the same, actually, except that you add leavening -- in the form of baking powder and baking soda -- to your biscuit dough. So for best results, make sure your liquids are at the lowest possible temperature -- use them straight out of the refrigerator -- and keep the butter in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.
- Keeping ingredients cold all the way until the time you use them is especially important if you're working in a warm kitchen, or making these in warmer weather. I love baking biscuits this time of the year because a fall or winter kitchen is friendlier to biscuit-making and you don't have to work as fast to make sure you get great results.
- Use a fork to mix your dough. Your hands are warm, and warmth is not really a good thing for your biscuits -- until the time they hit the oven. You will need to touch your dough a few times, while putting it in cling wrap or while rolling it, and that's fine, of course. Just don't do all of the mixing with your hands.
- The reason you want to keep things cold is because flakiness and lightness are two essential characteristics of a biscuit -- you don't want those "nice, fluffy" rocks Lucy served Mr. Ritter. And when you keep your dough cold, you minimize chances of the butter melting into your dough. When there are pockets of butter in your biscuit dough, and when the warmth of the oven hits the biscuits, the fat melts, creating little pockets of air that give your biscuits all that desirable flakiness.
- After you've made your dough, be sure to refrigerate your biscuit dough for at least five minutes so, in case things began to melt, they have a chance to firm up again.
- Roll your biscuit dough on a floured surface, but don't over-flour it. You want enough flour to keep your dough from sticking, and you should also flour your rolling pin as well as scatter a bit of flour on top of the dough to make rolling easier.
- You have a few choices with the size, shape and height of your biscuits. I use a two-inch round cookie cutter and I roll my dough about ½-inch thick, which gives me around 12-14 biscuits each time. If you like taller biscuits, you can roll the dough out thicker and make fewer biscuits. You can also use a square or rectangular cookie cutter, although round biscuits are more common, but who's to stop you from being a maverick?
- To make my biscuits a pretty gold on top, I brush on a mixture of a teaspoon of nondairy milk mixed with a teaspoon of oil. This is entirely optional, but looks great.
How to make these biscuits gluten-free:
After posting this recipe, some readers asked how they could be made gluten-free, so I went to the kitchen at the first chance I had and baked up a gf version. They turned out so beautifully, I couldn't wait to share them with you. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Use an all purpose gluten-free flour, which makes this process much easier. I use King Arthur's measure for measure flour which already has xanthan gum added. If using a flour that doesn't have xanthan gum, add ½ tsp of gum to the flour.
- The flour I used already has tapioca flour in it, but even so, I add an additional tablespoonful to help these hold together.
- Gluten-free flours tend to be a little thirstier than regular all purpose flour, so you might need the entire cup of nondairy milk mixed with apple cider vinegar. If your dough still refuses to hold together, sprinkle a few more drops of nondairy milk until it does.
- Don't roll out your gf biscuit dough--pat it into a circle using your hands before you cut out the biscuits with a cookie cutter.
- The biscuits will not look as golden-brown as the non-gf version does, but when you take them out of the oven, the tops should look lightly golden.
What do you serve with homemade biscuits?
Because biscuits are basically a quick bread, they taste delicious served with any meal, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Traditionally, biscuits are eaten with gravy, and we love them smothered in oodles of this delicious vegan mushroom gravy that I make each Thanksgiving. But they go just as well with a vegan stew and they make a perfect breakfast, especially when served with vegan scrambled eggs. Or try them in their stark, naked glory.
Six ingredients for vegan biscuits:
- Unbleached all purpose flour (or a mix of unbleached all purpose and whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour).
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Nondairy milk (I use almond, but you can use any other for a nut-free version)
- Apple cider vinegar
- Vegan butter
Additional ingredients if making these gluten-free:
- Gluten-free all purpose flour (instead of regular all purpose or wheat flour)
- Tapioca flour
Looking for more vegan breakfast recipes?
- Best Vegan Pancakes
- Vegan French Toast Casserole
- Vegan Cranberry Breakfast Bread
- Vegan Banana Crumb Muffins
- Vegan Apple Pie Pull Apart Bread
Vegan Biscuits Recipe
Vegan Biscuits
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond milk (cold, straight from the refrigerator. Can use any nondairy milk with the same results)
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour (equal amount of gluten-free flour if making these gf, plus 1 tbsp tapioca flour added. If your gf flour doesn't have xanthan gum, add ½ tsp of the gum)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 5 tbsp vegan butter (very cold, straight from the refrigerator. Cut into small cubes just before adding to flour)
Instructions
- Mix the nondairy milk with the vinegar and set aside in the refrigerator for a couple of minutes to curdle.
