American-style biscuits
American-style biscuits are soft, flaky, savory quick breads made from flour, cold butter or shortening, baking powder, and buttermilk or milk. They are a staple side dish across the United States, particularly popular in the South, often served with gravy, honey, or jam.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
A typical biscuit is high in carbohydrates and fat, with a moderate amount of protein from the flour and dairy. One medium biscuit (about 2.5 inches) contains roughly 180-250 calories, providing some calcium and iron but is primarily an energy-dense food.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 210 kcal |
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbs | 25 g |
| Fat | 11 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
| Calcium | 80 mg |
| Iron | 1.5 mg |
| Potassium | 60 mg |
| Phosphorus | 80 mg |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.2 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 1.5 mg |
| Folate | 30 mcg |
| Selenium | 4 mcg |
Per 1 biscuit (approx. 60 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Unlike British biscuits (which are sweet cookies), American biscuits are a savory bread whose flaky layers come from a technique of folding cold fat into the dough, similar to making puff pastry. They are a cornerstone of Southern comfort food, famously paired with sausage gravy to create a hearty, iconic breakfast dish.
