Fluffy Fresh Milled Cheddar Bay Biscuits

These Fluffy Fresh Milled Cheddar Bay Biscuits are so simple to make in just 30 minutes! A cheesy, easy drop biscuit that tastes just as amazing as the famous Red Lobster biscuits, but with way more health benefits! 

I love making a biscuit or sourdough garlic cheesy bread to go along with a hot bowl of chili or venison stew. My two boys are meat and carb lovers and will eat three to four of these whole wheat biscuits at suppertime. I’m smiling on the inside because they are made of healthy ingredients so win-win for this mom! Although anything that I can make at home with healthy ingredients is a win instead of buying a box with unpronounceable words in the ingredient list. 

This is an easy recipe to make, using plain ingredients that you have on hand. I make it with freshly milled flour, mainly hard white wheat berries, but you can also use hard red wheat or even einkorn. If you don’t have whole grains on hand to mill your flour, you could substitute with unbleached all-purpose flour. Homemade biscuits are a delicious way to complete a meal, and one that the whole family will love! 

How to make Fresh Milled Cheddar Bay Biscuits

This is a ‘drop biscuit recipe’ which not only saves time but makes a nice fluffy shape. Instead of rolling out the dough in a 1-inch thickness and then cutting and shaping the biscuits, just take a 1/4 cup scoop and drop them on a tray with parchment paper. No rolling pin is needed here! I’ve had great success with this method when I’m in a hurry and need to get some buttery biscuits into the oven. They come out golden brown with a fluffy texture every time. Another thing worth mentioning is that this recipe uses melted butter instead of cold butter. Kind of a twist to regular biscuits, but it works well. 

Step by Step Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 and set the rack in the middle position. You don’t want the tops of the biscuits to get burnt. 

Line a 13 x 18 baking sheet with parchment paper. 

First, you want to mill your wheat. Mill 1 1/3 cups of hard white wheat and add it to a large bowl. 

Add sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, and salt and whisk together.

In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter and buttermilk. 

Pour mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to combine using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until just moist. Grate cheese with a medium cheese grater and gently fold into the batter. Don’t overmix, it can cause tough biscuits. The goal is to get fluffy biscuits!

How to substitute buttermilk

If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own buttermilk substitute. I’ve had to do this many times when I don’t have any on hand. It’s one thing I forget to buy, but yet I need it so often in recipes. Here is a buttermilk substitute

Buttermilk Substitute

1 cup buttermilk = 1 tbsp white vinegar + enough milk to measure 1 cup. Gently stir and let sit for about 5 minutes.

or

1 cup buttermilk = 1 tbsp lemon juice + enough milk to measure 1 cup. Gently stir and let sit for about 5 minutes.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Using a 1/4 cup ice cream scoop, drop the biscuit dough on the tray. So quick and easy! I usually get around 16 biscuits on one tray. 

Place into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until they are a beautiful golden brown. They are made with fresh milled flour so it might take a minute longer to bake. They are ready to serve when a toothpick comes out clean. 

Benefits of Fresh Milled Flour

These are whole wheat biscuits but I promise you won’t even notice the difference. Milling your own flour adds that extra touch to homemade meals. Fresh flour brings a dose of amazing flavor, aroma, and color to your cooking. Since you are using the entirety of the grain berry, you get all the nutrients, vitamins, fats, fiber, antioxidants, and essential minerals that greatly benefit your body. 

If you just buy freshly milled flour but would like to start milling your own wheat, here is a helpful review of why we love the Komo Grain Mill. 

Disadvantages of Fresh Milled Flour

Baking with fresh-milled flour requires a slightly different approach than baking with white or whole wheat flour. When using whole grain flour the dough might not be as elastic or strong as using one with most of the bran sifted out. Instead of expecting the same result like a high rise and open crumb, expect a lower rise and a slightly denser interior. But fear not! What you sacrifice in volume, you gain in flavor, texture, and nutritional benefits! 

Can I make Fresh Milled Biscuits gluten-free?

If you are gluten-sensitive, try making einkorn biscuits with einkorn flour. Einkorn flour has a naturally low gluten content and is easier to digest compared to regular flour. Gluten-sensitive people tolerate it well. If you have celiac disease, it won’t be a good option for you. 

Can I freeze biscuits?

Sometimes I will double my recipe and put half of the biscuits into the freezer for a quick supper. This comes in so handy when you need a last-minute addition to your supper! Put the baked biscuits into a ziploc bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. 

More Fresh Milled Goodies

Check out this Fresh Milled Wheat Bread with Sourdough if you are looking for a delicious soft sandwich bread!

This Easy Einkorn Pancake Recipe is sure to please!