Mini Biscuits with Parmesan Cheese

Mini parmesan biscuits are buttery, flaky, and absolutely irresistible, a savory twist to a traditional buttermilk biscuit. Baked on a layer of Parmesan cheese, they have a crispy, cheesy, and toasty bottom. Just the right size to pop in your mouth.

These biscuits are always a favorite whether served with a breakfast quiche, bowl of chicken chili or steak dinner. Parmesan cheese is not only mixed into the biscuit dough, but it coats the bottom of the biscuits forming a crispy coating to the bottom of each bite sized biscuit.

Everyone loves a mini biscuit, it’s just enough to satisfy a craving without ruining the rest of your dinner.

You’ll find these to be a crowd-pleaser and they could not be easier to assemble. The dough comes together with just a few pulses of a food processor. They are perfect for adding to a brunch spread or to replace a plain dinner roll. They’re awesome with a slice of ham, who doesn’t love a mini ham biscuit.

You might not think you could improve on a Southern buttermilk biscuit, but when you want something a little more savory, these are a great option. Perfect on their own or drizzled with honey.

What is parmesan cheese?

Unlike a softer cheese, the parmesan will melt but will form a crispy coating to the biscuits where a cheddar cheese will just get gooey when it melts.

Parmesan cheese is a hard cheese with a rind made from cow’s milk. Parmigiano Reggiano is made in Italy and is imported to the U.S. You can also use pecorino romano, a similar salty hard cheese made from sheep’s milk. 

For this recipe, use a block of parmesan cheese from the cheese section of the grocery store. Grate it at home with a food processor.

What should I do if I don’t have buttermilk?

Buttermilk gives flavor to the biscuits, helps them stay tender, and reacts with the baking powder to make them rise up nice and tall. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can still make these biscuits! If you don’t have time to run out to the store, follow this guide for making your own buttermilk at home. 

Why You’ll Love Parmesan Biscuits 

• Tender and flaky – The buttery layers of this biscuit bake up tall to form perfectly soft layers. 
• A twist on a classic – The addition of parmesan cheese elevates an already fantastic biscuit and makes it that much better
• Crispy, toasty bottom – the bottom layer of parmesan cheese creates a crispy, toasty shell
• Easy to put together – these biscuits are quick and easy to make

Parmesan Biscuits Recipe Ingredients

• Buttermilk – Buttermilk brings richness to the biscuit and reacts with the baking powder to create tall and flaky biscuits.

• Butter – The pieces of butter in the flour make those beautiful layers that everyone loves in a buttermilk biscuit. 

• Parmesan Cheese – Parmesan cheese brings a great savory, cheesy flavor to the biscuits and a crispy texture. Any hard cheese will work for this recipe. Aged cheddar, gruyere, or pecorino romano are all good options for adding some different flavor to the biscuits. 

• Egg – An egg wash on top of the biscuits helps them brown evenly and get a beautiful crust. For an eggless version, you can substitute a little bit of buttermilk or heavy cream.
  
• Pantry Staples – Flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, black pepper

How To Make Tender, Flaky Parmesan Biscuits

Step 1: Make the biscuit dough. 

Place the cheese in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until you have coarse crumbs of cheese. Remove all but a ½ cup and set it aside. To the remaining cheese, add the rest of the dry ingredients. 

Add cold butter and pulse until the butter is in pea-size pieces. Add in buttermilk (make sure it’s cold!) and continue to pulse until the dough just comes together. 

Step 2: Laminate the biscuits. 

Shape the dough into a rectangle and cut it into strips and stack them on top of each other. Use a rolling pin to roll the stack back into a rectangle. Repeat this step two more times. 

Step 3: Cut out the biscuits. 

Use a 1-inch biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits. Sprinkle cheese onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the biscuits on top of the cheese layer. Freeze for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Bake the biscuits and serve. 

Brush with an egg wash and sprinkle some cheese onto the tops of the biscuits as well as some black pepper. Bake until golden brown, and the cheese is crispy. 

Tips for Making Perfect Parmesan Biscuits 

• Keep all of your ingredients as cold as possible. If you live in a warm place, consider making these biscuits in a chilled metal bowl to keep everything cold. Keep the buttermilk and butter in the refrigerator until the last possible second. 
• For best results, grate the parmesan cheese yourself. Pre-shredded or grated cheeses are often coated to keep them from clumping together. These additives can prevent the cheese from melting nicely. 

What can I do with leftover parmesan biscuits? 

These biscuits are perfect for making breakfast sandwiches with bacon, sausage or ham. They are great served with your favorite bowl of chicken soup or chili. 

Parmesan Biscuit FAQs

Is there anything I can add to Parmesan Biscuits for even more flavor?

You can add herbs like rosemary, thyme, or chives to enhance the flavor of Parmesan biscuits.

Can Parmesan biscuits be made ahead of time and reheated? 

Yes, Parmesan biscuits can be made in advance and reheated in the oven for a few minutes until warmed through. They’re excellent for bringing along when you’ve been invited for dinner or to share at a potluck.

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