These Homemade Honey Butter Cheddar Biscuits are everything you want in a biscuit—flaky, cheesy, buttery, and kissed with a sweet garlic-honey glaze. Baked golden in a cast-iron skillet for an irresistibly crisp bottom, these biscuits come together with pantry staples and a bit of technique for maximum fluffiness. Whether served at brunch or alongside dinner, they’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s simple to whip up and hard to stop eating.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Biscuits:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 stick (½ cup) salted butter, frozen and shredded
1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
¾ cup whole milk
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons butter (for baking)

For the Honey Butter:

2 tablespoons salted butter
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or parsley
Flaky sea salt (for finishing)

Directions

Prep: Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter a 10-inch cast-iron skillet.
Make Biscuit Dough: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Add shredded butter and cheese; mix. Pour in milk and honey; mix until just combined.
Layer the Dough: Turn dough onto a floured surface. Pat into a 1-inch-thick rectangle. Fold one side in like a letter, then the other. Turn and repeat folding twice more. Flatten dough to ¾ inch thick.
Cut & Arrange: Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter to cut circles. Re-roll scraps as needed. Place biscuits in skillet. Brush tops with milk and place 2 tbsp butter around biscuits.
Bake: Bake 20–22 minutes, until golden brown.
Make Honey Butter: Melt 2 tbsp butter in a saucepan with honey and garlic powder. Remove from heat and stir in herbs.
Serve: Spoon honey butter over warm biscuits. Sprinkle with flaky salt and enjoy.

Nutrients (Per Biscuit – Approximate)

Calories: 381 kcal
Carbohydrates: ~30g
Protein: ~9g
Fat: ~25g
Saturated Fat: ~15g
Sugar: ~4g
Cholesterol: ~60mg
Sodium: ~500mg
Calcium: High (from cheese)

Why These Biscuits Are So Special

At their core, these biscuits are the result of simple ingredients elevated by thoughtful technique. The base starts with pantry staples like flour, baking powder, and salt, then gets enriched with frozen, shredded butter and sharp cheddar cheese. Freezing the butter before incorporating it ensures that it stays solid in the dough—so when the biscuits bake, the butter melts and steams inside the layers, creating that signature flaky texture biscuit lovers crave.

What truly takes these over the top, however, is the honey butter topping. It adds a lightly sweet, savory note with a hint of garlic and fresh herbs, contrasting beautifully with the richness of the biscuit itself. The balance of sweet and salty, crisp and tender, makes each bite a full-flavor experience.

The Secret to Biscuit Fluffiness

Biscuit dough is notoriously sensitive to overhandling. That’s why this recipe keeps the mixing minimal—just enough to bring everything together. But the real magic lies in the folding technique. Similar to a rough puff pastry or croissant dough, folding the biscuit dough like a letter several times creates visible layers. This method encourages the biscuits to rise tall and separate cleanly when baked, giving you that bakery-style finish at home.

Shaping the dough with a sharp biscuit cutter and avoiding twisting the cutter when pressing down also helps the biscuits rise evenly. These small techniques, when combined, make a big difference in achieving the tall, flaky texture that defines a great biscuit.

Cheddar for Richness and Flavor

Sharp cheddar cheese is a key ingredient in this recipe—not just for flavor, but for structure. As the biscuits bake, the cheese melts into the layers, providing little pockets of saltiness and umami that deepen the flavor of each bite. The sharpness of the cheddar balances the sweetness of the honey glaze perfectly, making the biscuits both indulgent and complex.

Using a good-quality cheddar will make a noticeable difference. Extra-sharp or aged cheddar brings a nutty depth, while a milder cheddar offers a creamier, more subtle flavor. Either choice creates a fantastic biscuit, so it’s simply a matter of preference.

That Irresistible Honey Butter Glaze

Once the biscuits emerge from the oven golden brown and fragrant, they’re glazed with a simple mixture of melted butter, honey, garlic powder, and fresh herbs like basil or parsley. This finishing step adds shine, moisture, and flavor, turning great biscuits into unforgettable ones.

The glaze melts into the crevices of the biscuit, enhancing every bite with a delicate sweetness and a hint of garlic warmth. Flaky sea salt sprinkled on top right before serving brings out all the other flavors and adds a satisfying crunch that contrasts with the tender interior.

You can also customize the glaze to suit your meal—add crushed red pepper for a spicy kick, swap in maple syrup for a fall twist, or use rosemary instead of parsley for a more savory profile.

A Biscuit for All Occasions

These honey butter cheddar biscuits are as versatile as they are delicious. Their bold flavor and visual appeal make them a natural fit for festive gatherings and holiday tables, but they’re also simple enough to serve on a weeknight. Some of the best ways to enjoy them include:

Brunch: Pair with scrambled eggs, bacon, and fruit for a hearty breakfast spread.

Lunch: Serve alongside tomato soup or a crisp salad for a cozy midday meal.

Dinner: Complement roasted chicken, pot roast, or creamy pasta with a warm, cheesy biscuit on the side.

Entertaining: Set out a basket of these biscuits at your next gathering and watch them disappear.

Snacking: Enjoy them on their own, slightly warm, with a cup of tea or coffee.

Their ability to complement both sweet and savory dishes makes them a staple recipe you’ll want to return to again and again.

Make-Ahead and Storage Tips

Like most baked goods, these biscuits are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. That said, they hold up remarkably well for a day or two when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. If you want to prepare ahead, here’s how:

Make-ahead dough: Prepare the dough and cut the biscuits in advance, then refrigerate or freeze them unbaked. Bake straight from the fridge or freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating: Warm baked biscuits in the oven at 300°F for 5–7 minutes or in the microwave for 15–20 seconds for a just-baked taste.

Freezing: Baked biscuits freeze well. Wrap individually and store in a zip-top freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven to restore texture.

Tips for Biscuit Success

Start with very cold butter, and don’t skip freezing or chilling it before grating.

Handle the dough as little as possible to keep the gluten relaxed and the biscuits tender.

Fold the dough 3–4 times for noticeable layers and maximum fluff.

Use a cast-iron skillet for a crispy bottom and even baking, but a parchment-lined baking sheet also works well.

Brush the tops with milk before baking for color, and don’t skip the honey butter glaze—it’s what makes them stand out.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These biscuits are everything a great baked good should be—crisp on the edges, soft in the center, full of bold flavor, and finished with a glossy, golden touch. They bring warmth and comfort to any table, and despite their impressive appearance, they’re approachable and easy to make at home. They don’t require special equipment or fancy ingredients—just a love for scratch-made goodness and the willingness to fold and bake.

Once you make them, you’ll understand why they’ve earned their place as a go-to recipe. They’re rich but not too heavy, flavorful but still versatile, and just indulgent enough to feel like a treat.

Conclusion

Homemade Honey Butter Cheddar Biscuits are more than just a side—they’re the kind of comfort food that steals the show. With their flaky layers, rich cheddar flavor, and the perfect kiss of sweet honey garlic butter, these biscuits embody everything that makes home baking rewarding. They’re easy to prepare, deeply satisfying, and endlessly adaptable.

Whether you serve them at a weekend brunch, alongside your favorite soup, or as a holiday staple, one thing’s for sure: they’ll disappear fast and leave everyone asking for more. So grab your cast-iron skillet, a block of cheddar, and a stick of butter—you’re about to make biscuits worth remembering.