Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits with Scallions

Cheddar scallion biscuits on a plate

If you’re looking for a savory breakfast biscuit, I’ve got you covered. My buttermilk cheddar scallion biscuits are the perfect addition to your breakfast needs!

These cheddar scallion biscuits are something you’ll definitely want to keep in rotation for breakfast or brunch. It’s also a great side dish for dinner! Or, if you’re like me, it’s great to randomly snack on during the day! I’ve also added a hint of garlic to the recipe, because….well, why not???

Stack of cheddar scallion biscuits on a plate
Cheddar scallion biscuits

How to make homemade biscuits

Making biscuits from scratch may seem a bit scary in the beginning (talking to myself here). But after learning some simple tricks to making the dough, you’ll want to make a batch of biscuits every day! 

It’s also so so simple to make biscuits from scratch, that it’s actually a bread recipe where your measurements do not have to be exact! Being someone that likes to eyeball their measurements and is also NOT a baker, I love the ease of putting together a biscuit recipe. But, as a guide, I’ve created an actual recipe for ya!

You simply mix chunks of butter with a flour mixture, then add your milk of choice. If there’s additional flavors or seasonings you’d like to add, it’ll get tossed in before the milk.

Tips to making a great batch of biscuits

While biscuits are pretty simple to execute, there are a few small tips to making a batch go from “Mmmmmmm!” to “MMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Keep your cold ingredients cold!

The most important tip when it comes to making a batch of biscuits is to keep all of your refrigerated ingredients in the fridge until it’s ready to be used for the dough. I usually measure out what’s needed, then tuck it back in the fridge. Even if I plan on using it within 5 minutes, I keep it cold until the very last second. 

Using cold ingredients helps to create those layers that we all love biscuits for. You really want to avoid letting your cold ingredients get to room temperature. If this happens, your biscuits will not create those layers, and can also be a bit dense once baked.

Measure out your milk of choice and butter, and keep it in the fridge until ready to use. 

Grate your butter!

If you have time, freeze your butter for about 15 minutes. Then get a grater, and grate the butter like it’s cheese! This is a fun trick to get the butter into small enough pieces without getting the butter too warm with your body heat or having it sit at room temperature.  

If you do not have a grater available, you can cut the butter into a pea size amount with a knife before putting it back in the fridge to chill. 

Another option is to first cut your butter into larger chunks, then use a bladed dough blender to break the butter up into tinier pieces directly into the flour while the bowl. It’s a pretty cool tool to use too!

There’s also the option to cut and break the butter up into those smaller pieces with your fingers. But again, since we want to keep the cold ingredients cold, this should be a last resort. So the previous options are the better way to go.

Create even more layers in your biscuits!

Another trick to getting those flaky layers in biscuits is to create them!

To do this, you’ll flatten the mixed dough onto a floured surface to an inch thick with a rolling pin, forming a rectangle. Next, you’ll fold that rectangle in half on top of itself, like folding a book together. Rotate that folded dough a quarter of a turn, flatten the dough out again, and repeat the folding process 4 additional times (5 folds in total.) Using a bench scraper is very helpful with getting the dough off the counter to be folded. 

Do this quickly though, since you do want to keep the ingredients in the dough as cold as you can before baking. This will take about 3 minutes to do.

What to serve with cheddar scallion biscuits

These cheddar scallion biscuits are delicious on their own! I love to slice one open and spread some butter onto it. Sooo good!

It’s also perfect for making breakfast sandwiches, or even to accompany a sausage gravy to make the ultimate biscuits and gravy brunch meal! (recipe coming soon for the sausage gravy!)

I hope you have as much fun making (and eating) my cheddar scallion biscuits like I did!

Cheddar scallion biscuits on a plate
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5 from 9 votes

Buttermilk Cheddar Scallion Biscuits

My flaky cheddar scallion biscuits are the perfect addition to your breakfast needs!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bay biscuits, biscuit, biscuits, cheddar bay biscuits, cheddar biscuit, cheddar biscuits, red lobster biscuits
Servings: 8 biscuits
Author: Crystal

Equipment

  • sheet pan
  • parchment paper
  • Mixing bowl
  • wooden spoon
  • Rolling Pin
  • Bench scraper
  • Bladed dough cutter or grater
  • pastry brush

