National Buttermilk Biscuit Day (May 14th)

For many households in the southern United States, a Sunday dinner simply wouldn’t be complete without the delicious addition of a plate full of flaky, piping hot, buttermilk biscuits. 

Eaten as a side dish with a pile of fried chicken or served under a ladle full of delicious country gravy, buttermilk biscuits are a comfort food that is worth celebrating. And National Buttermilk Biscuit Day is here to do just that!

History of National Buttermilk Biscuit Day

Biscuits weren’t always as flaky and delicious as they are today. In fact, the buttermilk biscuits that are known to be part of southern cooking are a fairly modern invention. Originally, the purpose of early versions of biscuits was to make them last a long time on journeys. Made particularly to be used by sailors, soldiers and other Travelers, biscuits were baked twice to an extra hard consistency, removing much of the moisture.

Those dense, flat ancestors of the biscuit were a rudimentary version of today’s buttermilk biscuit. The invention of baking soda as a leavening agent for quick breads did much to improve the way that biscuits were made.

In addition, the use of buttermilk, which contains important fats and acids, works with the baking soda to help the dough rise. This combination allows buttermilk biscuits to enjoy their beloved consistency that is tall and fluffy — and delicious.

National Buttermilk Biscuit Day offers a delightful opportunity for lovers of biscuits to show love and appreciation for this little round treat that offers so much joy!

How to Celebrate National Buttermilk Biscuit Day

Not sure what to do in celebration of this day when the buttermilk biscuit is the star? Here are some ideas to get started with activities in observance of National Buttermilk Biscuit Day:

Enjoy Eating Buttermilk Biscuits

Have a delightful time celebrating this day by heading out to a restaurant that serves buttermilk biscuits and order up a few. In fact, don’t forget to mention to the staff that it is National Buttermilk Biscuit Day and perhaps they’ll have a discount or coupon available in honor of this special day.

Restaurants like Cracker Barrel, Bojangles, Church’s and Popeyes offer tasty buttermilk biscuits. And, of course, Biscuitville and Biscuit World are two restaurant chains in the southeastern US that are so focused on biscuits that it’s in their name!

Try Making Buttermilk Biscuits at Home

Whether living in a place where there is limited access to restaurants that serve buttermilk biscuits, or a culinary challenge simply sounds fun, try making these delicious treats at home!

The process of making buttermilk biscuits from scratch is actually not too difficult and a basic recipe only really requires a few ingredients. The basics include flour, baking soda, baking powder, cold butter, and a bit of sugar (if preferred). And, of course, there’s the buttermilk!

Cut the butter into the dry ingredients and mix with the buttermilk, then roll the dough out with a rolling pin through a process of folding and rolling several times to create layers. Cut into rounds, bake, and share!

Pro Tip: One of the key factors that impacts the successful results of buttermilk biscuits is making sure the butter and the buttermilk are cold. In fact, placing the butter in the freezer for a bit ahead of time is a great hack.

Enjoy a Variety of Buttermilk Biscuit Toppings

A warm buttermilk biscuit is certainly complex enough to be enjoyed simply with a topping of a pat of butter. However, it’s also possible to try a few other creative ways to enjoy this delicious treat in honor of National Buttermilk Biscuit Day.

Check out some of these ways to take buttermilk biscuits to the next level:

• A Dollop of Jam. Choose a basic jam like strawberry or raspberry, or get a bit more creative by eating that buttermilk biscuit spread with fig jam or rhubarb orange jam.
• Cinnamon Honey Butter. This delicious topping takes buttermilk biscuits and adds just enough sweetness. Cinnamon honey butter can be purchased or easily made at home.
• Country Gravy. This white flour and milk-based gravy, typically made with a pork breakfast sausage, turns a buttermilk biscuit into a hearty breakfast.
• Fried Chicken. Add a delicious filling to the middle of that biscuit by frying up some breaded chicken tenders and adding a spoon of honey.

Share Some Buttermilk National Biscuit Day Love

Find some creative ways to celebrate National Buttermilk Biscuit Day by creating some hype at work or in a friend group. Make up some buttermilk biscuits and take them into the office to share. Take a friend out for breakfast or lunch at a biscuit restaurant in honor of the day. Or make an adventure out of it and invite some friends or coworkers to participate in a buttermilk biscuit bake off! 

Get Creative with Buttermilk Biscuit Recipes

Buttermilk biscuit Recipes can be the basis for all sorts of creative opportunities for adding unique flavors and changing things up a bit. Whether sweet or savory, try out some of these yummy ideas:

• Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits. This type of recipe has been made famous by the American restaurant, Red Lobster, and there they are called Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Include shredded cheddar cheese and some spices into a normal drop biscuit recipe. Add jalapenos for a kicky version!
• Pumpkin Buttermilk Biscuits. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the fall to be able to enjoy all things pumpkin! This alteration takes a standard buttermilk biscuit recipe and adds canned pumpkin as well as spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve with honey butter. (A similar version can be made with sweet potato.)
• Strawberry Shortcake with Biscuits. Make this delightful summer-y treat with fresh strawberries and cream, but instead of using shortcakes or sponge cakes, use some buttermilk biscuits.
• Blueberry Lemon Buttermilk Biscuits. Using fresh or freeze dried blueberries, this delicious recipe also includes lemon zest for a unique flavor. When the biscuits are cool, make a lemon juice and powdered sugar glaze to drizzle over the top. Yum!