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Air Fryer Butter Swim Biscuits

These Air Fryer Butter Swim Biscuits are heaven and now you can make them in your air fryer! No cutting or rolling, just delicious, buttery biscuits!

BUTTER DIP BISCUITS IN THE AIR FRYER

Air Fryer Butter Swim Biscuits are one of the most delicious foods you’ll ever make in an air fryer! It took a lot of testing to make these work (about 4 times to be exact), but my famous Butter Dip Biscuit recipe can now be be made in the air fryer! All you need is a few simple ingredients, a baking dish and your air fryer. These biscuits are sure to become your go-to biscuit recipe when you’re looking for something comforting and delicious without a ton of work!

An Air Fryer Butter Swim biscuit on a plate.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:  

Do I have to use a baking dish and what are you using?

There is no way of getting around the need for a baking dish here. We need a place to catch the butter and keep it with the dough, otherwise it would just fall through the air fryer grates and smoke out of the bottom. If you don’t have a suitable baking dish that fits in your air fryer, you can use an air fryer baking insert (this is the one I have that works with my Phillips air fryer – paid links) or you could even purchase one of those 8×8-inch disposable aluminum baking pans at the grocery store. If none of those are an option, you might want to stick to the original butter swim biscuit recipe that is made in the oven.

Do I have to use foil?

Yes. That’s the key to getting them to cook properly and all the way through. If you don’t use the foil, the tops will just brown and end up burnt while you’re waiting for the insides of the biscuits to finish baking.

Can I make other flavors?

You bet and boy do I have loads of them! Here are some of the best butter swim biscuits recipes:
Blueberry Butter Swim Biscuits
Cheddar Garlic Butter Swim Biscuits
Peach Butter Dip Biscuits
Cinnamon Roll Butter Swim Biscuits
If you want more flavors, feel free to search the site for more ideas.

What air fryer are you using?

This is a 4-quart basket air fryer (paid link) – I don’t think they make the white anymore unfortunately. It needs to be at least 4 quarts for this recipe to work. I test all my air fryer recipes in basket air fryers since that is the most commonly owned air fryer in the U.S. and Canada. It is impossible for me to test each recipe in every possible air fryer that is out there these days because it seems like there are hundreds now. You will need to use your own knowledge of your particular air fryer to make adjustments as necessary. Note: if you have a small, round basket air fryer, this recipe may not work for you.

How to store leftover biscuits?

Leftover biscuits can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or you can freeze for up to 3 months.

A fresh made Butter Swim biscuit above the Air Fryer basket.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • salted butter – if you are watching your sodium intake, you could use unsalted butter.
  • all-purpose flour – you could use self-rising flour, just don’t add the additional baking powder to the recipe. Also, you do not need to sift the flour first. Just don’t pack your measuring cup when measuring. Dip the measuring cup into the flour, scoop it out, and use the back of a butter knife to sweep away the excess flour. 
  • granulated sugar – this does not make the biscuits sweet at all and the amount per serving is hardly anything. It is just there to provide a balance to the other flavors. You won’t taste the sweetness.
  • aluminum free baking powder – if you’ve made any of my other Butter Swim Biscuit recipes, you’ll know that because we use so much baking powder for these, you might be able to taste the aluminum if you’re sensitive to it like me. Most are made without it these days, but if you are unsure, just check the ingredients.
  • salt – I really think this biscuits need salt but if you are watching your sodium, perhaps try using a salt substitute.
  • buttermilk – I know I’m a broken record with these butter swim biscuit recipes but please use real buttermilk here. I promise it is worth a quick trip to the store to make the best biscuits!
Butter, all purpose flour, aluminum free baking powder, salt, sugar, and buttermilk.

HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER BUTTER DIP BISCUITS

Preheat a 4-quart air fryer to 390°F for 5 minutes. Place the cubed butter into an air fryer safe 8×8-inch baking dish. Place the dish into a 5 quart or larger air fryer to melt the butter, this will only take a minute or two, so keep an eye on it. Once the butter is melted, take out the baking dish and set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, aluminum-free baking powder, and salt. Pour in 1 3/4 cups buttermilk. Stir until a sticky batter forms. If the batter still seems too dry, add a tad bit more buttermilk until the batter is thick and sticky. Don’t worry, you won’t mess it up – just keep adding a little at a time until it looks like the below photo.

collage of three photos: Melted butter in a baking dish in an air fryer basket; flour and baking powder in a clear bowl; buttermilk mixed with dough in bowl.