Ingredients

  • 2 ¾ cup all purpose flour plus extra for dusting
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 scallions sliced thin
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup unsalted butter kept cold
  • 1 cup buttermilk kept cold
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a small sheet pan with parchment paper. Spray the parchment with pan spray and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, baking powder, garlic powder, and salt.
  • Toss in the scallions and shredded cheese and coat with the flour mixture.
  • Grate the cold butter into the flour, and coat with the flour mixture with a wooden spoon.
  • Pour the milk into the center of the flour mixture. Slowly mix in the flour with the wooden spoon to incorporate. Then use your hands to thoroughly mix until the dough is formed. Dough may be slightly wet.
  • Take a couple of spoonfuls of flour and dust onto the countertop. Dump the dough onto the flour. Dust a little more flour on top of the dough. Roll the dough out to an inch thick.
  • Fold the rolled out dough in half like a book. Rotate the folded dough a quarter of a turn, and roll the dough to an inch thick. Fold and rotate the dough a total of 5 times, flouring the counter top as needed.
  • After folding the dough one last time, roll out to 1 inch thick and cut into desired biscuit sizes. Place biscuits onto the parchment lined sheet pan.
  • Bake for 15 minutes, rotating halfway through baking.
  • Remove from the oven. Brush with melted butter and serve.

Classic Buttermilk Pancakes

Stack of pancakes with butter being drizzled with syrup

Can never go wrong with a nice fluffy stack of some classic buttermilk pancakes. Amiright? I am right. Keep it classy, not trashy.

Stack of buttermilk pancakes with butter being drizzled with syrup

How do I make classic buttermilk pancakes?

Cooking pancakes definitely seems intimidating at first. But please don’t freak out with this recipe. It really is sooooo simple to do. As a quick summary:

  1. Mix your batter, and let it sit for a few minutes before cooking
  2. Preheat your griddle or cast iron skillet
  3. Add a thin layer of your fat of choice
  4. Pour in the desired amount of batter
  5. Cook one side of the pancake for a few minutes, then flip to cook the other side for one more minute. 

I’ve created a much more detailed breakdown of the pinpoints listed above, which can be found here, along with pictures! You’ll also find a really yummy red velvet pancake recipe there too!

What toppings can I add to my pancake batter?

What I love about this recipe is that you can jazz up the batter with additional toppings! 

I love to add a couple of handfuls of chocolate chips to satisfy that chocolate craving that I pretty much always have. To make the batter itself a little sweeter, add a half a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

You can also throw in some sprinkles to serve these to the little ones, or yourself if you’re in the mood to be a big kid. I would add a half teaspoon to this batter for this modification as well.

Adding a cup or two of berries are a great addition too if you’re looking to be fake healthy! Either fresh or thawed frozen berries will do. 

But sometimes, it’s cool to  keep it classy and not trashy. Go ahead and test this recipe out the traditional way. I ain’t gonna be mad at ya!

What should I put on top of my buttermilk pancakes?

Honestly, the best way to serve these yummy buttermilk pancakes with a slice of butter and warm maple syrup!

Similar to adding your fav berries into the batter itself, it can be added as a garnish when serving the pancakes too. 

How to store cooked pancakes

I like to make a few batches of pancakes to freeze for later. When reheated, it’ll taste just as good as it did when serving it on the day off. To do this:

  • Completely cool your pancakes to room temperature.
  • Place the pancakes into a freezer safe ziploc bag. 
  • Optional: if you have deli or parchment paper, it can be placed between each pancake before freezing
  • Write a date onto the bag and freeze.

When you’re ready to serve the frozen pancakes, you’ll do the following:

  • Place frozen pancakes into one layer on a microwave safe dish.
  • Place a damp paper towel over the frozen pancakes. 
  • Microwave for 45 seconds for a single pancake, or 1 minute for multiple pancakes at once. Microwave for an additional 15 seconds if needed.

The steam created from the damp paper towel will help to add some moisture into the pancake while it’s warming up. 

I hope you get a chance to test out my classic buttermilk pancakes! If you do, I’d love it if you left a review. Also be sure to tag me on Instagram!

If you’re looking for more breakfast inspo, check out my lemon ricotta pancakes!

Classic Buttermilk Pancakes

Can never go wrong with a nice fluffy classic buttermilk pancake. Amiright? I am right.
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: breakfast, brunch, buttermilkpancake, pancake, pancakes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Crystal

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Cast iron skillet or griddle
  • spatula
  • pastry brush

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 eggs
  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • olive oil for cooking the pancakes

Instructions

  • Preheat a griddle or cast iron pan on a stove to the setting above it’s lowest setting.
  • While the griddle is heating, In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk.
  • Pour the milk mixture in with the flour mixture. Gently whisk for about a minute to combine.
  • Add the melted butter to the mixture. Stir to incorporate. Batter should be slightly lumpy and thick.
  • Spread small amount of olive oil in the griddle with a pasty brush, just enough to coat the surface.
  • Pour a quarter cup of the pancake mixture onto the griddle. Spread out the mixture to make pancakes a little thinner and rounder. If cooking multiple pancakes at a time, be sure to keep them at least an inch apart.
  • Cook pancakes for 4-5 minutes on it’s first side. The uncooked side will create little holes and look a little dry. Once it’s at that point, flip and cook for 1 more minute.
  • Serve with melted butter and maple syrup. Enjoy!

