Flaky Homemade Biscuits Recipe

Prepare the Dough:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar (if using).
- Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add the Milk:
- Gradually add the cold milk to the flour mixture, stirring gently with a fork until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; the dough should be slightly sticky.
Shape the Biscuits:
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead the dough a few times until it comes together.
- Pat or roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
- Use a biscuit cutter or a round cookie cutter to cut out biscuits. Gather the scraps, re-roll, and cut out more biscuits until all the dough is used.
Prepare for Baking:
- Place the biscuits on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- For a golden finish, brush the tops of the biscuits with a beaten egg (optional).
Bake the Biscuits:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown and puffed.
Cool and Serve:
- Allow the biscuits to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.
- Serve warm with butter, jam, or your favorite toppings.

For extra flaky biscuits, fold the dough over itself a few times before cutting out the biscuits.
You can add cheese, herbs, or spices to the dough for different flavor variations.