- Place the flour in a bowl with the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk together. Add the butter to the bowl and, using a fork or a pastry-cutter, "cut" the butter into the flour until you have a coarse mixture with a few pea-size pieces of butter. (Cutting the butter into the flour is just a fancy way of saying you press down on the pieces of butter with the tines or your fork or your pastry cutter to cut the butter into smaller bits)
- Slowly, using a fork to mix, drizzle in the nondairy milk and vinegar mixture. You may not need all of the milk depending on your climate. Your dough should be moist enough to come together in a ball, but not wet.
- Wrap the biscuit dough in cling wrap, flatten into a disc, and place in the refrigerator for at least 5-10 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F
- On a floured surface, roll out the disc of the biscuit dough. The thicker you roll your dough, the taller your biscuits will be, so you have a choice here. The thicker you roll your dough, the fewer biscuits you'll get. I roll my dough about ½-inch thick and I get 12-14 two-inch biscuits, which is perfect for me. (If you are making gluten-free biscuits, don't roll out the dough. Instead, flour the surface well with gf flour, then pat the dough into a circle using your hands.)
- Use a two-inch round cookie cutter to cut the biscuits and place them at least an inch apart on an unoiled baking sheet. Reroll any leftover scraps of dough and make more biscuits.
- If desired, and this is optional, brush the tops of the biscuits with a mixture of 1 tbsp soy milk and 1 tbsp vegetable oil for a nice, golden-brown color.
- Bake the biscuits for 12-14 minutes or until the tops are a nice, light gold. (If making these gluten-free, you will need to bake these around 18 minutes)
- Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Hello, I have a friend who has just figured out that she has an unpleasant reaction to xanthan gum. Are there any alternatives? Tnx
I made the gluten free version of these biscuits this morning, right after finding the recipe. They are yummy. They are moist and soft on the inside with a slight crisp to the outside. I followed the directions exactly. I put the dough in the freezer before baking. The only thing keeping it from being a 5 star rating is that the biscuits did not rise very high. I don't know if that's a GF thing or what. It didn't take away from the taste though.
Could you sub cold coconut oil for the vegan butter?
Yes! Refrigerate it first so it's really firm.
Hi, I am new to the vegan and dairy-free world and love your recipes. I have a question. Have you tried using any gluten-free flours? If yes, what would you suggest?
Hi Sharmi, I tried a gluten-free version of these last night using King Arthur measure for measure which is the gf flour I usually use. It already has xanthan gum added. I have included instructions for making the biscuits gluten-free above, both in the tips section and within the recipe. Hope that helps.
Has anyone tried these using all-purpose GF flour? My friend's husband has celiac disease, and as a Southern girl born and bred, she really misses biscuits.
I made a gluten-free version of these last night, and have included the instructions within the recipe, with additional tips above. These turned out delicious.
These were awesome. Best biscuits ever ! I read on some other blog to fold the dough over a few times to make them flaky and turned out perfect.
Baked these a few days ago...something told me it seemed like a lot of baking powder, but I shrugged it off given the other reviews. When they came out, they smelled like baking powder and were bitter. Not willing to give up, I used 1/2 a teaspoon less baking powder than your recipe calls for the next time I made them. This time, they were light, fluffy, savory, and tasted great. No baking powder smell. Wondering if anyone else experienced the baking powder bitterness when they made these.
2 teaspoons of baking powder is the amount traditionally added to 2 cups of flour for biscuits whether vegan or not. I have my grandmother’s biscuit recipe from the early 1900’s & this is what she called for so it’s what I’ve always used. I have found, though, that not all baking powders are the same. I typically use Rumford aluminum free but decided to try Backer’s Cream. The Baker’s Cream gave me that same smell & taste you described so I had to cut back on that one. But Rumford, my go to, I keep at 2 teaspoons. I’m not sure if there are other baking powders out there but something to consider.
Hey, accidently came upon your site when i was looking for bean burgers. Thank you, tried them out and loved them absolutely............
Hey, loved your bean and oat burger recipe!! THank you!
This is hands down the best vegan recipe site ever! Keep it up girl you're awesome,
Just made these - simple and fabulous! Thanks for sharing
Anon, no, that's not accurate. Cookies come in all textures, and in India cookies are called biscuits.