How to Make Red Velvet Pancakes with Whipped Cream Cheese

Stack of red velvet pancakes with cream cheese topping

These red velvet pancakes are the perfect excuse to eat dessert for breakfast! Adding a dollop of whipped cream cheese topping to melt onto the warm pancakes takes this classic dessert to another level. 

I don’t know much about you, but what I do know is you love red velvet cake, which brought you to this recipe! My red velvet pancakes with whipped cream cheese is the fastest way to get your red velvet cake hankering taken care of! And the best part is that, unlike a slice of cake, this will be nice and warm, and in about 30 minutes! Mmmmmmmmm!

Read below on the tips and tricks to properly making and cooking pancake batter!

What is the best type of milk to use in pancake batter?

You’ll often find a lot of pancake recipes using buttermilk. That is because the acidity in the buttermilk helps to break down the gluten in the batter, which helps to make the pancake more tender and fluffy vs chewy.

Because of this, buttermilk is definitely the best milk to use for pancake batter! If you don’t have buttermilk available, no worries. Using regular milk is still an option.

Tricks to make the best pancake batter!!!

One of the easiest mistakes to make when making pancakes doesn’t even deal with the cooking process….it’s making the batter itself!

Don’t over mix your batter!

You want to be careful when making your pancake mix, which isn’t as hard to do as you may think. Mixing it too much creates too much gluten, which will result in a gummy, chewy pancake (ugh!). 

Easiest way to prevent this is by mixing your dry and wet ingredients separately, then gently combining them together. 

Lumps are okay in pancake batter!

This shows that the pancake mix was mixed together just long enough to combine all the ingredients. If there are a few chunks  in the batter, don’t stress! A super smooth batter isn’t needed. Also, trying to get the batter really smooth will cause overmixing.

Once your pancake batter is mixed, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.

This technique works with ANY type of dough or batter. Once the batter (or dough) is mixed, wait a bit before cooking. You want the mix to settle a bit. I usually make my batter, then preheat my cast iron while the batter rests.

What’s the correct temperature setting to cook pancakes in a cast iron skillet?

I get that griddles are usually the go-to when it comes to cooking pancakes. But I’ve never owned one, thanks to my handy dandy cast iron skillet! Luckily, whatever way you cook things on griddles can be applied to a cast iron.

To cook your pancakes in a cast iron, heat the skillet a little to medium-low heat.

Let the pan heat for 10 minutes before cooking the pancakes. You want to ensure that the heat is evenly distributed. Hot spots are definitely not what you want when executing the perfect pancake, so give your cast iron some time to warm up. 

If you have a griddle, it should be warmed to medium heat. Cast irons warm and hold heat a little differently than griddles, so it’ll have to be preheated differently as well.

How do I know if my griddle is set to the proper temperature to cook pancakes. 

There are 2 ways you can test your griddle or cast iron to test if it’s ready for cooking pancakes:

  • Add a small spoonful of your pancake batter into the pan. After a minute, the top of the pancake should look slightly dry. Flip your tiny pancake. If the cooked side is nice and golden, you’re good to go! If the pancake takes more than a minute to look dry on the uncooked side, turn the heat up a verrryyy tiny amount. Same deal if the pancake cooks faster than a minute – turn your heat down a tiny amount. 
  • Add a couple of drops of room temperature water into the pan. The water should sizzle for a couple of seconds before evaporating. If so, the pan is ready to use! Adjust the temperature if the water just sits in the pan, or if it immediately evaporates. 

How do I properly cook pancakes

Once your griddle or cast iron has preheated and batter has rested, it (finally) time to cook your pancakes! It’s a lot less scarier than it seems:

Melt and evenly spread your fat of choice onto the pan

I prefer to use butter to cook my pancakes for flavor, but I occasionally use olive oil. It honestly depends on my mood.

While butter is more flavorful, it can burn easier. If you choose to use butter, make sure you wipe your griddle clean between each set of cooked pancakes to clean of little burned butter bits. With olive oil, cleaning the pan each time is not necessary.

Since cast irons and griddles are already sort of nonstick, you do not need to use too much fat to cook. With a pastry brush, evenly spread a thin layer of fat onto the bottom. Then add your batter, making the pancakes the size of your liking, leaving at least a half an inch between each pancake.

Let the pancake completely cook on one side before flipping

While the pancake batter is cooking, bubbles will form. Wait for those bubbles to pop and turn into small holes. This will show that the pancake is properly being cooked throughout. 

Only flip your pancakes once!!!

Eventually, the uncooked side of the pancake will no longer look wet and slightly dry, after 3-5 minutes of cooking. After bubbles no longer form and pop, it’s time to flip your pancake. Once flipped, you’ll see the first side of your pancake is cooked through, and it’ll only take an additional minute to cook the flipped side.

