The holiday season warrants many traditions that vary across cultures, but there is one constant—sharing food with your family and friends. If you’re looking to make someone’s day or contribute to a celebration by cooking something delicious, look no further than these easily made and shared biscuits. Enjoy them with the gravy recipe included, or with any other topping of your choice.   

Buttermilk Biscuits:

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Yield: 4 servings 

Ingredients (For biscuits):

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking soda

5 tablespoons butter or shortening

1 cup buttermilk

About 2 tablespoons milk (optional)

Ingredients (For gravy):

1 package ground breakfast sausage 

2 teaspoons olive oil

About 3 cups milk (may vary)

About ½ cup flour (may vary)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions (for biscuits):

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a flat baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
3. Cut the butter into small pieces, about a centimeter each.
4. Combine the butter and the dry ingredients, and then use your hands (make sure to wash them well!) or a pastry cutter to press, and cut the butter into smaller pieces. You don’t want any pieces that are larger than a pea to remain in the mixture. Try not to overmix as you do not want to warm the butter too much with your hands. 
5. Once the butter is combined, pour the buttermilk over the dry ingredients and mix carefully until just combined. Do not overwork the dough, a little separation is okay. 
6. Use your hands or a utensil to transfer the dough in rough ball shapes to the parchment lined baking sheet. Aim for roughly fist-sized, even balls of dough. Don’t worry about cutting them out or making them into perfect circles.
7. Optionally, brush the tops of the biscuits with milk for a more golden exterior. You can use a plastic kitchen brush. 
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 450 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Directions (for gravy):

1. In a saucepan, heat the oil on medium, then add the ground sausage. Break up the sausage with a spatula to avoid large clumps.
2. Cook sausage until it is no longer pink and broken into small pieces (the size can vary depending on your personal preference.)
3. Turn the heat down and slowly add flour, stirring each time with the spatula until it disappears. Continue in small batches until the flour will no longer disappear.
4. Start adding milk slowly in batches, stirring. It should begin to thicken quickly. Continue adding milk until the mixture is your desired consistency and amount. If it is not thickening, continue stirring and turn the heat up slightly.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. You can serve the biscuits and gravy together or in separate recipes, and you can garnish it with parsley, paprika, pepper, or any other ingredients you would like to add. Enjoy!