What are loaded biscuits and why do we love them so much?

Loaded biscuits are a work of creativity, not a work of art.

They're called inclusions.

When you put raisins in your bread, that's an inclusion. Walnuts in your cookies is an inclusion.  This is about inclusions in your biscuits.

Cinnamon chips in buttermilk biscuits is an inclusion. Cinnamon Chip Biscuits are amazing. They taste like your grandmother's cinnamon rolls

You're about to discover more biscuits that are that good. Your family's going to love what you make. You're going to love how easy they are.

You can choose scratch biscuits or our just-add-water biscuits. You can add your inclusions to either one.

Here's a list of inclusions. There are many more: nuts, fruits, spices, herbs, dried tomatoes, peppers, chilies, bacon, cheese, garlic, chives, onions, ham, and more.

Now we'll give you some examples. We've given you enough information that you can make any of these loaded biscuits. We've named the biscuits and listed the inclusions. The inclusions are the fun part. Wherever we can, we've given you quantities. Make substitutions wherever you want.

Potato Ranch Biscuits

Inclusions: Leftover mashed potatoes and ranch dressing

We used leftover mashed potatoes and ranch dressing to make moist and fluffy biscuits. The wet dough allowed the otherwise heavy biscuits to rise into very nice biscuits and the dusting of flour made them attractive.

The original recipe called for 2 1/2 cups of pastry flour and 1/2 cup milk. To that we added one cup of mashed potatoes and 1/4-cup ranch dressing. They were very good biscuits.

We have not tried this in our biscuit mix.  If you're going to go exploring, consider a three pound bulk bag.

Sour Cream and Chives Biscuits

Inclusions: Leftover mashed potatoes, chives, and sour cream

These are a take-off from the Potato Ranch Biscuits--same flour, same potatoes but we added 3 tablespoons of fresh, chopped chives and 1/3-cup sour cream. We omitted the ranch dressing.

Cheddar Cheese Biscuits

Inclusions: Leftover mashed potatoes, ranch dressing again, and grated cheddar cheese

This is another take-off from our potato biscuits.  In this one, we used the 1/4-cup ranch dressing and added a cup of grated, sharp cheddar cheese.

I'm a nut for cheese in baking so I really liked these.

Cottage Cheese and Chives Biscuits

Inclusions: Cottage Cheese and Chives

New recipe. This one has 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup snipped chives, 1/3 cup cold butter, 3/4 cup cottage cheese, and 1/2 to 2/3 cup buttermilk. That's almost the entire recipe. If you're making this from scratch instead of a mix, the original recipe used 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.  Now, you have the whole recipe.

The cold butter is cut into the flour with a pastry blender.

It's going to be easier to use a mix.  But we've only made this from scratch.

Fully Loaded Buttermilk Biscuits

Inclusions: Cheese, Onion, and Bacon

Ah, this time we used a mix and have a recipe.

4 cups just-add-water buttermilk biscuit mix
1 cup cheddar cheese, 1/8 to 1/4 inch diced or grated cheese
3/4 cup diced and sautéed sweet onions
6 slices bacon, cooked to a crisp and crumbled
1 cup cold water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

1. In a large bowl, mix the biscuit mix with the cheese, onion, and bacon.  Make a well in the center and pour in the water.  Mix with a fork until a dough ball forms.  Knead it several times if necessary.  Turn it out onto the counter.  The dough should be soft and moist, almost sticky.
2. Pat the dough into a 3/4 inch thick flat.  Cut into shapes and put them onto a dark, nonstick baking sheet.
3. Bake for ten minutes or until the tops are a light, golden brown.  Remove them to a wire rack to cool.

This recipe makes 12 to 15 large biscuits.

Cranberry Orange Biscuits.

Inclusions: Cranberries, White Chocolate Chips, and Orange pieces.

This is slightly sweeter than normal biscuits. The added cranberries and white chocolate chips plus an orange flavor make these biscuits a little sweet.  Dry cranberries and white chocolate is a fantastic combination.

If I were to serve this with jam, I would do orange marmalade or our peach cobbler jam.

3 cups just-add-water buttermilk biscuit mix
3/4 cup cool water
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons orange flavor
melted butter for brushing on the biscuits

turbinado sugar for sprinkling

Add the cranberries, chips, and the sugar to the mix and stir.  Add the flavor to the water.  Add the water to the mix, chip, and sugar mixture and combine according to package directions.  Cut the biscuits.  Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.  Bake according to package directions.

This recipe makes 10 to 12 biscuits. 

Southern Pecan Biscuits

Inclusions: Pecans and Cinnamon

Pecan biscuits. This is something I picked up in the South. Add two tablespoons of sugar, 2/3's cup chopped pecans, and 1/2 teaspoon good quality cinnamon.

Apricot Orange Biscuits

Inclusions: An Orange and Dried Apricots

This is going to sound a little goofy but it really worked.  We added the zest from one orange, 1/2-cup finely chopped dried apricot pieces and then we took a peeled orange and cut it into 1/2-inch chunks and added that. And we added a 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.

Cherry Nut White Chocolate Biscuits

Inclusions: Dried Cherries, Chocolate Chips, and Walnut Pieces

Here's the recipe:

I think of biscuits as something that accompanies a meal. This is sweeter, not quite a dessert but sweet enough tor a snack.

3 cups just-add-water buttermilk biscuit mix
3/4 cup cool water
1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
1/2 cup walnut pieces
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons quality vanilla extract

melted butter for brushing on the biscuits
turbinado sugar for sprinkling

Add the cherries, nuts, chips, and the sugar to the mix and stir.  Add the flavor to the water.  Add the water to the mix, chip, and sugar mixture and combine according to package directions.  Cut the biscuits.  Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.  Bake according to package directions.