You do not need to flip the pancake more than once! If you’ve cooked the first side correctly, there is no reason to cook it back on that side again. 

Now that we’ve discussed pancake batter and cooking techniques, let’s talk about the recipe at hand….Red Velvet Pancakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Topping!

Stack of red velvet pancakes

Why is there sour cream in red velvet cake?

I made my red velvet pancake recipe similar to what can be found in red velvet cake. One of those ingredients is sour cream.

Similar to the use of buttermilk, sour cream helps to break down the gluten in pancake batter, which will make for pancakes that will not be chewy. 

The sour cream also adds creaminess and a little more flavor to the pancakes. Fat means flavor baby! And the sour cream is what I used instead of butter. If you do not have sour cream available, melted butter is a good replacement.  

What type of chocolate chips should I use for the red velvet pancakes?

The type of chocolate chips used for the red velvet pancakes are entirely up to you! For this recipe, I used semi-sweet chocolate chips. If you want to make something more visually appealing, white chocolate chips can be used!

I prefer to use semi-sweet chocolate chips. I love that it has some bitterness to it that isn’t as strong as dark chocolate, plus it still has some sweetness to it like milk chocolate. 

How do I make my whipped cream cheese topping without lumps

As you can see, I  really stuck to the theme of red velvet by making a whipped cream cheese topping. I’ve added butter to mine as well so it’ll melt easier on the warm pancakes. 

The key to making the whipped cream cheese topping is to make sure both the cream cheese and butter are at room temperature. It’ll not only make the whipped topping easier to make, it’ll ensure the topping doesn’t have chunks.

Taking both of these ingredients out of the fridge at least an hour before use. At minimum, sit them at room temperature when you begin making your pancake batter.

If your cream cheese and butter are not quite at room temp, don’t worry. The topping can still be made. Just be prepared for it to be on the chunkier side. The flavor will still be there, and the chunks will melt a little bit when it’s on the pancakes. 

Stack of red velvet pancakes with cream cheese topping

Additional toppings for red velvet pancakes

While the red velvet pancakes already taste amazing with the whipped cream cheese topping, you aren’t limited to just using that.

I drizzled mine with chocolate syrup to add more chocolate to my plate. I’m also a fan of texture, so I threw a few chocolate chips on top!

If you get to make my red velvet pancakes with whipped cream cheese topping, I’d love it if you left a review!!! Feel free to also share your creation by tagging me on Instagram!!!

Red Velvet Pancakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Topping

These red velvet pancakes are the perfect excuse to eat dessert for breakfast!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: breakfast, cream cheese, cream cheese icing, dessert, pancakes, red velvet, red velvet pancakes
Servings: 8 pancakes
Author: Crystal

Equipment

  • Cast iron skillet or griddle
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Ladle
  • Pancake spatula

Ingredients

Red Velvet Pancakes

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 3 ½ tbsp granulated sugar
  • t tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 ½ tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp red food coloring
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
  • 1 tbsp melted butter plus extra, kept separate for cooking

Whipped Cream Cheese Topping

  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 2 ounces unsalted butter room temperature
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions

How to make the red velvet pancakes

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa powder. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, egg, vanilla extract, and food coloring.
  • Pour the milk mixture in with the flour mixture. Gently whisk for about a minute to combine.
  • Add the chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of melted butter to the mixture. Stir until just incorporated. Batter should be slightly lumpy and thick.
  • Let the batter sit for 10-15 minutes before cooking. While the batter is resting, preheat a griddle (medium heat) or cast iron pan on a stove (medium-low heat) . (The cream cheese topping can be made while the griddle is heating.)
  • Melt and spread a small amount of butter in the griddle, just enough to coat the surface.
  • Pour a quarter cup of the pancake mixture onto the griddle. Spread out the mixture to make pancakes a little thinner and rounder. If cooking multiple pancakes at a time, be sure to keep them at least an inch apart.
  • Cook pancakes for 3-4 minutes on it’s first side. The uncooked side will create little holes and look a little dry. Once it’s at that point, flip and cook for 1 more minute. Wipe the griddle clean before cooking another set of pancakes.
  • Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream cheese and chocolate syrup . Enjoy!

How to make the whipped cream cheese topping

  • In a small bowl, beat the heavy cream with a hand mixer on high for 4-5 minutes, to make a soft whipped cream.
  • Add in the vanilla extract, cream cheese, and butter. Beat to combine on high for 30 seconds, or until smooth.
  • Add the powdered sugar, and beat for an additional 30 seconds.
  • Dollop on top of the warm pancakes.

Notes

The whipped cream cheese topping can be store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Freeze cooked pancakes in a ziploc bag for up to 2 months.

If you’re looking for another pancake recipe, check out these Lemon Ricotta Pancakes!!!

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