Pour biscuit dough into the baking dish (right on top of the melted butter.) Some of the butter will run over the top of the dough. Tip: I will spray my hand with some nonstick spray to help spread the dough out evenly in the pan. Cut the dough into 9 squares (as best you can). This will help with cutting later when the biscuits are baked.

collage of two photos: biscuit dough covered in melted butter in air fryer; cuts made into biscuit doing to make nine square biscuit shapes.

Cover the baking dish with foil. Place into the air fryer and cook for 25 minutes, rotating the baking dish halfway through for even cooking. Take the foil off and continue to cook the biscuits for 5-8 more minutes until browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. See that middle one there? It takes the longest to bake so that is the main one to keep an eye on.

collage of two photos: foil covering air fryer insert, foil removed from covering biscuits but not yet fully baked.

They will have gorgeous crisp golden edges. Just be very careful when taking these out as they (and the pan) will be hot.

An Air Fryer basket with fresh made butter swim biscuits.

Carefully remove the baking dish from the air fryer and cut along the seams you made earlier to separate the biscuits and serve.

A split open Butter Dip Biscuit on a plate with some butter spread on it.

CRAVING MORE BUTTER SWIM BISCUIT RECIPES?

A serving utensil holding an Air Fryer Butter Dip Biscuit above the rest in the baking dish in the Air Fryer basket.

Air Fryer Butter Swim Biscuits

These Air Fryer Butter Swim Biscuits are heaven and now you can make them in your air fryer! No cutting or rolling, just delicious, buttery biscuits!
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 33 minutes
Total Time: 36 minutes
Servings: 9 servings

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, cut into cubes
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder (I prefer to use aluminum free baking powder)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 ¾ – 2 cups buttermilk (real buttermilk is best)

Instructions

  • Preheat a 4-quart air fryer to 390°F for 5 minutes.
  • Place the cubed butter into an air fryer safe 8×8-inch baking dish. Place the dish into the air fryer to melt the butter, this will only take a minute or two, so keep an eye on it.
  • Once the butter is melted, take out the baking dish and set aside.
    Melted butter in a baking dish in an Air Fryer basket.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, aluminum-free baking powder, and salt.
    A mixing bowl with e all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, aluminum-free baking powder, and salt.
  • Pour in 1 3/4 cups buttermilk. Stir until a sticky batter forms. If the batter still seems too dry, add a tad bit more buttermilk until the batter is thick and sticky.
    Buttermilk, e all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, aluminum-free baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.
  • Pour biscuit dough into the baking dish (right on top of the melted butter.) Some of the butter will run over the top of the dough. Tip: I will spray my hand with some nonstick spray to help spread the dough out evenly in the pan.
    Baking dish with biscuit dough and butter.
  • Cut the dough into 9 squares (as best you can). This will help with cutting later when the biscuits are baked.
    Butter swim biscuit dough cut in 9 squares.
  • Cover the baking dish with foil.
    Foil covering an Air Fryer basket and baking dish.
  • Place into the air fryer and cook for 25 minutes, rotating the baking dish halfway through for even cooking.
  • Take the foil off and continue to cook the biscuits for 5-8 more minutes until browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. You want to make sure that middle biscuit cooks fully since it's the last one to get fully cooked so the time may vary.
    Fresh baked air fryer butter dip biscuits.
  • Carefully remove the baking dish from the air fryer and cut along the seams you made earlier to separate the biscuits and serve.
    An Air Fryer basket with fresh made butter swim biscuits.

Notes

  • Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
  • Make sure to use the foil to ensure that the biscuits will cook thoroughly without browning too fast. 
  • Because of the nature of the air fryer, they will get a darker brown than the ones made in the oven. So for the folks who like crispy edges or tops, this is perfect!
  • That middle biscuit is the tricky one to get fully cooked so once you take the foil off, keep an eye on it and make sure that middle one gets done. 
  • I test all recipes in basket air fryers since that is the most commonly owned air fryer in the U.S. and Canada. It is impossible for me to test each recipe in every possible air fryer that is out there these days. You will need to use your own knowledge of your particular air fryer to make adjustments as necessary. Note: I don’t think this recipe is compatible with a round basket air fryer. 
  • Your air fryer needs to be a minimum of 4 quarts for this to work. If your air fryer is larger, you may need to adjust the baking time.
Course: Breads
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Sodium: 624mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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