Cheap & easy: Biscuits

Country Living



Few foods instantly elevate the comfort quotient of a meal like a basket of warm, baked-from-scratch biscuits, especially when slathered with sweet butter. Formed from humble, everyday ingredients-flour, buttermilk, butter, baking powder, salt-biscuits are both economical and versatile. Making them takes about 45 minutes from start to finish, and even novice bakers can get the hang of the technique with a little practice.

Tips for the Lightest Biscuits:

  • Sift the flour twice before measuring and opt for buttermilk over milk, as the acid in buttermilk combines with baking powder to produce the tenderest baked goods.

  • Try not to overmix the wet and dry ingredients since doing so can toughen the dough and produce less-than-lofty results-save that extra energy for spreading the butter instead.


RECIPE

Ingredients

1/2 cup(s)

unsalted butter

2 1/2 cup(s)

all-purpose flour (sifted twice before measuring)

1 tablespoon(s)

baking powder

1 teaspoon(s)

salt

1 cup(s)

cold buttermilk

2 tablespoon(s)

cold buttermilk

1 tablespoon(s)

melted butter


Directions

  1. Heat oven to 475 degrees F. Cut butter into small cubes and freeze 15 minutes. Stir dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

  2. Cut in butter using either a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingers until mixture resembles a coarse meal.

  3. Stir in buttermilk using a fork just until dough forms. Knead 3 to 4 turns on a lightly floured surface and pat into a 7- by 10-inch rectangle. Cut out biscuits using a 3-inch cutter (gathering scraps until all dough is used).

  4. Place 2 inches apart on a baking pan. Brush tops with melted butter.

  5. Bake on top shelf of oven 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

More Biscuit Recipes:
Sloppy Joes with Sweet Potato Biscuits
Pistachio Drop Biscuits with Blood Orange Curd

More from Country Living:
Fresh-Baked Bread Recipes
Easy Brunch Recipes
Homemade Cake Recipes
Recipes with Bacon
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