Perfect Cheddar “Bay” Drop Biscuits (Soft, Moist & Balanced)
These Perfect Cheddar “Bay” Drop Biscuits are soft, fluffy, cheesy, and brushed with garlic butter. Quick to make, freezer-friendly, and the perfect side for any dinner table.
Two weeks ago, my kids came home from camp raving about the cheddar biscuits they had baked in their cooking class. Ever since then, they've been begging me to make biscuits at home. Of course, I couldn't resist — but I knew I had to take it to the next level. Enter these Perfect Cheddar "Bay" Drop Biscuits: buttery, fluffy, cheesy, and brushed with that irresistible garlic-herb butter finish.
These biscuits are the ultimate sidekick for soups, chili, or a weeknight dinner spread. They're everything you want in a biscuit: light, moist, and savoury without being too salty. Honestly? They're the perfect crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- Dry Mix
- 2¼ cups (270 g) all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled
- 1 tbsp (12 g) baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon (1.2 g) baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon (3.5–4 g) fine sea salt, scant (just slightly less than that amount)
- 1 teaspoon (4 g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Wet Mix
- 1¼ cups (140 g) sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded (coarse)
- 1¼ to 1⅓ cups (300–320 ml) cold full-fat buttermilk (start with 1¼ cups, hold back up to 4 tsp if needed)
- 6 tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- Finishing Butter
- 3 tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon sweet paprika (optional but classic)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped (1 tsp dried parsley can be substituted)
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest (for brightness without extra salt)
Instructions
- 1
Heat and prep. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C) or 425°F (220°C) convection. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Keep the buttermilk very cold — this helps form butter "pearls."
- 2
Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and garlic powder.
- 3
Add the cheddar. Toss the cheddar into the flour mixture to coat it. This prevents greasy pockets and ensures even distribution.
- 4
Make butter pearls. In a measuring cup, whisk the cold buttermilk. While whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle in the melted (but not hot) butter. The mixture should look lightly curdled or grainy — perfect. If your kitchen is warm, chill it in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- 5
Combine the ingredients. Pour the buttermilk-butter mixture into the dry ingredients. Fold gently with a spatula until no dry flour remains. The dough should be thick, moist, and scoopable — like stiff mashed potatoes. Too stiff (like cookie dough)? Stir in 1–3 tsp (5–15ml) reserved buttermilk. Too loose (spreading puddle)? Sprinkle in 1–2 tbsp (15–30ml) flour.
- 6
Drop the biscuits. Using a #20 scoop or two spoons, drop 12 mounds (about 3 tbsp (45ml) each) onto the baking sheet, spaced 2 inches (5cm) apart. Don't flatten — those peaks bake up crisp and golden.
- 7
Bake for 12–14 minutes, until golden on top and the cheese at the edges caramelizes.
- 8
Finish the biscuits. While baking, stir together the Finishing Butter. Brush the biscuits immediately after they come out of the oven, wait 2 minutes, then brush again. Rest 3–5 minutes before serving warm.
📝 Ellen's Notes
## Storage & Freezing Tips
Because biscuits taste best fresh from the oven, here's how to make them last a little longer:
- Storage: Keep cooled biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Rewarm at 300°F for 5–7 minutes to revive their fluffiness.
- Refrigeration: They'll keep up to 4–5 days in the fridge, but reheat before serving — otherwise the texture turns firm.
- Freezing baked biscuits: Wrap tightly and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat at 325°F for 10 minutes, brushing with a little extra butter to refresh.
- Freezing unbaked biscuits: Portion the dough onto a baking sheet, freeze solid, then store in a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen at 450°F, adding 3–4 minutes to the baking time.
These Cheddar “Bay” Drop Biscuits have quickly become a family favorite in my kitchen. Whether you're making them to accompany a cozy fall soup, as a side for Sunday dinner, or simply because your kids keep asking for biscuits (like mine!), they're guaranteed to hit the spot. Light, fluffy, and brushed with buttery garlic goodness — they're just the kind of recipe that disappears fast from the basket.
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