Biscuits are a beloved staple of Southern cuisine. Their flaky, buttery texture makes them the perfect vessel for all kinds of delicious toppings. But with so many options to choose from, what are the best toppings to elevate your biscuits to new heights of flavor? Here’s a look at some of the most popular and delicious biscuit toppings to consider.
Gravy
For many biscuit lovers, gravy is the quintessential topping. The classic Southern biscuits and gravy combines the flakiness of fresh baked biscuits with the creamy, savory decadence of sausage gravy. The biscuit soaks up the rich gravy like a sponge, resulting in a wonderfully satisfying mouthfeel with each bite. Biscuits and gravy is a filling, comforting breakfast dish, though it also makes a great any time meal.
Sausage Gravy
Sausage gravy starts with cooked breakfast sausage. The browned sausage is removed, then a roux is made from the rendered fat and flour. Milk and seasonings are added to make a creamy, meaty gravy that is perfect atop split biscuits. Sausage gravy has a savory, slightly spicy kick.
Sawmill Gravy
Sawmill gravy gets its name from being made without meat. The gravy starts with a simple roux of butter and flour, seasoned with black pepper. Milk is whisked in until smooth and creamy. Sawmill gravy has a lighter flavor that highlights the essence of the biscuit.
Chicken Gravy
For a lighter take on gravy, chicken gravy is made starting with cooked chicken. The chicken broth and juices make a flavorful base for the gravy. Chicken gravy has a cleaner flavor than sausage gravy, but still pairs deliciously with biscuits.
Preserves and Jams
Sweet fruit preserves and jams are another excellent topping for biscuits. Tart jams and brightly flavored preserves provide the perfect contrast to a biscuit’s savory, buttery flavor. Some delicious jam and preserve options include:
- Strawberry jam
- Blueberry preserves
- Blackberry jam
- Raspberry jam
- Peach preserves
- Apricot jam
Any high quality fruit preserve will do. Spread it generously over a split, warm biscuit for a satisfying sweet treat any time of day.
Honey
For an uncomplicated topping that adds a touch of natural sweetness, look no further than honey. High quality honey has beautifully complex floral notes that complement biscuits perfectly. Honey works just as well paired with butter on a biscuit as it does solo. For variety, try different honeys like wildflower, orange blossom, or sourwood.
Molasses
With its robust bittersweet flavor, molasses is a classic biscuit topping. Its thick, dark syrupiness provides rich contrast to the biscuit’s fluffy texture. Use molasses in moderation, as a little goes a long way. Molasses pairs particularly well with biscuits made with whole wheat or rye flours.
Butter
Good biscuits deserve good butter. High quality butter can be the perfect topping all on its own. A generous pat of butter melting into the warm biscuit is tough to beat. Use premium butters like small batch cultured options or European style high fat butters. Flavored butters are an easy way to kick things up a notch.
Whipped Honey Butter
For next level flavor, make your own whipped honey butter. Simply blend together softened butter, honey, and a pinch of sea salt until light and fluffy. Slather on top of Split biscuits straight from the oven and prepare to be amazed.
Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
Chocolate and hazelnut butter, aka Nutella, is an indulgent biscuit topping. The chocolatey hazelnut spread melts into the biscuit for a decadent treat. Consider dipping the edges of the biscuit in chocolate hazelnut butter for an extra flavor punch.
Mascarpone Cheese
Smooth and rich mascarpone cheese makes an elegant topping for biscuits. Its mild sweetness pairs beautifully with the biscuit’s flavor. Try topping warmed biscuits with mascarpone drizzled with honey. For additional decadence, mix in some shaved chocolate or jam.
Whipped Cream
Fresh whipped cream is a simple way to make biscuits feel special. Sweetened or unsweetened whipped cream provides a cool, creamy contrast to the biscuit’s warmth. For more flavor, consider infusing the cream with vanilla bean, honey, or citrus zest before whipping.
Maple Glazed Bacon
For an indulgent savory-sweet topping, go with maple glazed bacon. Crisp bacon is brushed with real maple syrup and crumbled over split biscuits. The combination of smoky bacon and maple sweetness takes biscuits to the next level.
Fried Chicken
In the South, biscuits and fried chicken go hand in hand. Warm biscuits topped with crunchy fried chicken and drizzled with honey is decadent perfection. Alternately, tuck shredded or chopped fried chicken right into the split biscuit for a built-in topping.
Country Ham
Artisan country ham has a concentrated salty porkiness that balances beautifully with a biscuit’s flavor. Thin sliced country ham makes an upscale biscuit topping. For an extra savory biscuit, add a schmear of pimento cheese too.
Chili
Hearty chili and biscuits are natural partners. The spice and heat of the chili offsets the biscuit’s richness. Top split biscuits with a ladle of your favorite chili recipe. Add shredded cheese, thinly sliced green onion, and sour cream for a complete meal.
Pimento Cheese
No Southern biscuit topping list would be complete without pimento cheese. The smooth, creamy cheese punctuated with bits of pimento pepper is a biscuit’s BFF. Schmear pimento cheese over a split biscuit or use it as a dip alongside bites of biscuit.
Conclusion
With so many amazing options, there’s no reason for plain biscuits. Gravies, jams, honeys, butters, cheeses, meats…the possibilities for terrific biscuit toppings are nearly endless. When it comes to the best toppings for biscuits, feel free to get creative and come up with your own signature combinations.
Just keep in mind a few guiding principles:
- Balance sweet and savory flavors
- Play hot and cold textures against each other
- Pair bitter or acidic flavors with the biscuit’s richness
- Highlight the essence of the biscuit’s flavor
- Let high quality ingredients shine through
With the right toppings, biscuits go from simple to spectacular. So bring on the biscuits and don’t hold back on the toppings!