Made these tonight, and they are fantastic - my southern born and bred husband even approved, and that's saying a lot!!
Fabulous! Thanks for this recipie. After living in The South(southern US)I did not think it possible that the best buttermilk biscuits I'd taste would contain neither butter nor milk 🙂 . I followed the recipie exactly, though used all (2c) white whole wheat flour (didn't have any pastry flour) and instead of making sour 'milk' with vinegar, I used (plain) nondairy yogurt (in this case coconut-based). They were awesome. Thanks!
Just finished devouring 3 biscuits!!!!! They were so delicious! Thanks so much. I will be posting this on my website linked to you!
Just made this recipe with a "chicken" pot pie, and this will definitely be bookmarked.
Dear Vaishali
Finally I got a chance to bake these biscuits this year a day b4 Christmas. These tasted heavenly. I used vegan butter and all purpose flour. My fiancee is an Omni and any non-veg food is on his top list. He loved these like anything and said he won't eat biscuits sold outside and even asked me to bookmark your recipe. He cooked Pav-Bhaji (only Bhaji :)) and we all friends enjoyed our dinner with wonderful vegan food including desserts.
Once again, Thank you very much and wish you and Desi and the Pets very happy new year. Keep writing as you get time 🙂
Anonymous, how wonderful! Thanks for the feedback-- and a very happy new year to you and your family too.
Oh my goodness, these are amazing! I'm from the south, where we have biscuits for breakfast with our sausage and eggs, or in the evening with dinner too. Since I've been vegan, I've been looking for a good recipe, and now I've found it - just made some and they taste incredible. Thank you so much for this recipe!!
Andrea, glad you liked them. Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Hi unmadebed, The vinegar with the soymilk produces an acidic mix that acts and tastes like buttermilk. It helps make the biscuits fluffier.
thanks for the recipe, but why did you use vinegar? just curious. and trying to figure out whether or not i can leave it out.
Thank you! I've been looking for a good dairy free biscuit that has the qualities of good buttermilk biscuits. You have made my day 🙂
Proud to be a vegetarian-- You don't mix in the butter thoroughly. You want it to be dispersed in small pieces throughout the flour so it will melt in the oven and create little flaky air pockets. That's the whole idea behind using very cold fat-- so it doesn't melt into the flour.
I would advise using vegetable shortening instead of butter to make these biscuits really flaky, but if you want to use butter, go ahead and use salted. But leave out the 1/2 tsp of salt in the recipe.
In the grocery stores near my house, I can't find the vegan butter in unsalted varieties. Should i try in health food store?
Is it really easy to mix cold butter with rest of the things?
ha ha when I first reached in US I didn't understand the biscuit meaning... Love the way u vegan all the food! They are fluffy & perfect!
Those look fabulous! Love the golden color! Yum!
Yummy biscuits..perfect with a cup of tea.I was also confused about difference between biscuit and cookie when i came to US 🙂
biscuits looks very delicious Vaishali. I am not a good baker so I don't know much abt patry flour. Which brand do u use for pastry flour?
This one's a keeper , vaishali! thanx.
I would totally call these scones. That's how confusing all these food items can be for a second language speaker. But no matter what, they sound delicious.
Biscuits looks wonderful,scrumptous. Nice click.
looks so fluffy and so perfect..must have been delicious,,.
The looks so yumm, yeah i remember when i moved here it was als a big confusion cookies and biscuits.
Wow yummy looking biscuits.
Biscuits look perfect. Oh i still refer to cookies as biscuits and my son corrects me. He has accepted marie biscuits as biscuits though 🙂
I have come across biscuits being described as used a part of a meal .. usually used to mop up that last bit of gravy .. I think that is the american version ... love the look of your 'stark naked' biscuits. 🙂 Can feel their discomfit under that glaring camera light. 😉
Got that drift because I was having the similar thoughts the other day! There is a very thin demarcating line, or is it there at all? I thought they looked like scones too, and they look delicious!
U amaze me Vaishalli! I love my Biscuits "Stark Naked" too:-) Only never thought of baking them with soymilk!
yummy... I love these biscuits.. Like you said, they can be had with jams, nutella or even with some spicy gravy 🙂
minus all the fatty butter milk,the biscuits look scrumptious and needless to say much healthier:)
I love them too, I made biscuit and gravy for breakfast last Sunday. Looks orangy, fluffy and wonderful. Enjoy! 🙂